About
Dr. Maria Sturchler

M.D., Ed.D., H.M.D.C.

Leadership in Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Compassionate Physician. Trusted Medical Expert Witness.

Dr. Sturchler is triple board certified in Emergency Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Hospice Medical Director Certified, and currently serves as the Regional Medical Director of Inpatient Palliative Medicine and Hospice at Novant Health Coastal Region hospitals in southeastern North Carolina, where she also holds leadership roles in regional safety, quality, and mortality reduction initiatives for the Novant Health system. Dr. Sturchler brings over two decades of clinical, academic, and medicolegal experience to her work as an expert witness.

A former chief resident in Emergency Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Diego, Dr. Sturchler completed her hospice and palliative fellowship through the joint UCSD & Scripps Health program and has served as a full-time hospice medical director, voluntary faculty member, and clinical leader at multiple institutions. She has also contributed as a board member to several health and community organizations and is committed to clinical research and medical education.

Mission & Values

As a vibrant leader and first-generation high-school graduate, Dr. Sturchler is passionate about evidence-based practice, effective leadership, mentorship of underrepresented professionals, diversity and inclusion in healthcare, and expanding access to care for marginalized populations.

She is a Gold Humanism Honor Society scholar, earned her M.D. from Vanderbilt University (2017) and holds multiple summa cum laude degrees, including an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University. She holds advanced degrees in education and leadership, is fluent in Spanish, and has participated in both domestic and international medical outreach.

Outside of medicine, she is an avid cyclist, triathlete, and advocate for emphasizing humanism in healthcare and promoting global health and education.

Licenses & certifications

Dr. Sturchler is Triple Board Certified in:
Emergency Medicine • Hospice & Palliative Medicine • Hospice Medical Director

view & Download Dr. Sturchler’s CV

Top Professional Skills

Dr. Sturchler is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with legal teams, healthcare organizations, and insurers who seek objective understanding in hospice and palliative medicine cases. 

Hospice & Palliative Medicine Expertise

Inpatient Palliative Care Leadership

Hospice Medical Directorship

Clinical Operations Management

Strategic Planning in Healthcare Settings

Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration

Medical Education & Faculty Experience

National Speaking & Professional Presentations

Administrative & Program Leadership

Objective Clinical Analysis for Complex Cases

Hospice & Palliative Medicine Expert Witness

National Speaker

Senior Medical Director of Inpatient Palliative Care & Hospice

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