Karalee Bessinger , M.D.

For the most part, I grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky. I attended the University of Kentucky for my undergraduate degree in biotechnology, and the University of Louisville College of Medicine. I love spending time with my husband.  Together we like to hike, play music, run, get together with friends, and just hang together.  We enjoy participating in church/bible study.  I am truly a dork which is made quite evident when I list the top three things in this world that I never seem to lose interest in: music, biology, and the Bible.

To accurately explain why I chose Ball, I have to first explain why I chose Family Medicine as a specialty.  While I could go on for some time on that subject alone, the aspects that most appealed to me about Family Med were the vast variety in everyday work, building a relationship with the patient, continuity of care, and a belief that approaching the patient as a whole person is the ideal means by which to achieve the best healthcare possible for that patient.  With this in mind, I was looking for a residency program that would not only train well in every area within the broad scope of family medicine, but also had great depth within each subject matter such that the resident would graduate with an education that could rival those physicians within a more specialized scope of practice (peds, OB, etc.).  I was not looking for a program that was really strong in one or two areas but somewhat lacking in others, because that would defeat my original purpose for choosing Family Medicine.  Ball actually exceeded my expectations in this regard.  In every area (medicine, OB, procedures, peds, clinic, etc.) they had the best educational experience available.  With the full-spectrum education available at Ball, it is possible for every resident to graduate as the physician they want to be. 

One of the things that first stood out to me about Ball was the fact that everything from the call schedule to the great compensation is really set up to take care of the residents.  One thing I learned during my third year of medical school was that I learn best when I am in a supportive environment where I have time for family and other priorities in my life.  I consider medicine to be a very important aspect of my life, one that I enjoy very much and also impacts the lives of others; however, I find that when it is the only thing in my life I actually have a decreased ability for learning, retaining information, and patient care.  I was looking for an environment in which I would have plenty of responsibility and independence, but also great instruction and supportive directors and residents.  Ball was by far the best program I came across in this regard.  Aside from three months of intern year and two months of second year, all call is home call, so while I have the opportunity to learn just as much, I have the option to go home and have dinner with my husband or even sleep in my own bed if things are slow.  In essence, I do not have to be in the hospital if I am not learning. 

I was also looking for a program in which I could learn, and be competent in, many different and complex procedures.  This was an important aspect for me in my search for a residency program because I find that procedures are a nice way to break up the day, but more so because I would like to practice in a medically underserved area in which it may not be possible to tell my patients to travel 4 hours to get a colonoscopy.  Ball was one of the few programs I encountered that trained in such a wide variety of procedures including endoscopy and cesarean section.

Kurtis Ellis, M.D.

I was born and raised in Riverdale, Utah. I attended Weber State University in Ogden, Utah for my undergraduate degree in Zoology, and the University of Utah for medical school. Go Utes! I love to travel and during my schooling years I lived in Norway for 2 years as a proselytizing missionary for my church, and have spent time in Peru and China on medical missions. During my last year of medical school I was lucky enough to marry my beautiful wife Camee. She is my perfect companion, and together we love to travel, go to concerts, play basketball, softball, golf, and ultimate frisbee, go camping and hiking, and do almost anything outdoors (we really miss the mountains). I am also a devoted University of Utah football and Chicago Cubs fan – everyone needs a passion.

While attending medical school I realized that to be happy I needed to find a specialty and training program that would allow me to become an excellent physician while not neglecting my family. That is what attracted me to family medicine and Ball Memorial’s program, the fact that they understood a need for balance. Residents here seemed so happy because they got great training and worked hard, but also had time to be with family and live life otherwise. The home call system is a great example of this. I also liked the program’s broad spectrum training in all facets of family medicine with the ability to tailor one’s education as they see fit – opportunities are endless. There is also a strong emphasis on learning procedures, and the directors are excited and enthusiastic about teaching and truly care about the individual. That is why I chose to come here.

Joanna Foster , M.D.
Hey there!  I was born and raised in the western suburbs of Chicago, specifically LaGrange, IL.  I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Butler University in Indianapolis and fell in love with the low cost of living.  After spending two years working in the pharmaceutical industry as an analytical chemist (I know, actually describes my personality as well!), I decided my heart was really in patient care.  I stayed in Indianapolis all four years at Indiana University School of Medicine.  In my spare time, you’ll find me with my husband, Josh, and our three dogs: Rockit, Riley, and Bella.  We love to cook, travel, explore the arts, and stay active at the gym or outdoors. 

Erica Gillette., M.D.

Though a Hoosier by birth, I was raised in a map dot of a town in rural Southern Kentucky near Mammoth Cave, where the local claim to fame is the absence of a single solitary stoplight within the entire county.  After that, I ventured to the “big city” of Lexington, KY to the University of Kentucky where I earned a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Education.  It was during this time that I met my husband, Jason, while he was in Seminary school in a small town just outside Lexington.  After graduating from college, I surprised everyone by leaving Kentucky and moving back to my birth-state to attend Indiana University School of Medicine.  I spent the first two years of medical school at a satellite campus here in good ole Muncie and managed to add two more Hoosiers to the census (Ava is 4 and Landon is 3). 

Eventually, I plan to return to a rural area, much like my hometown to practice and I needed a residency that could help prepare me for, well, just about anything and everything.  I chose Ball because it offered training that covered the full-spectrum of Family Medicine with sufficient depth and focus, but had a curriculum that was flexible enough to tailor to my individual goals.  The procedural and obstetrical opportunities are excellent and the atmosphere really is one of “family.”  I truly do love my job.

My hobbies include furniture shopping (for furniture we don’t need and never buy) with my husband and kids, sewing, embroidery, charcoal sketching, scrapbooking, and decorating cakes.  I am also the reigning and undefeated champion of Hungry Hungry Hippos at my house.   

Ashley Hunter , M.D.
I grew up in northeastern Kentucky and spent most of my time outdoors as a child—I was definitely a “tom-boy,” and I still don’t view myself as being terribly “girly” now.  I loved growing up in the country, and I hope to give my children the same experience one day.  I feel that rural communities are special and close-knit, but also require specialized medical attention, which I would love to do after residency. 

I received my undergraduate education at the University of Kentucky, getting a BS in Biology with a minor in Mathematics.  I also attended the University of Kentucky for medical school.  I married my husband after my first year of medical school and we are expecting our first child, a boy, July 2009.  We have two wild but lovable dogs, an Australian Shepherd and a Husky.  When I have free time, I enjoy reading, playing soccer, being outdoors, and horseback riding. 

Doshandra C. Newton , M.D.

I was raised in Augusta, Ga, home of the Masters Golf Tournament and James Brown. I am truly a down south Georgia girl at heart J  I completed my undergraduate degree from Fort Valley State University, a small college in middle Georgia.  From there, I traveled to Durham, NC where I completed my Masters Degree.  I completed my medical degree in Nashville, TN at Meharry Medical College.  During my 4th year of medical school, I had the opportunity to travel to Cairo, Egypt to participate in a Global Health externship in Obstetrics & Gynecology.  This solidified my interest in International Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy theatre, musicals, volunteering, football, traveling and spending time with family/friends.  

Kevin Schopmeyer , M.D.
People are often surprised when I tell them that I grew up in Brazil, but only those who are not aware that I am talking about a small town in Indiana.  The first time I lived outside the state of Indiana was for college in Pensacola, Florida.  After finishing my premedical degree, I decided to get a master degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology at the United States Sports Academy near Mobile, Alabama.  During this time I began to fall in love with a beautiful young lady, named Hannah, who I had met in college.  To complete my master degree I had to complete an internship in sports medicine and selected the Culver Academies Internship program, once again returning to the state of Indiana.  I kept in contact with Hannah who was finishing her degree at Pensacola Christian College and got to know her family better who were twenty miles away in her hometown of Rochester, IN.  Near the end of my internship I was offered a job in Miami as an Exercise Physiologist at Doctors' Hospital and the Director of Continuing Education at a National Fitness Education Company.  When I found out that Hannah had accepted a position as an art teacher in West Palm Beach, Florida, the decision to move to Miami became much easier.  I was offered a job as the athletic director at Hannah's school a year later, and was finally able to convince her that I wasn't going away, and we got married at spring break!  When I told her that I still wanted to become a doctor, she said that she would help me.  Four years later we left our wonderful home and jobs in Florida for medical school on the island of Grenada in the British West Indies.  My medical education at St. George's University has taken us not only to the island of Grenada, but also St. Vincent and stateside locations of Detroit, Orlando, and California.  While interviewing for residency I wanted to find the program that would provide me the best education and training.  Not only did BMH fill this role, but also it was full of great people, was incredibly well organized, and offered the most in procedural training.  The excitement for the program and for the profession is infectious with the residence and faculty.  Needless to say we feel like we are completing a big circle as we return to Indiana for residency at Ball Memorial with our daughters, two-year-old Lillyonna and newborn Juliette. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, running, biking, coaching and playing sports, and am a big fan of Indy Car racing.  We plan to return to the sunny south after residency.  I plan to be involved with medical missions and student education in my future career.

Kim Stange , M.D.
I was born in Iowa, but spent my formative years growing up in Bismarck, North Dakota. Since that time I have been slowly making my way East. After high school, I spent four fabulous years at Concordia College in Moorhead MN, majoring in Biology. There I made some wonderful, life long friends and played in the hand bell choir. I attended medical school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. When not studying medicine I enjoy reading, especially mysteries and anything by Michael Crichton. I have recently taken up quilting and enjoy the perfectionistic task. Other interests I have include softball, Minnesota Twins baseball and cooking.

During my third year of medical school, I participated in the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP), spending most of my third year living and doing rotations in a rural Minnesotan town of 3,000 people. It was there that I found my love for rural medicine. I was drawn to Ball because of their focus on preparing well-rounded physicians suited for rural practice as well as a wealth of experience in OB. After interviewing in Muncie, I felt this was my “fit”. I thoroughly enjoy every resident and faculty member and am looking forward to continuing my trek Eastward with the wonderful people at Ball.