Featured Fellow: Hannah Krebsbach, MD

Second-year fellow Hannah Krebsbach, MD, knew she wanted to study rheumatology during her rotation as a medical student at IU.

“I found the diseases to be complex and the patients to be so engaging,” she said. “The wide variety of pathology that you see within rheumatology makes it one of the most exciting fields in medicine.”

Krebsbach, who is from Brownsburg, Indiana, completed her internal medicine residency at Tulane University in New Orleans.

“After finishing medical school I knew that I wanted to experience a different part of the country, which is why I went down to the Big Easy for residency training,” she said. 

While in New Orleans, she and her husband enjoyed the weather, the music, Mardis Gras season, Saints football, and the food. “Oyster happy hour and crawfish boils were our favorites,” she said. “Never a dull moment!”

Ultimately, though, they decided to return to Indiana to be closer to their families.

“Honestly, after the pandemic hit, I knew that I needed to prioritize being near family, as we truly do not know what the future holds,” she said. “Now we have a 10-month-old who keeps us on our toes!” 

There was another major advantage to coming home: the ability to continue her training in rheumatology at IU.

“I knew that IU had a strong rheumatology program based on my experience with them in medical school,” she said. 

Steven Hugenberg, MD, director of the Division of Rheumatology, describes Krebsbach as organized, highly efficient, and “a quick learner.”

“She is constantly improving and striving to do so,” Hugenberg said, noting her strong effort to improve the program’s core curriculum conference. 

He also said she is a thoughtful colleague who is always willing to help out when other fellows are out with illnesses or have emergent family obligations. 

“Hannah is an amazing co-fellow,” agreed Sharika Menon, MD, another fellow in the rheumatology program. “She is extremely hardworking, and she always looks out for other fellows.” 

Reflecting on what she’s learned during her fellowship, Krebsbach said evaluating each patient with an open mind is critical.

“It is hard to not already formulate ideas of what you think might be happening with a patient before you see them,” she said. “It is easy to miss things if you are not open and willing to listen to all the patient has to say.”

In her spare time, Krebsbach enjoys playing tennis (“when I am able to in this Indiana weather!”). She also recently traveled to Mexico City with her family for her brother’s wedding.

“It was a great trip, but I don't plan on traveling internationally with a baby again anytime soon!” she said. 


Selected Work by Dr. Krebsbach:

Case Report: A Polyarteritis Nodosa Conundrum (The Rheumatologist)