David Amrhein. M.D.
I was born and raised in Highland, IN, in an area some may know as “The Region.” I did my undergraduate training at the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. After spending a year doing research on alcoholism after college, I went to medical school at Indiana University. I spent my first two years of medical school at the Muncie Center for Medical Education before heading to Indianapolis to complete my final two years.

I chose Ball Memorial for my training because I thought it was the best program around for learning to do full-spectrum Family Medicine. One of the things that drew me to Family Medicine was the variety in the specialty and the opportunity to do inpatient medicine, obstetrics, and procedures including colonoscopy. There is no doubt that Ball offers solid training in each of these areas. Having rotated at Ball during medical school, I also saw first-hand how the faculty, residents, and staff interacted with each other. I was impressed by the quality, personality, and friendliness of the people at Ball and the camaraderie they had amongst each other. They truly made me feel at home.

In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, watching and playing sports, working out, and watching movies. I also enjoy traveling when I get the opportunity.

Jennifer Biggerstaff, M.D.
Hello! I grew up in Lebanon, IN, a small rural community about 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis. I did my undergraduate training at Purdue University and then graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine. In my free time I like to read, mountain bike, swim and run. My husband Ben and I enjoy playing games, being outdoors, camping and playing with our ornery labradoodle, Zoe. After spending a month at Ball Memorial during my fourth year of medical school, I knew this is where I wanted to spend my next three years training. My husband and I loved the program enough to sell our home and leave the comfort of the city of which we had grown so fond. The OB training at BMH was just what I was looking for with Ob/Gyn’s who enjoyed teaching and working with Family Medicine residents. I also appreciated the abundance of procedural training available. Ultimately, I was drawn to BMH by the people who make the program so wonderful! I found compassionate, accessible faculty and residents who enjoyed what they were doing and the people with whom they were working. Furthermore, the residents had a confidence level in their abilities from the training they were receiving which I did not see in several of the programs with which I interviewed. Ball Memorial is a great place to be for Family Medicine!

Brad Goates, M.D.
I am originally from West Valley City, Utah, just outside Salt Lake City. I grew up about five minutes away from my wife, Connie, although we didn’t meet until during college. We fell in love at the lake, and have been married for six years. During medical school at the University of Utah we had two little girls. Brooke, who is now three, and Kate, who is seven months, keep us happy and keep us busy.

I spend most of my time away from the hospital with my family. We enjoy waterskiing, playing cards, going on walks, and anything that involves water. I am addicted to golf – although I am not good – and am teaching Connie how to play. I am interested in public health, health policy, preventative care, health care management, and doctor/patient communication.

So how did a Utah guy end up in the Midwest? I chose Ball Memorial for my training because it was the perfect fit for me: excellent training in all aspects of Family Medicine, fun and energetic faculty, residents who knew how to work hard and have fun, and a family friendly atmosphere.

Katherine Mullins, M.D.
I was born and raised in Virginia and my hometown is Charlottesville . I earned my B.S. in Biology at Bridgewater College in VA. After that I took some time off and traveled to Fiji for 6 months. I went to medical school at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. My hobbies include spending time with my family and friends, international travel, anything multicultural, camping/hiking, cooking, theater and art. I chose to interview at Ball because it seemed to have a great mix of everything I was looking for: opportunities for international work, procedural training, great OB and top quality residents and directors. What I found when I interviewed was this plus more. The residents and directors were enthusiastic and caring, compassionate yet hilarious. I knew that I would have a blast while finishing my training. I also saw residents who were well rounded in their medical knowledge and who seemed confident in their skills.

Darren Reed, D.O.
How do you begin a brief summary about yourself that future patients, potential residents, and sarcastic friends and family will read? How do you start an elegant personal narrative that will be the ‘first hit’ on Google?

Well, here goes nothing... Hi! My name is Darren Reed. I originally grew up in Kentland, IN, which has to be one of the smallest county seats in Indiana, and then ventured 100 miles directly east to attend Manchester College, which has to be one of the smallest colleges in the Midwest. After graduation, I moved west 300 miles to attend Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri, which has to be one of the most rural medical schools in the United States. But I wouldn’t trade my many tremendous experiences, including participating in athletics, building great relationships, and discovering myself, in these little rural places for the world! What’s the best next logical step? Yup, to move back east 300 miles to attend Ball Memorial as a Family Medicine Resident in Muncie, IN. My entire educational career and the beginning of my professional career will all take place on the same latitude! Besides the perfect size and location, I choose Ball Memorial for its great volume of pediatrics, obstetrics, and adult medicine patients, the opportunity for countless procedures, and, most importantly, the intangible ‘feeling’ I received from the great Residents and Directors of this outstanding Family Medicine Program. And it doesn’t hurt that I can get some good gossip about Ponch, Wee Man, and Jack Osborne!

Jean Roberts, M.D.
Undergraduate School: University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Medical School: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Hometown: Lexington, KY

Hobbies and Interests: Most importantly, I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband, Ryan, and I have been married for eleven years. We have two little boys: Caleb is three years old and Jack was born on the Fourth of July 2007! I also enjoy swimming, home decorating, rubber stamping, singing, church activities, and shopping.

When I asked one of my medical school advisors what I should look for in a residency program, she told me to “choose a program where the directors hold the same values you do.” My values include being a competent physician who provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive care for my patients, caring for the underserved, and holding my family as the top priority in my life despite a demanding career choice. After spending a month with the Ball Memorial residents and faculty during my fourth year of medical school, I realized that I had found the program that shared these values.

Another significant factor in my decision was the training that this residency provides. I did not find another program that offered more or better training in the full spectrum of family medicine: procedures, OB, international medicine, sports medicine…the list is extensive. The curriculum is well-designed and already well-established. I feel confident that Ball will prepare me for whatever kind of medical practice that I desire to pursue after residency.

The final factor that made my decision quite easy was that I quickly felt “at home” at Ball. I felt extremely comfortable with the residents, directors, and the hospital staff. There is a family atmosphere within this program that is unlike anything I found at other programs. I jokingly refer to the residency as “Camp Ball Memorial”. The social side of this residency provides for great team building and the development of relationships that will last far beyond these three years.

Adrienne Robertson, M.D.
With familial roots firmly planted in rural southeastern Louisiana, I have always enjoyed the excitement of travel. Of course, that probably stems from the fact that I've lived in numerous places including Virginia, North Carolina and Texas. I settled in Alabama long enough to complete my undergraduate degree in Biology at Auburn University Montgomery. After graduation, I hiked up the road to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine for my graduate degree. When the task of choosing a residency came about, my options seemed endless but, since I grew up as the daughter of missionaries, the burning desire to work with the underserved was one of my foremost concerns.

I sought out a place that would equip me to provide care in a rural community here in the US and around the world. Some of the things that initially drew me to Ball were the opportunity to do procedures, the excellent obstetrical training, and the opportunity to experience international medicine. I had thoroughly researched the program prior to coming to Muncie, but my expectations were surpassed when I interviewed and discovered Ball offered far above and beyond what I had initially hoped to find.

Not only does the Ball Family Medicine residency program provide strong academic training in a community setting, but it also offers the chance to work with an exceptional caliber of directors who truly enjoy teaching and desire your success. The residents are some of the best folks I have had the privilege of meeting. They work hard and foster teamwork in a supportive environment. The resident benefit package is amazing and speak volumes about Ball Memorial Hospital's appreciation of their service to the hospital.

I am excited about endless possibilities the future holds and am confident that I will gain the necessary training at a Ball to become the competent Family physician I aspire to be. I look forward to continuing my education, gaining new experiences and, of course, traveling!

Lisa Ward, M.D.
I am a country girl from a farm a few miles outside of Lewistown, IL, a town of about 2,500 people. I attended Augustana College for my undergraduate studies and later attended the University of Illinois, College of Medicine. I met my fiancé in Rockford, IL during medical school and my current hobbies include wedding planning and decorating, scuba diving, white water rafting, volleyball, and Chinese brush painting. My fiancé and I are looking forward to Muncie because we felt a sense of belonging during the interview which was only made stronger during second look weekend. The residents are happy, active people that I look forward to working with.