Meet the leaders of the Internal Medicine Residency program at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
Brandon S. Dickey, MD, FACP
Program Director
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Dr. Brandon Dickey is a native of Anderson, IN, and earned his undergraduate degree at IU Bloomington and his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he went through the Muncie campus.
After finishing his internal medicine residency at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Dr. Dickey was hired as the Ball Internal Medicine Residency ambulatory clinic director in 2007 and became an associate program director. He assumed the role of program director of the Ball Internal Medicine Residency program in 2019. Dr. Dickey is a strong medical leader at both IU Health Ball and beyond. He is Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at IU School of Medicine and serves as both regional site leader for the ,edicine clerkship and director of Fundamentals of Clinical Practice for IU School of Medicine-Muncie. He also has been chairman of the Ball Medical Executive Committee and is currently Vice Chair of the Ball Medicine Department. He has been involved in the American College of Physicians for many years and he is a fellow of ACP and recipient of the Governor’s Award.
Dr. Dickey is the recipient of multiple IU School of Medicine-Muncie Teaching Awards as well as the 2017 Indiana University Trustees’ Teaching Award. He is a frequent speaker at various community functions and patient education groups.
His interests include virtually all sports and games. Most of his time away from the hospital is spent with his family. He also enjoys playing golf and gaming.
Rodney O. Yuhico, MD, FACP
Associate Program Director
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Cebu Institute of Medicine, Philippines
Residency: IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Dr. Yuhico is a native of the Philippines with an undergraduate degree in Nursing. He completed his medical education at Cebu Institute of Medicine in the Philippines. After moving to the United States, he completed his internal medicine residency training at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Dr. Yuhico enjoys teaching residents and is extremely proud to be a part of their learning process. In Dr. Yuhico's free time he enjoys spending time with his family and watching many different sports.
Joni E. Miller, MD, FACP
Associate Program Director
Adjunct Clinical Assistance Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Orlando Regional Healthcare Center
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Dr. Miller hails from Portland, Indiana and spent eight years within Indiana University obtaining a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a doctorate in medicine. She completed her residency in IM-Peds in a large community hospital in Orlando, Florida, where she served as chief resident in her final year. Since then, Dr. Miller has had professional experience in various settings, but her first love is being directly involved in the evolution of medical education and the future of health.
In addition to spending time with family, Dr. Miller's varied personal interests include traveling and reading, especially on intellectual pursuits such as philosophy, ethics and critical thinking, as well as nutrition and wellness.
James E. Ong, MD, FACP
Associate Program Director
Adjunct Clinical Assistance Professor of Medicine
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Dr. Ong grew up in Chesterton, Indiana and finished his undergraduate degree at Ball State University. After teaching for several years, he obtained his medical degree from Indiana University and finished his Internal Medicine Residency at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Since completing his residency, Dr. Ong has practiced general internal medicine, worked in an urgent care clinic, served as a skilled nursing facility director and worked as a hospitalist. He is particularly interested in geriatric medicine, improving the quality of transitional care, and developing a patient-focused delivery of healthcare.
Dr. Ong enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife, daughter, three sons and granddaughter. His interests include drawing, photography and backpacking.
Heidi M.L. Lakanen, MD, FACP
Associate Program Director
Adjunct Clinical Assistance Professor of Medicine
Medical School: University of Michigan
Residency: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
Board Certification: Internal Medicine
Dr. Lakanen grew up in Michigan and completed her undergraduate studies at Hope College. After medical school and residency in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she practiced internal medicine in South Carolina. She and her husband relocated to Indiana, where she practiced at the Upland Health and Diagnostic Center for over 12 years. Four children later, it was time for a more child- and family-friendly schedule.
Dr. Lakanen now staffs the medicine clinic and works part-time at college health clinics or urgent care settings. She has helped with journal club and evidence-based medicine since 1997. She enjoys translating the medical literature into language patients can understand. Now she enjoys equipping the next generation of doctors to do the same and deliver compassionate evidence based care. Her husband is a pre-med adviser at a local university; together they enjoy hosting college students talking about what it is really like to be a doctor.
When not involved in the above, Dr. Lakanen proudly wears the title “Mom.” She loves spending time with her family biking, hiking, walking, driving as soccer mom and cooking. She and her family are actively involved in a great local church.