Maria Volkova-Feddeck, PhD
Dr. Maria Feddeck is an international scholar, professional coach, and healthcare innovation specialist whose global perspective is shaped by her extensive work and life experience in Turkey, Germany, and the United States. Fluent in English, German, Russian, French, and Turkish, she brings a distinctive intercultural lens to medical education, communication, and leadership development.
Dr. Feddeck began her work in transformative medical education and healthcare innovation in Germany in 2013 during the Syrian refugee crisis. She contributed to the IMPACCT Project – now the European Health Literacy Center – designing interventions that addressed gaps in communication, health literacy, and cultural competency for diverse patient populations. She later taught courses on patient‑physician communication and intercultural patient care at Jacobs University Bremen, equipping physicians to navigate complex intercultural healthcare environments. Her current scholarly and professional work centers on peer coaching as a catalyst for personal, interpersonal, and organizational transformation in medical contexts. As a board‑certified professional coach and researcher, Dr. Feddeck specializes in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with a particular focus on program evaluation, questionnaire development, and empirical validation of evidence‑based interventions. Her research demonstrates how structured peer coaching reduces burnout, enhances psychological safety, and promotes professional fulfillment among healthcare professionals.
Dr. Feddeck has designed and implemented peer coaching programs across a wide range of clinical and academic settings, including initiatives for divisions, residency programs, and fellowship cohorts. She co‑created the Clinical Leadership and Transformation Academy at University Hospitals with Dr. Patrick Runnels and Dr. Jordan Winter, embedding peer coaching throughout its curriculum through structured cohorts, individual coaching supported by 360‑degree feedback, and ongoing integrative learning. Participants consistently report substantial gains in leadership, interpersonal effectiveness, and well‑being.
She currently leads the Women’s Faculty Peer Coaching Program at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, connecting women physicians across University Hospitals, MetroHealth, the Veterans Affairs system, and Case Medical faculty. She is also developing a school‑wide peer coaching program for CWRU faculty aimed at strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue, collaborative learning, and long‑term professional support networks.
Dr. Feddeck’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to cultivating emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, and lifelong learning in medical professionals. Her research and coaching practice seek to advance compassionate leadership, enhance healthcare delivery, and foster environments where clinicians at all stages – students, residents, fellows, and faculty – can thrive personally and professionally.