Meet Dr. Carla Rotering, MD, MA
Dr. Carla Rotering is a pulmonary and critical care physician, leadership mentor, and certified coach with more than 40 years of experience in medicine. A longtime clinical leader at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, she spent her career championing physician well-being and transforming medical culture through emotional intelligence, communication, and presence. She provides pulmonary care by telehealth to a critical access service area. Carla continues to serve the healthcare community through coaching, retreats, and leadership development programs as the founder of Boxcar International.
Hi, I'm Carla!
I didn’t set out to become a physician. Raised in a boxcar on the North Dakota prairie, I came to medicine in my 30s after reading an article that changed everything. That decision led me to a deeply fulfilling career in pulmonary and critical care medicine—one that lasted over four decades.
​
At Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, I served in many leadership roles, including Director of Critical Care, Chair of Medicine, and Chief of Staff for a 1,200-member medical staff. These positions deepened my understanding of the challenges physicians face—not just in clinical work, but in maintaining meaning and connection in their careers.
​
In 2002, I began focusing on physician well-being. A moment of honest feedback from a colleague sparked a personal transformation that eventually led me to professional coaching. Since 2013, I’ve helped physicians reclaim clarity, purpose, and fulfillment in their work and lives—bringing together the clinical, emotional, and human sides of medicine.
​
Key Highlights:
​
-
40+ year career in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
-
Former Medical Director of Respiratory and Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Banner Thunderbird & White Mountain Regional Medical Centers
-
Former Chair of Medicine, Director of Critical Care, and Chief of Staff – Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
-
Chair – Physician Health and Wellness Committee, Banner Thunderbird (past)
-
Physician mentor – University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix (past)
-
Founder – Boxcar International: coaching, leadership training, and retreats for healthcare professionals
-
Certified Soul-Centered Professional Coach – University of Santa Monica
-
Certified Transformational SuperCoach – Supercoach Academy
-
Certified in Leadership Development, Crucial Conversations, and Emotional Intelligence Facilitation
-
Co-author – The Language of Caring Guide for Physicians
-
Co-creator – The Language of Caring for Physicians program, used by MD Anderson, PeaceHealth, Providence, and others
-
Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree – Phoenix Business Journal “Healthcare Heroes,” 2019
​
