New General Surgeon, Dr. Chris Winters, Joins Surgery Team

We welcome Dr. Chris Winters, Gundersen General Surgeon, to our surgery team. Dr. Winters joins Dr. Phillip Yee in providing general surgery, which we are happy to announce, will now be offered three days per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We are very excited to offer this additional day of services to the community.

Dr. Winters will consult with patients at Veterans Memorial Hospital several days prior to the surgery or procedure. The surgery or procedure is then planned for a future date to be performed in the hospital’s surgical suite. Dr. Winters joins Dr. Yee in providing all general surgeries, including hernia repairs, including laparoscopic if necessary; gall bladder removal; C-sections; vasectomies; endoscopies, including colonoscopies and EGDs, as well as routine anorectal cases such as fistulas, hemorrhoids, and fissures.

“I first attended the University of Iowa for medical engineering, until our surgeon in my hometown of Oelwein asked if I would ever be interested in becoming a surgeon. I job shadowed with him one day and I just loved it,” explains Dr. Winters. “Surgery is just a natural fit for me… I like to solve problems and work with my hands. This location is about as close to home as I could have gotten and was my favorite choice. I am hoping it is a good and forever fit.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s after-hour surgical coverage continues to be provided by the Gundersen General Surgery department and will now include Dr. Winters as well as Dr. Yee, Dr. Michael LaBelle, and Dr. Elleson Schurtz. Emergency surgeries frequently performed include C-sections and appendectomies.

“Everyone and everything at Veterans Memorial Hospital is so nice. I will have more than what I need to take care of lots of folks here,” adds Winters. “I am just happy to come home and take care of everyone.”

“We are so thankful to have Dr. Winters join our team so we can now offer general surgery three times a week,” states Jessica Jones, Surgery Manager. “The timely addition of Dr. Winters will help us better serve our patients as we aim to reduce wait times for surgical procedures, which is especially crucial as we are nearing the end of the year and patients are meeting their deductibles.”

To make an appointment to see Dr. Winters, please call the hospital and ask for the Surgical Coordinator at 563-568-3411, ext. 422.