The Transitional Year Residency at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital attracts outstanding physicians with a variety of backgrounds and interests. Our faculty and residents actively work to maintain a welcoming environment for all. A large network of residency alumni practice around the country and here at IU Health and IU School of Medicine.
Current Residents
Manhalh Bakdash, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
Being born at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie is home to me. I spent the first couple years of my life in Muncie, before settling in Fishers, IN, where I completed the majority of my schooling. I went to IUPUI for undergrad, where I majored in biology and minored in chemistry. I taught high school biology and chemistry in an Indianapolis private school, before matriculating into the IU School of Medicine. Although I am passionate about being an educator, my interest in learning human anatomy guided me into the pursuit of a career in radiology.
I completed all four years of medical school at the IU School of Medicine Muncie campus. After falling in love with Muncie during my first two years, I decided to stay here for my third and fourth years as well. I was even lucky enough to complete my OB/GYN rotation with the physician who delivered me! After working with the previous transitional year residents, as well as witnessing the strong leadership of the program director firsthand, I knew that the training residents received at Ball Memorial Hospital was exceptional and there was no other place I wanted to be. I have dreamt about being a transitional year resident at Ball Memorial Hospital for the past couple of years, and I am very grateful that I can now say my dream has come true. After this year, I will be continuing my diagnostic radiology residency at IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Following my father’s, brother’s and uncle’s footsteps, I will be beginning my residency training at Ball Memorial Hospital, and I could not be more grateful and excited.
In my free time, I am very passionate about cycling (mostly in scrubs, to and from the hospital), camping, traveling, hiking, watching and playing soccer (Bayern Munich fan), playing video games and spending time with my family. I am looking forward to receiving excellent training at Ball Memorial Hospital and making my Muncie family proud!
Wyeth Brock, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
I am a lifetime Hoosier. I grew up in the small town of Morgantown, south of Indy. I then completed both my undergraduate and medical school at IU School of Medicine. I will also continue my medical training with IU School of Medicine’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency program after my intern year here at Ball Memorial Hospital. Indiana is a place I am happy to call my home, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to do my residency training here.
Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with family friends doing various outdoor activities with such as hiking, frisbee golf, camping, rock climbing and lake days. I am also a former IU swimmer and continue to pursue athletic goals in running and triathlon.
Connie Chen, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
I grew up in Kokomo, IN and attended Indiana University for my undergraduate studies. At IU, I majored in biology and spent a year studying biochemistry at the University of Oxford, which is where I met my husband. I continued my education at the IU School of Medicine, spending the first two years in Muncie and completing most of my clinical rotations in Indianapolis. My interest in radiology was sparked by a summer research project on pediatric neuroradiology at UCSF. I am excited to return to Muncie for my transitional year before moving to Washington, DC for the diagnostic radiology program at George Washington University. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.
Michael DeBrota, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
I was born and raised in Zionsville, IN, a close-knit suburb of Indianapolis. My first two undergraduate years were spent at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN, where I initially majored in software engineering. Deciding to become a physician, I subsequently changed majors and transferred to Miami University in Oxford, OH, where I received a BS in biochemistry in 2020.
Returning home, I attended Indiana University School of Medicine and was fortunate to spend my first two years at the Bloomington campus before moving to Indianapolis for my clinical rotations. In my third year, I was first introduced to the beautiful city of Muncie and Ball Memorial Hospital during my neurology clerkship.
I have been a musician, actor and performer from an early age, and have enjoyed performing in many bands, choirs, ensembles, musicals and drama productions over the years. In 2013, I began producing my own music under the name “dBrota”. Apart from music, in my free time I enjoy cooking, biking, reading, traveling, watching sports, attending trivia nights, playing tabletop games and spending time with friends and family.
During my residency interview, I was impressed by the great opportunities, welcoming community, and support offered at Ball Memorial Hospital. Needless to say, I was thrilled to discover I had matched here at my number one choice of TY program. In this upcoming year, I look forward to helping patients, learning and working alongside my fellow residents.
Aidan Hannon, MD, MS
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
I was born and raised in West Lafayette, IN. I stayed close to home for my undergraduate degree in nutrition science from Purdue University. I spent the next four years at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis where I decided I wanted to pursue a career in neurology. The residency program at Ball Memorial Hospital stood out to me on the interview trail as a close-knit program with great faculty support and I am looking forward to a great year of training to learn how to be a resident! In my free time I like to spend time outdoors, exercise, spend time with my dogs and watch stand up comedy.
Ahmed Ismail, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
George Washington University School of Medicine
Born and raised in New York, I attended Skidmore College, where I earned my degree in biochemistry. After graduating, I worked as a scientist at Estee Lauder Companies, directing clinical trials and assessing new products. Soon afterward, I went on to attend medical school at George Washington University, where I discovered a passion for radiology and exploring innovative avenues within the field.
During my interview with the Transitional Year program at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, I was impressed by the program's unwavering commitment to excellence in medical education and its warm, welcoming culture. The faculty's dedication to fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment, coupled with their emphasis on resident wellness, resonated deeply with me. Thrilled to have matched here, I eagerly anticipate my clinical experiences and look forward to forming lasting friendships with co-residents and staff. Following my training at Ball Memorial Hospital, I plan on returning to New York to complete my diagnostic radiology residency.
Beyond medicine, my interests include spending quality time with my wife, watching and playing sports, listening to podcasts, playing board games and spending time with friends.
Nicholas O'Connor, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
My childhood was spent in Brown County, IN, where I lived before moving closer to Indianapolis. In 2016, I attended college at IUPUI and received my bachelor's in biology through Purdue in 2020. In that same year, I entered the IU School of Medicine and completed my studies in 2024. I am grateful for all those who have supported me throughout my training, and I am especially appreciative of Indiana's two great universities — IU and Purdue — that have provided me with my education. As a transitional resident here at Ball Memorial Hospital, I am excited to be part of a program with a strong history of training physicians going back as far as 1936! My hope is to use the skills and abilities that I have been given to help heal and care for those in the Muncie community I serve.
Outside the hospital, I cherish spending time with my wife; I enjoy playing the violin and piano, going hiking, exercising, reading or studying something new. I also love learning about other languages, especially Spanish!
Michael A. Tanchevski, DO
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Born and raised in Crown Point, IN, I attended Wabash College where I played soccer and obtained my undergraduate degree in biology. After undergrad, I attended Marian University in Indianapolis for medical school.
I am beyond excited to join the special team at Ball Memorial Hospital and contribute to the compassionate and supportive culture I felt and appreciated during my interview. Following my intern year, I will be moving to Toledo, Ohio to complete my physical medicine and rehabilitation residency training.
In my free time, I love spending quality time with family, hitting the links with friends and going to the gym. Also, I’m pretty good at ping-pong!
Connor Tebbe, MD
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
I grew up in Westfield, IN, and have stayed in Indiana for all my education. I completed my undergraduate degree in biology at Purdue University. Throughout my undergrad, I worked as a pharmacy technician at a hospital in Indianapolis. I completed medical school in Indianapolis at Indiana University School of Medicine.
In my free time, I enjoy playing sports and watching games with friends. I am a fan of the Colts, Pacers and Boilermakers. I play lots of cards, especially euchre and the occasional board game. I also try to make it to Colorado when I can to camp and ski.
I am excited to complete my transition year at Ball Memorial Hospital! I know I will get strong clinical experience that will prepare me for my advanced program. After my intern year, I will be moving back to Indianapolis for anesthesiology residency at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Matthew Thornburg, MD, MS
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
I grew up in nearby Winchester, IN. Prior to medical school, I attended Indiana University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and a master’s degree in cellular and integrative physiology. I then attended Indiana University School of Medicine, with my first two years of training in Muncie and the second two in Indianapolis. I’m very excited to return to Muncie and Ball Memorial Hospital for a year as I will have the opportunity to learn from many great physicians and be able to serve the community. After my transitional year, I will complete a diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Outside the hospital I enjoy exercise, being outdoors, spending time with friends and family and watching IU basketball.
Samuel Zike, MD, MA
Transitional Year (Muncie), PGY 1
Indiana University School of Medicine
Raised in Fishers, IN, I grew up as a travel hockey player which allowed me to play and live in cities like Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI for several years. After returning to Fishers and finishing up high school, I attended Purdue University where I majored in health and kinesiology. I went on to obtain a masters degree in medical sciences at Loyola University Chicago. In my first two years in medical school at Indiana University, I was at the Muncie campus where I enjoyed getting to know my community and trying out local restaurants. As I progressed through medical school, I grew a love for the field of anesthesiology due to the physiology, pharmacology and procedural skills involved. I am very excited for my future at Ball Memorial Hospital as a transitional year resident and Indiana University School of Medicine for my anesthesiology specialty training.
Outside of work, I enjoy being a dog parent with my wife for our miniature dachshund, Winston. I love playing hockey, weightlifting, training for mini marathons, attending concerts, hanging out with family and friends and working on the next home improvement project. Most importantly, I look forward to spending another year in Muncie learning with my co-residents and staff.
Alumni
Billy Chien, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University
Jon Class, MD
Neuroradiology/Radiation Oncology
Elaine Colomb, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University
Shannon Gidley, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Zack Hall, MD
Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Alex Nelson, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic
Ryan Stoffel, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis
Chris Tarnowski, MD
Anesthesiology
Jacob Turner, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University
Margaret Watkins, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Calvin Willhite, MD
Anesthesiology, New York University
Brittany Blum, DO
Interventional Radiology, Medical College of Georgia
Derek Fox, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Joshua Long, DO
Anesthesiology, Wayne State University
Cale Melham, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toledo
Neeta Patwari, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Jacobi Medical Center
Mitchell Rice, MD
Zach Shumaker, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
Joshua Streveler, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic
Kyle Sturdy, MD
Radiology
Adam Warner, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Lenox Hill Hospital
Casey Wendorff, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, IU School of Medicine
Brady Boles, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Jason Garrett, DO
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Gage Howard, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, University of Virginia
Omar Husain, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Temple University Hospital
Ariba Khalid, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, IU School of Medicine
Grant MacKinnon, MD
Radiology, University of Michigan
Luke Miller, DO
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Rahul Nalamasu, DO
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Brooks Rodibaugh, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Albin Vleck, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Lily Wolf, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, IU School of Medicine
Denise Clark, MD
Dermatology, University of Cincinnati
Jonathon Conatser, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, University of Oklahoma Medical Center
James Daggett, DO
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Samuel Kimmel, DO
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Louisville
Jessica Kuo, MD
Anesthesiology, UCSF
David Price, MD
Ophthalmology, IU School of Medicine
Hunter Promer, DO
Radiology, Advocate Healthcare
Jared Salisbury, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, IU School of Medicine
David Schmitz, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Ohio State University
D. Brock Smith, DO
Radiology, Integris Baptist Medical Center
Christian Briggs, MD
Ophthalmology, University of Louisville
Jesse Dority, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Patrick England, MD
Radiology, University of Louisville
Katelyn Glines, DO
Anesthesiology, West Virginia University
Patrick Goodin, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Camille Gordon, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, University of South Florida
Michael Groswald, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, IU School of Medicine
Scott O’Brien, MD
Anesthesiology, Jackson Memorial Hospital
Derek Rohlfing, MD
Anesthesiology, IU School of Medicine
Evan Rush, MD
Diagnostic Radiology, Ohio State University