Current Residents
PGY 1

Zev Allen, MD
Hello, Zev Allen here!! I am from the rural town of Soldier, KS. I grew up on a family farm, raising cattle and attending the Jackson Heights School District with my five siblings. There I ran track & cross country, participated in musical activities, and enjoyed community gatherings!!
I studied Life-Science at Kansas State University, where I was heavily involved with hunger initiatives addressing food insecurity among undergraduate students. During the summers between academic years, I found a passion for community development and public policy. During the summer months, I developed programs for a non-profit I helped start focusing on rural revitalization.
I entered medical school at the University of Kansas following my time at KSU. I enjoyed my rural experiences and was particularly impressed by the scope of practice afforded the full-spectrum Family Medicine Physicians. I admired their ability to enhance equity of care through access to healthcare services and appreciated the challenges they had to overcome in rural spaces. Seeing these challenges within our healthcare setting during clinical experiences inspired me to pursue a Master's in Public Health from Dartmouth College. During this time, I developed research that evaluated state changes' impacts on policy regulating telehealth during the pandemic.
When I started my search for residency training, I was looking for a place that would equip me to meet the needs of rural communities and further my ability to address the problems facing our healthcare system. Indiana University Health at Ball Memorial Hospital provides that unique type of training. They have the academic affiliation that will further my ability to generate research fit for policy endeavors while providing that robust training necessary to be a truly full-spectrum Family Physician. I can't wait to get started and encourage anyone interested to reach out with questions about why I chose the Ball Memorial Family!!
Interests: I love biking, reading, listening to podcasts, painting, and enjoying a dinner and drinks with friends!

Tim Crull, MD
Hi There! My name is Tim Crull, and I'm so glad you stopped by the IUH Ball Memorial Family Medicine Residency website to learn about just a few of the people who make this residency so special. I am a Muncie native, born at IUH Ball Memorial Hospital, and I have lived nearly my whole life in the Muncie community. I attended Yorktown High School and, after that, Ball State University for my undergraduate studies. After college, I was fortunate to stay local at IU School of Medicine's regional campus in Muncie. I spent my first three years of medical school at the regional Muncie campus but moved to Indianapolis for my final year. I am grateful to be coming home to continue my training with this highly respected residency program. During my 3rd and 4th years of medical school, I spent a great deal of time with the residents and faculty of this program. I was treated with respect and kindness, like an equal and not a student. I was so impressed with the character of the people that work here. I knew that this would be a great place to train. Interviewing for residency during my final year of medical school, whenever I mentioned I was from Muncie, physicians at other programs across the country would usually respond, "Oh yeah, Muncie! I've heard they have a great family medicine residency there!" These remarks made my decision to choose this program a no-brainer! I hope that the same qualities and character of the people here that so impressed me and gave this residency national renown will provide you with confidence as you seek quality healthcare.
Aside from medicine, in my free time, I enjoy being active. I love to exercise (resistance training, walking, running, etc.) and play recreational sports such as basketball and soccer. I enjoy reading nonfiction, drinking coffee, and hammocking (if the weather is nice enough, I do all three of those simultaneously). I also enjoy watching and cheering on my favorite sports teams (Go Pacers! Go Colts!) Again, thank you for stopping by. We are so glad you're here!

Michael Hinton, MD
Hello, my name is Michael Hinton. I was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Greenwood, Indiana. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Mathematics at Indiana University. I then completed medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine. During medical school, I enjoyed aspects of all my clinical rotations but found speaking with patients, establishing a rapport, educating them on their illnesses, and developing a treatment plan for their long-term health the most fulfilling, so I pursued a residency in Family Medicine. My other interests in medicine include preventative medicine and sports medicine. I am very excited to continue my training at IUH Ball Memorial.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy exercising, watching/attending sporting events (Colts, IU basketball, IU football, Yankees), reading, listening to podcasts, spending time with friends and family, and playing with my dog Tyson.

Jadyn Mangen, DO
Hi there! My name is Jadyn! I was born and raised in Versailles, Ohio, a small town near the Ohio-Indiana border about an hour from Muncie. I married my high school sweetheart, Matt, four years ago, and we are welcoming our first child this April! Outside of medicine, we enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking our dog, Molly, traveling and taking camping trips, bike rides, home improvement projects, cooking, baking, gardening, reading, and occasionally binging Netflix.
I completed my Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Neuroscience at Wright State University in Dayton and went on to attend Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine for my medical degree. Throughout these years, my passion for family medicine and serving underserved communities flourished. I fell in love with family medicine because of the longitudinal relationships, community engagement, and scope of practice. Within primary care, I am particularly interested in chronic disease management, prenatal and postpartum care, newborn care, geriatrics, behavioral health, social determinants of health, patient education, and health literacy. My future career goals include working at an FQHC in my home community where I can practice full spectrum family medicine. I chose Ball Memorial for my residency training because of the supportive environment, ability to be challenged, and the programs commitment to preparing physicians for full scope practices upon graduation. I am so excited to be joining the Ball Memorial Family!

Erica Mann, DO
Welcome to Ball! My name is Erica Mann, and I would love to share a bit of the journey that led me here. I grew up an Army kid, born in Germany. We moved all over the US and Europe, but I ended up in Alabama, where I graduated high school and attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). I earned my BS in biology and MPH in global maternal and child health before moving to Haiti, where I served in a rural clinic for six months. When I returned, I attended the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) and continued to engage in issues of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and local and global health disparities.
Outside of academic and professional pursuits, you can usually find me with my local church's children and youth ministries, back in Alabama, enjoying my family or in the kitchen cooking and baking. I might also be out for a run, tucked away at home painting, or enjoying a good book in a soft chair with a warm cup of tea. But no matter where you find me, you are welcome to join me!
I chose Ball for my next step because I believed it would equip me for my somewhat unconventional career goals. I knew I needed solid training across a broad scope to pursue international medicine. I needed strong OB and procedural training and opportunities to engage locally and internationally at the community level. Ball promised both a strong foundation and the flexibility to tailor my training toward my practice. I hope you will consider how Ball might fit into your plans!

Tiffany McGary, DO
Hi! My name is Tiffany. I was born in Akron, Ohio, but was raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As a child, I lived in Seoul, South Korea, for four years, which was a memorable experience.
I studied Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA. After graduation, I worked as a Phlebotomist at Mary Washington Hospital for a year; then joined AmeriCorps, providing financial health literacy to the local community and working at an HIV clinic. Afterward, I attended the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. I hope to work in underserved communities providing quality healthcare that I believe everyone deserves.
Outside of medicine, my interests include traveling, roller skating, reading, and learning about entrepreneurship.

Brooke Strader, MD
Hello! My name is Brooke, and I grew up in Noblesville, Indiana. I studied Biology and Psychology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Between working in a research lab as a pharmacy technician and embarking on my Guatemalan service trip, I knew medicine was my career path. I wanted to be able to walk through different parts of life with patients as an educator.
I went to Indiana University School of Medicine and spent all four years at the Muncie campus. The campus fostered an unparalleled experiential learning environment, allowing me to have an extremely hands-on education with passionate teachers despite the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I grew my passion and clinical interests in teaching, working with underserved populations, and working with healthcare disparities through many local projects. I am so excited to be able to continue training at Ball Memorial Hospital at the Family Medicine Residency! I love Ball's full-spectrum training, along with options for global health experiences and many other electives.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Nick, and our dog, Xavier. We enjoy hiking and being outside together. I also enjoy baking, reading, doing puzzles, and watching my younger brother's sporting events.

Luke Vaughn, MD
Hi there, my name is Luke Vaughn. I grew up in Pendleton, Indiana, and first came to Muncie to attend Ball State University (CHIRP CHIRP!). I received my Undergrad in Biology and my Master's in Human Physiology. Before attending medical school in Muncie, I worked as a medical scribe at IU Ball Memorial.
Since I started medical school, I have been dedicated to serving east-central Indiana as a primary care provider. Joining the Ball Family Medicine Residency Clinic is a dream come true. IU Health Ball was an easy choice for me as the wide breadth of learning opportunities was perfect for cultivating my future practice in medicine. I have loved getting to know the area, the medical providers, and especially the people over the past ten years. I am excited to continue to grow those relationships and serve this community!
When I am not in the clinic, I love spending time with my wife, Emily, and our children, Elodie and David. Our favorite things are going on hikes, making crafts, baking, and playing games. My biggest personal hobby as of late is learning to play chess.
PGY 2

Carly Chapman, DO
Cheers! My name is Carly Chapman. I am from Zionsville, IN, I am one of 8 kids, and I love osteopathic manipulative medicine. Here is a summary of my life and why I got into medicine in 6 words ... cancer miracle, life transformed, healing others.
I studied Medicinal Chemistry for my undergraduate degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University (in West Palm Beach, FL) and abroad at Oxford University for a semester. It was here where I found my love of libraries and great coffee shops! Although I loved being abroad, there’s nothing quite like Indiana hospitality, so I moved back to Indiana to attend medical school at Marian University COM and enjoyed every second of my education. Truth be told, it was hard to know what I wanted from a residency until I started interviewing and seeing what each location had to offer. I knew instantly IU Health Ball Memorial would be a great fit for me for two reasons: quality leadership and broad-spectrum training in a more rural setting. I felt genuinely welcomed by every faculty, resident, and staff member I met with throughout the process and was confident I would be trained well as a family medicine physician.
Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with my family (especially my nephew, who’s two) and friends, swimming, reading at coffee shops, finding hidden gardens, and singing anywhere and anytime (car, church, parking lot, karaoke). Looking forward to meeting you!

Blake Clutter, DO
Hello! My name is Blake Clutter. I grew up just West of Muncie near Lebanon, IN in a small town. I attended Bradley University in Peoria, IL for my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. I took a year off after school to work in the medical field as a scribe in the Lafayette area. After realizing that I wanted to be more involved in patient care, I enrolled in an EMT training course. I loved actively helping my community and the fast pace and excitement that comes with working on a 911 ambulance service. I started my undergraduate degree heavily considering medicine as a career but getting hands on experience in the field solidified my decision to apply to medical school. I was able to stay in Indiana and complete my medical degree at Marian University in Indianapolis.

Elizabeth Edwards, MD
Hello, my name is Elizabeth! I grew up in Olathe, Kansas after my family moved from Pennsylvania when I was a child. After high school, I studied Biology and Psychology at Washburn University in Topeka, KS. In my college years, I developed a passion for international service and a desire to serve in the mission field in the future. After a few years of working, I began medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. I completed my first two years of training in Kansas City, then moved to Wichita, KS for my last two years. Throughout medical school, I came to realize that Family Medicine was the best opportunity for me to be able to serve, both at home and abroad. I loved the full scope of practice that allows a family medicine doctor to work with people in all stages of life. I became particularly interested in women’s health and obstetrics, as these areas of focus are often lacking in developing areas of the world.
I chose IU Health Ball Memorial because I felt that their program would best help prepare me for whatever area of service I find myself in for the future. I loved the strong sense of community that was conveyed in the interview process, and I was so excited to see that both the leadership and the residents were passionate about serving their community!
Outside of medicine, I love reading and cooking, as well as video and board games. My husband and I are eager to get involved in our new church community in Muncie and continue to discover how we can best serve God in the future, whether at home in the states or serving around the world!

Kenzi Holcomb, DO
Hello! My name is Kenzl Holcomb and I grew up in Winchester Indiana, a small rule town just 30 minutes from Muncie. I attended Earlham college in Richmond Indiana where I received a bachelors In bio chemistry. After receiving my bachelors I took some time off and married my high school sweetheart, Dylan, who is now a nurse practitioner working at Ball hospital. I then went on to receive my doctoral degree from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to entering medical school I already knew my career path as my parents are both Family practice providers. My plan is to return back to Winchester with my husband and serve our community. Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with my family and planning holiday activities. I grew up with nine siblings and now have 18 nieces and nephews. Just prior to starting residency my husband and I had our beautiful daughter named Blakely. Lastly, I cannot forget to mention Nala, our Weimaraner, who is very spoiled and was not excited when we brought home the new baby.

Andy Pepper, DO
Hello! My name is Andy Pepper. I am originally from a rural town in Northwest Illinois called Dixon. After studying Biology at Northern Illinois University, I came to Indiana to study medicine at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis. I have grown to love the Hoosier state over the last several years and I am ecstatic to continue my medical education here.
During medical school, I found that I enjoyed many areas of medicine, but most enjoyed my time spent in family medicine. I appreciate the long-term relationships, diverse patient populations, and the ample opportunity for hands on procedures. I had the opportunity to do several rural rotations which cemented my desire to eventually practice broad scope family medicine in a rural setting. I chose Ball Memorial for the supportive culture and because their commitment to training full spectrum family medicine physicians aligned perfectly with my future career goals.
Outside of medicine, you will find me spending time outdoors with my wife, Catie, doing things like motorcycle riding, camping, hiking, and shooting sports. At home, we enjoy grilling out and spending time with our cat, Reeses (who is terrified of the outdoors). We are both excited to join the Ball family!

Elliott Van Allen, DO
Hey there! My name is Elliott Van Allen. I am a born and raised Montanan who chose Ball Memorial Family Medicine Residency for its excellent training and the kindness of its residents and faculty. I am so grateful to be a member of the Ball team!
I grew up in a small town in the mountainous northwestern corner of Montana, attended the University of Montana for my undergraduate studies, and Pacific Northwest University for medical school after a year of advocacy work in rural communities in the southwest Montana region. As the result of a lifetime in the State of Montana, I have developed an appreciation for life in small places, and some day hope to practice in a rural or frontier environment.
If you catch me outside of work, I will probably be hiking, biking, fishing, gardening, or birding with my wife and best friend. I am excited to explore the countryside, forests, and rivers of Indiana!

Brittney Vogel, MD
Hello! My name is Brittney Dudley. My path to Ball started very traditional as I grew up in Oxford, OH, then stuck close to home, attending University of Notre Dame (undergrad) and University of Kentucky (medical school) Then, it was non-traditional, as I completed a surgical internship in order to complete five years of military service as a primary care doctor for USAF pilots. My military assignments were to a tanker base in New Hampshire and an F-16 base in Misawa, Japan. Following my military service, I moved back to my hometown to work at an opioid use disorder treatment center prescribing both methadone and Suboxone.

Mackenzie Wahl, MD
Hey there! My name is Mackenzie Wahl. I grew up on a small family farm near Riley, Kansas. I attended Kansas State University, where I earned a B.A. in Biochemistry. I then completed medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.
I’m deeply humbled to be at Ball for my training, and I can’t think of a better place to learn and grow as a physician. After residency I plan to return to rural Kansas to practice in a full-scope setting. My medical interests include rural medicine, OB, procedures, and advocacy.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my partner, Cy, and our rescue dogs, Athena and Freeda. Some of my other interests include baking, playing board games, anything Harry Potter, and spending time outdoors.
PGY 3

Garin Bergeson, DO
Hello, Indiana! My name is Garin Bergeson, hailing from Washington where I was raised in the rural fields of Moses Lake. I attended Brigham Young University in Utah and completed my undergraduate in Athletic Training. Working for one year gave me time to sharpen my sports medicine skills before moving east to complete my medical degree at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Medicine opened a world of knowledge for me. I watched physicians assist their patients in making changes, working together to create a plan that would help them become their best selves. It was amazing to me! The wide breadth of knowledge I desire combined with the foundation of trust-centered relationships comes together in family medicine. IUH Ball Memorial Family Medicine Residency excels in all of these areas, living their mission of compassion and excellence while training their residents in a broad scope of practice. Their family-oriented focus drew me in, and I am ecstatic to be joining such a great team.
I’ve found that my interests lay across the board, including but not limited to preventative medicine, full-spectrum family medicine, sports medicine, and even obstetrics. I have many other passions outside of medicine. First and foremost, my family, a beautiful wife and mother of two children, all who have supported me during this journey! Other hobbies include outdoor enthusiast of hiking, running, climbing, gardening, and getting my hands dirty with yard work. I love playing all sports, especially soccer, reading a good book, cooking for others, and sitting down to chat about life.

Chris Burns, MD
Hello! My name is Chris and I grew up along the beautiful Wasatch Mountains in Springville, Utah. After high school and a two-year church mission to Norway, I studied Public Health at Brigham Young University and married my wife, Stephanie. At BYU I became fascinated with human physiology and discovered a passion for the social determinants of health.
It became clear that a career in medicine would empower me to pursue both my scientific and public health interests. After being accepted to Indiana University School of Medicine, I was assigned to the school’s Muncie campus, where I completed the majority of my medical school experience. My family and I count this as one of the greatest things that has happened in our lives. We quickly fell in love with Indiana’s fields, forests, and the friends we made in Muncie. Being in Muncie for my entire medical education afforded me multiple opportunities to interact with and work alongside IUH Ball Memorial Family Medicine residents and faculty. I felt at home! The friendliness and collegiality of the residents, faculty, and staff and the program’s close-knit, family-like culture are truly exceptional. There is a love for teaching, learning and practicing medicine that makes for a positive, supportive environment.
Coupled with this culture and environment, Ball Memorial’s full-spectrum breadth of training—especially an excellent outpatient clinic experience, strong procedural training, and many obstetrics and global health opportunities—make me very excited to train at Ball! My clinical interests include social determinants of health, lifestyle medicine, addiction medicine and patient education.
Outside medicine, I love to run, hike, cycle, mountain bike, snowboard, watch movies with Stephanie and wrestle our four full-of-life kids Ryan, Paisley, Corinne, and Lochland.

Tate Church, MD
Hello! My name is Tate Church. I was born just up I-69 in Fort Wayne, IN. I was raised in Oakwood, Ohio, a small rural town in Northwest Ohio. I am a country boy at heart as I spent many hours on my grandfather’s cattle farm and my family’s Boer goat farm. I attended Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. After graduating from Wright State, I was able to stay in Dayton and complete medical school at Wright State. Throughout medical school, I enjoyed many aspects of medicine which contributed to me choosing family medicine.
I have interests in rural medicine, preventative medicine, and outpatient procedures. I am excited to be part of the Ball Memorial family. During my 4th year of medical school, I enjoyed getting to know the people who make up the Ball Memorial Family Medicine Residency. The family atmosphere combined with the excellent training offered made me excited to be a part of this program. I am looking forward to being a part of the Muncie community and to serve the people of Muncie.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Taylor, our daughter, Eva and our two lovely dogs. We enjoy exploring the outdoors, running, biking, playing board games, puzzling, and recently baking. We love keeping up on sports including college football, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Lions.

Sabrina Cole, MD
Hello! My name is Sabrina Cole. I was born in Southwest Michigan and attended college there. After receiving my Bachelor's, I traveled to New Orleans, LA to attend Tulane University School of Medicine. I also studied at their School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine while there and received my Master's of Public Health.
After medical school, I worked for five years with the United States Navy as a General Medical Officer in Jacksonville, FL and Chicago, IL. When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, stepson, and two cats. We enjoy reading, gardening and baking. We are excited to come to Muncie and to join the Ball Memorial family.

Tobin Eicher, MD
Greetings! My name is Tobin Eicher, and I am from Berne, Indiana. Berne, a small, friendly Swiss community, is just an hour northeast of Muncie. After high school, I studied biology at Bluffton University, a Mennonite institution in rural western Ohio. Because of my faith, I have a strong desire to serve others. This has been one of my main draws to family medicine: not only am I doing something that I love (talking with people all day), but I have the opportunity to serve and help others along the way.
While at Bluffton University, I met my wife. We married after college and lived in Ohio for a year. During that time, I worked as an EMT. We moved to Muncie in the summer of 2016, and I began medical school through Indiana University that fall. Spending all four years of medical school at IU’s Muncie campus gave us the opportunity to get to know Muncie and its medical community quite well. We couldn’t be more excited to stay here another three years.
When I’m not in the hospital or in clinic, you’ll find me running around with our toddler at home, walking our miniature schnauzer Enzo, playing board games with friends, or competitively driving my Mustang with the Sports Car Club of America. I have also recently taken to baking, so you’ll often find our house smelling of apple dumplings!
As for my little family, we feel blessed to be here in Muncie. I am excited about spending the next three years with Ball’s Family Medicine Residency!

Vassi Hinova, MD
Hello! My name is Vassi Hinova! I was born in the small Eastern European country of Bulgaria. At the age of five, my family and I moved to Indiana and set up roots. My younger sister and I loved growing up in Fishers, Indiana. While my sister has since left for sunny California, I continue to enjoy my days in this amazing Hoosier state!
I did my undergraduate degree at Purdue University in Sociology. I felt to treat people I had to first learn about people and their obstacles. After that, I went to Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. While in medical school, I found myself falling in love with every rotation that I was on and realized Family Medicine was the perfect choice.
I chose IU Ball Memorial because I loved the sense of community. I felt inspired by the enthusiasm and kindness of the faculty and residents there. Immediately, I knew that was the place for me. I enjoy all aspects of medicine, but am specifically passionate about women’s health, addiction, diabetes management, and rural medicine.

Chelsea Kolodziej, DO
Hello! My name is Chelsea Kolodziej, and I am from South Bend, IN. As a Ball State alum, I am thrilled to be coming back to the Muncie community. At Ball State, I majored in Psychology, French, and Spanish. I took my first job after graduation at a mental health facility where I discovered my passion for medicine and working with underserved populations.
I attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Greensburg, PA. While in medical school, I had the opportunity to live in Mirebalais, Haiti, where I studied narrative medicine and social determinants of health. While there, I gained an appreciation for the value of using an integrative approach to patient care. My interests in medicine include preventative medicine, addiction medicine, and behavioral health. I chose IU Health Ball because I really felt a connection with the people and the curriculum allows the flexibility to incorporate my interests into my training.
When I am not at work, I spend my time quilting and reading sci-fi. I live in Fishers, IN with my boyfriend who is a family medicine resident in Indianapolis and our two cats. I am always trying to learn something new. Most recently, that includes learning to speak Polish and playing the banjo.

Rachel Olsen, DO
Greetings! My name is Rachel Olsen, and I thrilled to have been blessed to join the Ball Family Medicine Residency Program! I consider myself a well-aged Midwesterner having grown up in the extreme North-East corner of Illinois (I was practically in Wisconsin!) and now having also lived in Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!), and now Indiana. Spending my childhood smack dab in-between Chicago and Milwaukee allowed me to appreciate the smaller town I lived in, but still offer many opportunities to taste the big city life. Muncie is turning out to be amazingly comfortable and affords all the necessities, plenty of extras, and is generally a great place to land!
I came to medicine by a more circuitous route having started out on a path to Academia and Research. I earned my BA in Biological sciences from Monmouth College in Illinois, home of the Fighting Scots and an incredible display of Scottish influences including our Bagpipe Corp. After graduation I intended to pursue and earn a PhD in some realm of Biological Sciences and started out in Academic Research. After wandering through labs working in Genetic Toxicology and Biochemistry, I ended up finding a strong interest in Microbiology and Immunology. I earned my M.A. in Microbiology from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in December of 2012 and spent a year working in Reproductive Endocrinology and Physiology at KUMed. I soon after started teaching “full-time” as an Adjunct Professor at a small junior college in Kansas, where I taught through medical school and I still teach today! I had developed a strong itch during my master’s work to move towards a career that provided the opportunity to use the wealth of scientific knowledge I gained over the years to make a more immediate and direct impact on patients’ lives. All my research had been in areas of health sciences with the goal of discovering new therapies and treatment modalities to help develop solutions for patients suffering from a spectrum of illnesses. Ultimately, the bacteria weren’t personable enough just growing in their dishes and I resorted to buying giant stuffed microbes to provide a semblance of social engagement with my “bugs”. I felt there was just too much distance between the work being done and the potential of truly making an impact for patients. The exposure to medical school curriculum and training I witness while completing my master’s lead me in the direction of Medicine to bridge that gap and I made the decision to reroute my future. I’m so glad I did!
My clinical interests during medical school at Kansas City University were broad. I found nearly every topic to be of great interest. I learned I especially loved Obstetric care and Women’s Health and predilection for procedures and surgery. Of all the specialties though, Family Medicine quickly stood out as the perfect match for me by offering the chance to home in on those interests while still allowing me to grow as a practitioner in the many other facets encompassed under the umbrella that is Family Medicine. The residency program at IU Health Ball Memorial stole the show during my interview season and I had no doubts this was where I would receive training of the highest quality from a group of the most caring, compassionate, and gifted physicians one could hope to have as mentors. My hope is to master as many areas and techniques as possible and to especially grow in the ability to manage OB patients including performing C-sections. I would love to eventually practice in a more rural environment where the need for full-spectrum family medicine is so great and where the ability to provide higher risk OB care and services would help so many who may not be able to travel significant distances to obtain the care they deserve.
Aside from my obsessions with science and medicine, I do have many other outside interests. My mother was an artist and I picked up a love of sketching, painting, crafting, ceramics, etc. from her and continue to love pursuing those when I have the time. I also sing and play flute and piccolo all mostly with church as my husband of 10 years is a Church Music Director. We have 2 daughters, Temperance Rós (8) and Céilí Grace (6), and 2 fur babies Roselyn our Chiweenie and Melody our Miniature Schnauzer. Home is filled with music everyday with someone either on an instrument or singing just because!

Alex Thompson, DO
Hello! My name is Alex Thompson. I am a Hoosier native having been born and raised in southern Indiana and am glad to be back in my home state after 4 years in Colorado for medical school. I am so excited to get to be a part of the Ball Memorial family and look forward to the next three years of residency training!
I knew early on that I wanted to work in primary care and practice in a rural setting. After completing my B.S. in biology at IU Bloomington, I took a year to gain experience in the medical field before attending medical school in Parker, CO. During medical school, I fell in love with all the different aspects of medicine, further enforcing the idea that family medicine was the specialty for me. One of the things that stood out to me about Ball Memorial Family Medicine Residency was the focus on full spectrum family medicine and additional training in procedures. I plan on returning to southern Indiana at the end of my training and practicing full spectrum family medicine in my hometown.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and my rescue puppy, Indy. I am always looking for something new to build in my family's woodshop.

Rachel Townsley, MD
Hello! I grew up on a dairy farm in western Ohio, and my favorite place to be is still out in the pasture with the cows. I am a double Buckeye, attending The Ohio State University for college and medical school. My B.S. is in Food Science and Technology with a minor in Dairy Science. For many years I planned to be a veterinarian, but halfway through college decided my talents were better suited for use in human medicine.
I plan to practice broad-scope family medicine in a high need rural area, and have particular interest in prenatal care, behavioral health and addiction. I was drawn to the program in Muncie because of the focus on full-spectrum care and the very warm welcome I received from staff, faculty and residents.
Outside of medicine I enjoy working on my family's cattle farm, trapshooting, walking with my dog, cooking, baking, grilling (anything to do with food), reading, and singing in church.