Gretchen Metzenberg

Dr. Gretchen Metzenberg is a specialist in palliative care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Her focus is on relieving symptoms of physical and emotional distress, with the goal of making each day as good as it can be – and knowing that means something different to each family. She works alongside other members of the palliative care team – including nursing, social work, child life and spiritual care, as well as the patient's primary and specialty care teams – to provide an additional layer of support as needed to help families navigate complex symptoms, consider medical decisions and identify sources of support outside of the hospital. She uses treatment methods ranging from medications to integrative medicine techniques to support each patient and their family in mind, body and spirit.

Metzenberg's research interests include improving health equity and access to high-quality palliative care. She is also interested in supporting medical trainees who want to learn more about palliative medicine.

Metzenberg earned her medical degree at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, part of Western University of Health Sciences. She completed a residency in pediatrics at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She also has a master of public health degree, with a focus on maternal child and adolescent health, from the University of California, Berkeley.