Dr. Winkler grew up in Skiatook, Oklahoma. He attended medical school at Oklahoma State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine. He enjoys watching movies, free-climbing and bouldering, walking trails, being on the lake and playing disc golf. He chose UT Tyler because when he interviewed for the internal medicine program "I was immediately met with a very warm welcome from the staff and residents which made me feel right at home." He was also impressed that "UT Tyler is a level 1 trauma center and the largest medical facility located between Shreveport, Louisiana and Dallas, Texas, making it a main hub for treating some of the most critical patients needing immediate care" and that "Tyler also provides residents with the opportunity to gain exposure with treating a vastly diverse patient population in the primary care setting, thus equipping with the knowledge and experience required to treat patients from all walks of life." He concluded that "Whether you are primarily focused on hospital-based medicine or primary care, the health science center provides you with the best training in both settings. " He wants to pursue fellowship training in cardiovascular disease or critical care and then plans on staying in Tyler as an attending physician in his respective field to provide his services to the Tyler community and "help to educate the next generation of medical students and physicians of East Texas."