St. Francis surgeons among first to use device designed to prevent stroke

INDIANAPOLIS – Surgeons at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers are among the first in the nation to use a new device and procedure to reduce the risk of stroke for patients undergoing heart surgery.

The system is called the AtriClip Gillinov-Cosgrove Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion and it recently was given approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is used to diminish the risk of stroke related to cardiac arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. These abnormal heart rhythms occur more frequently with aging and are especially common around the time of surgery.

Led by Marc Gerdisch, M.D., director of cardiothoracic surgery, the team successfully implanted the device in a 79-year-old man yesterday (June 28) at the St. Francis Heart Center. Surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic also performed a similar procedure the same day.

“This is an exciting, safe and effective therapy,” said Gerdisch, co-director of the St. Francis Heart Valve Center. “During the FDA trial for the Atriclip, we recognized the advantages it offered over the available technology.”

St. Francis enrolled 17 patients during ArtiClip’s trial phase – the largest number of participants in the national study.

Here’s how it works: The rectangular-shaped device is implanted around the left atrial appendage, a muscular pouch. The AtriClip is then clamped, preventing blood flow into and out of the appendage.

“It’s estimated that as much as 90 percent of blood clots occurring in patients with atrial fibrillation, form in the appendage,” said Gerdisch, a partner at Cardiac Surgery Associates. “If a clot detaches, it can travel through the bloodstream and cause a stroke.”

Patients with arrhythmias like afib have a significantly higher stroke risk than those without the condition, according to the landmark Framingham Heart Study.

AtriClip is manufactured by the AtriCure, Inc., a medical device company headquartered in Cincinnati.

Use of AtriClip builds on other breakthroughs in cardiovascular care at St. Francis. Gerdisch and his surgical team were the first in the world to use the CorMatrix Extracellular Matrix (ECM) ™ to modify and repair cardiac structures, allowing heart tissue to re-grow inside the beating hearts of surgery patients.

The ECM is a unique biomaterial that harnesses the body’s innate ability to repair damaged heart tissue. Over time, it is replaced by the patients’ own tissue. You can learn more about this at www.cardiactissuerepair.net

The St. Francis Heart Center is the only round-the-clock comprehensive heart center in south-central Indiana, providing everything from open-heart surgery to valve repair. For more information, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/heart.

St. Francis nurse mentoring program reduces turnover, serves as model

Results appear in The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing

INDIANAPOLIS – While many hospitals today struggle against high turnover rates and decreasing job satisfaction among their nursing ranks, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers has developed a successful approach to reverse those trends.

In 2005, St. Francis was experiencing a 16.6 percent turnover among its registered nurses, and that rate among first-year RNs had skyrocketed to 32 percent. Those alarming statistics far exceeded the average turnover rates reported by the American Journal of Nursing and related national polling of nurses.

Led by the hospital’s vice president and chief nursing officer and directors and managers from education, human resources and other nursing areas, St. Francis in 2006 created a nurse mentoring program to address the retention issue.

Since that time, the turnover rate has plummeted to levels lower than national averages and other hospitals in central Indiana, according to an article in the The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing (July 2010).

“We began the pilot program by pairing 12 protégés (new hires) with 12 experienced nurses working in select nursing units,” said author Kathy Fox, R.N. “In matching the pairs we took into account several factors, such as having them assigned on the same shifts, education levels, generational compatibilities, and personality types.”

Fox, who directs Education Department at St. Francis, says the paramount matching factor is communication.

“They should have excellent communication skills and demonstrate the willingness to share knowledge,” wrote Fox, who directs educational services at St. Francis. “Communicating with a protégé in a non-judgmental way is another important attribute. Mentors were available to answer questions, such as getting along with a co-worker or how to insert an IV.”

Structure is vital to the nurse mentoring at St. Francis. After an initial and intense one-day training session, participants sign a contract formally sealing their relationship. In doing so, they understand what is expected of them, such as meeting regularly, filing reports, and evaluating and measuring progress.

A pay incentive is provided to mentor nurses who participate in the program based upon the retention of protégés, primarily staying with the same unit they worked that first year.

“While the bonus was a positive reinforcement for what mentor nurses gave to the program, they did not base their participation on the incentive alone,” Fox wrote. “Most mentor nurses were not aware of the available bonus until they attended the initial training seminar.”

The pilot program exceeded all expectations. All 12 of the mentored nurses chose to stay with St. Francis. By 2009, 200 nurse protégés have been matched with 125 mentors at St. Francis.

And the program spawned success among experienced registered nurses, where turnover fell to 16.6 percent – a rate that has continued to plummet to its current level of 10.3 percent. That is at a level consistent with other hospitals around the country with formal mentoring programs.

Finally, Fox said overall job satisfaction has improved measurably based on surveys of nurses participating in the program.

The mentoring program – which is now an established part of the process in the hiring of new nurses – has expanded to other departments such as respiratory, radiology, physical and occupational therapies and the pharmacy departments.

The St. Francis approach has earned the respect of other local hospitals. St. Vincent Hospital and Community Hospitals of Indianapolis have since built nurse mentoring programs based on the St. Francis model.

The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing is a monthly publication providing original, peer-reviewed articles on continuing nursing education. To learn more about it, go to http://www.jcenonline.com.

To view how two mentoring participants view their experience, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Nursing/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=120 More information about nursing careers at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/nursing.

St. Francis observes World Breastfeeding Week with day-long program

INDIANAPOLIS – Breastfeeding is more than just a lifestyle choice about how to feed babies. It’s an important health decision benefiting babies, mothers and society.

The staff at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is committed to supporting nursing mothers and improving breastfeeding initiation and duration. To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with “Baby Steps to a Healthier Indiana,” St. Francis will host a day-long event featuring breastfeeding information, resources, and support groups for underserved pregnant and nursing mothers.

From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 6, Classrooms I and II at St. Francis’ Indianapolis campus (8111 S. Emerson Ave.) will be filled with displays from local community organizations and businesses that promote, support and advocate breastfeeding.

Morning “Mother-to-Mother” circles will discuss postpartum issues, workplace lactation, skin-to-skin attachment parenting, and prematurity with breastfeeding. Afternoon “Ask the Expert” speakers will highlight infant nutrition, Indiana breastfeeding laws, and perinatal mood disorders.

Participating breastfeeding organizations include Ameda, Medela, La Leche League, Indiana Perinatal Network, the Indiana Mother’s Milk Bank, WIC, the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition and Motherlove.

The U.S. Surgeon General's Healthy People 2010 Goal calls for 75 percent of women to breastfeed their infants at hospital discharge, 50 percent at six months of age, and 25 percent to breastfeed at 12 months of age.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme is titled “Just 10 Steps! The Baby-Friendly Way” to support the early days and weeks when mothers and babies take first steps in establishing a breastfeeding relationship. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated August 1-7.

To register for the event, call 317-865-5620.

For more information about breastfeeding or to talk to a certified lactation consultant, call the St. Francis Lactation Line at 317-865-5620 or visit the World Breastfeeding Week website at http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/.

Physician joins cancer specialists at St. Francis Medical Group

INDIANAPOLIS – Stephen Eric Rubenstein, M.D., has joined St. Francis Medical Group Oncology & Hematology Specialists.

Board-certified in hematology, oncology and internal medicine, Rubenstein began his clinical work June 21. He specializes in medical oncology with special interests in hematologic malignancies, breast cancer and genitourinary neoplasms.

He most recently was a member of Southeast Florida Hematology Oncology Group in Fort Lauderdale and was an attending physician at Holy Cross Hospital, North Broward and Imperial Point Medical Centers. Prior to pursuing sub-specialty training, Rubenstein was affiliated with EMO Medical Care at three New York and New Jersey hospitals as a hospitalist and teaching attending.

A graduate of Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Israel, Rubenstein completed a hematology/oncology fellowship at State University of New York at Brooklyn. Has was a medical resident at Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Rubenstein, who also has earned graduate degrees in physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University, was a research resident with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He received his undergraduate degree in biology at Indiana University.

He holds memberships in the American Society of Hematology, Southwest Oncology Group, Florida Medical Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

To learn more about Oncology & Hematology Specialists – located on the St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis campus at 8111 S. Emerson Ave. and at 9002 North Meridian, suite 214 – go to www.StFrancisDoctors.org.

More information about the full range of services and programs at the St. Francis Cancer Center are at http://stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.

St. Francis Tai Chi class has all the right moves for health, well-being

INDIANAPOLIS – The ancient martial art of Tai Chi uses slow and gentle movements and its practice is known to have myriad health benefits.

That’s why St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is offering Tai Chi for Health Series featuring Richard A. Cornell. The class meets each Monday beginning June 29 through Aug. 9 (no class on July 5). The class, which is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., is at 3131 E. Thompson Road at Carson Square Mall.

Tai Chi is designed to improve physical and mental health and includes exercises to improve breathing, relaxation and mobility. It also has found to be effective in improving balance, strength and promotes greater endurance for people with arthritis.

“With Tai Chi, you’re always moving, but always under complete control,” said Michele Wood, R.N., who is coordinating the class. “A participant’s internal energy circulation actually helps prevent disease and debility.”

Cost of the class is $30 and payable at time of registration. For more information, contact Wood at 317-865-5864, or at Michele.Wood@ssfhs.org.

New assistant medical director named at Indiana Heart Physicians

INDIANAPOLIS – David O. Kovacich, M.D., has been selected as assistant medical director of cardiovascular practices for St Francis Medical Group.

In that role, he will lead Indiana Heart Physicians (IHP), a group of 24 board certified cardiologists specializing in electrophysiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, cardiac computed tomography and interventional cardiology. They are supported by nearly 150 physician assistants, nurses, medical technology staff and support personnel.

He will also have leadership responsibilities for Vascular Surgery Specialists, a practice of three board certified vascular surgeons that specialize in invasive and non-invasive surgical options for vascular disease and also offer a full gamut of vascular diagnostic testing.

Board-certified in cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and internal medicine, Kovacich completed his fellowship, residency and medical school education at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He has been affiliated with IHP since 1994.

IHP, a St. Francis Medical Group practice, was established in 1978 under the direction of H.O. “Buzz” Hickman, M.D. In addition to its long-established relationship with St. Francis Hospitals and Health Centers, IHP also has affiliations with Morgan Hospital and Medical Center in Martinsville and Major Hospital in Shelbyville.

IHP integrated its services with St. Francis Medical Group and St Francis Hospital in August 2009.

Last year, nearly 70,000 patients were seen at IHP, including office visits, testing and procedures.

IHP physicians conduct most of their inpatient and procedural work at the St. Francis Heart Center, located on the Indianapolis hospital’s south campus at Emerson Avenue and Stop 11. The center is the home to the city’s first certified Chest Pain Evaluation Center, Midwest Heart Valve Center, vascular laboratory, and a national training site for catheterization lab procedures, carotid stent placement and endovascular repair.

IHP physicians also developed the landmark Emergency Heart Attack Response Team at the Heart Center, which significantly reduces response times for heart attack patients, improves their outcomes and reduces health care costs. The EHART protocol has received much acclaim in the medical world and has been adopted by hospitals throughout the world.

To learn more about the Indiana Heart Physicians, go to www.StFrancisDoctors.org.

St. Francis Inpatient Rehabilitation Center offers more patient-care options

BEECH GROVE, Ind. – The Inpatient Rehabilitation Center (IRC) at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is expanding to meet the growing needs for patient care in central Indiana.

The unit, which opened in 2005 with 16 beds, has faced increasing demand for acute inpatient rehabilitation beds to assist patients in maximiz­ing their independence and return­ing home.

“Acute rehabilitation provides a level of care and expertise which exceeds services available in other settings,” said Robert Kravitz, M.D., medical director for the center. “For example, the St. Francis program is one of the few acute rehabilitation programs with the ability to care for patients receiving dialysis or requiring remote telemetry.”

The expansion adds eight new private patient rooms, new therapy gyms, a nursing station and patient dining room. With a 24-bed pro­gram, St. Francis will be one of the larger rehabilitation programs in central Indiana.

The new eight beds have remote telemetry capability – technology that allows clinicians to monitor patients’ conditions at a central location.

The IRC provides intensive, inter­disciplinary rehabilitation (three hours of therapy a day by at least two disciplines). Patients include those who have had strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, amputations and other orthopedic /neurological conditions.

“Many people don’t know that we are here,” said Program Director Annette Seabrook, M.P.T, M.H.A. “They don’t realize how many pa­tients are being discharged to other levels of care who may be better served in our inpatient rehabilita­tion program.”

The program exceeds national benchmarks for discharges to the community (more than 77 percent) as well as functional outcomes and average length of stay, Seabrook said.

To learn more about the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center call 317-782-6963.

























With CMO Dr. Alan Gillespie looking on, Dr. Christopher "Topper" Doehring takes a swing at a virtual golf shot via a Wii gaming device. It's one of the tools being used to help patients in recovery at the newly renovated Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. Both doctors and other St. Francis leaders were on hand for a June 16 open house showcasing the facility.

Photo by LeeAnn Abercrombie-Logan

St. Francis Lady Bluez soccer team hits high note with state championship

INDIANAPOLIS – While soccer fans across the globe have their sights on World Cup play in South Africa, one local team from the St. Francis Soccer Club (SFSC) is focusing on lofty goals, too.

The Lady Bluez notched a 1-0 win over Carmel United Elite 97 (girls, under 13 years) to win the 2010 U.S. Youth Soccer Indiana State Cup and the Indiana Challenge Cup. Kristen Bellinger gave Sam Dewey an assist for the winning goal with three minutes to play in the second half to defeat Carmel, ranked No. 3 in the nation and regional top seed.

The June 14 at Lawrence, Ind., victory propels the Lady Bluez to Dayton, Ohio, where they will play three championship teams from Ohio, Kentucky and North Dakota. If they win that pool, they will advance to a single-elimination bracket with a chance to play for the Region II Championship.

The 15-member team is led by coaches P.J. Orlando and Autumn McClatchy.

“This is the first ever State Cup Championship in the 12 year history of St. Francis Soccer Club,” said Steve Campbell, director of coaching and player development. “Obviously, we’re proud of the Lady Bluez’ accomplishments as we are all of the teams in our club.”

SFSC’s White Blaze (boys, under 12) also made it to the final four and Premier (boys, under 14) placed second in their division.

The club has 30 competitive travel teams, and serves more than 1,000 youngsters annually in recreational play. It also has an outreach program for developmentally disabled children and an adult co-ed league.

SFSC, sponsored by St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, has playing fields at Arlington Ave. and Stop 11 Road on the city’s far south side. Registration for the fall recreational play is now under way. To register and to learn more about the St. Francis Soccer Club call 317-783-8849, or visit its Website at www.stfrancissoccer.com.

Photos by Amy Fistrovich

Patient parking changes as expansion begins at St. Francis Cancer Center

INDIANAPOLIS – Patient parking is poised to change temporarily to make way for expanding the St. Francis Cancer Center at 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Beginning June 21, patients with appointments will receive priority parking in a designated area monitored by an attendant from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. That area is near the center’s main entry (Entrance No. 4).

“Patients with frequent or recurring appointments will receive a parking pass from the Cancer Center allowing them unrestricted access to patient parking spaces,” said Kent Brumbaugh, executive director of St. Francis Cancer Services. “Construction will continue through early 2012 and parking will be limited during that time.”

Site preparations are set to get under way for a $34 million expansion of the center. The facility is adding 60,000-square feet – quadrupling its current size – providing more services to patients in central Indiana.

The project includes:

• an expanded breast center
• medical offices for breast and gynecological oncology surgeons
• increased medical office space for medical oncology/hematology
• outpatient bone marrow transplant clinic and supporting laboratories
• larger and improved medical infusion center
• PET CT department
• an on-site location for the cancer research department
• meditation chapel/spiritual room
• patient resource center
• an appearance center where patients can purchase wigs and prostheses
• a conference center for accommodating support groups and educational sessions.

Patients and caregivers having questions about parking can call 317-783-8918.

More information about St. Francis Cancer Center services and programs is at http://www.stfrancishospitals.org/cancer.

St. Francis writes new training prescription for pharmacy residency program

INDIANAPOLIS – Recognizing the need to meet the ever-changing roles and training of new pharmacists, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers is expanding its residency program to include a post-graduate year two program.

The Pharmacy Residency program already includes a post-graduate year one program with the primary focus of general pharmacy practice. The overall curriculum includes advanced training in hematology/oncology, bone marrow transplantation, pediatrics/neonatology, pharmacy operations, practice management, internal and critical care medicine, and cardiology/critical care.

The post-graduate year two program will be specialized in infectious diseases. The resident will have the unique opportunity to work with infectious disease specialists, microbiology, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.

Residents for the 2010-2011 program are Laura Marzotto, Pharm.D. (post-graduate year one), and Megan Fleming, Pharm.D. (post-graduate year two). Both earned their degrees at Butler University.

St. Francis offered pharmacy residency training from 1977 to 1982, but re-instated the program in 2009 to meet the growing industry needs. The program is directed by Christian Cheatham, Pharm.D., and Jill Leslie, Pharm.D.

“Our residents work with diverse patient populations in various practice settings,” said Susan Brown, director of Pharmacy Services. “In addition, residents can participate in the Indiana Residency Forum and the Pharmacy Resident Teaching Certificate Program.”

To learn more about the St. Francis Pharmacy Residency Program, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Careers/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=69.

Cracker Barrel chairs soon will be rocking at St. Francis Indy campus

INDIANAPOLIS – In keeping with its commitment to support local communities, the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® location in Indianapolis will extend its unique brand of hospitality to St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers with the donation of five rocking chairs.

The familiar chairs will be presented to hospital officials 9:30 a.m., Friday, June 11, and placed in the neonatal intensive care unit, newborn nursery and Cancer Center outpatient area at St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

Retail Manager Judy Bombard of the Indianapolis Cracker Barrel on Southport Road recommended St. Francis because it “consistently has provided a high level of service” in the community.

“At Cracker Barrel, our mission statement is ‘pleasing people,’ and that commitment extends into our local communities,” said Bombard, a Cracker Barrel employee for six years. “Like Cracker Barrel, St. Francis Hospital has served our community for many years, and these rocking chairs are our special way of acknowledging and appreciating the hospital’s efforts.”

On hand to receive the chairs will be Lori Warner, director of Women and Children’s Services; Paula Stanfill, NICU manager; Angela Bratina, nursery manager; Linda Burleson, cancer care reception coordinator; and Mark Pflum and Amanda Haugh, president and development director, respectively, for the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation.

The Lebanon, Tenn.-based Cracker Barrel opened at its Southport Road location in 1985. Eleven employees at Southport location have been with the company for at least 10 years, Bombard said.

IU, Kendrick fellow begins training program at St. Francis-Mooresville

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Tobi Reidy, D.O., will begin a fellowship program July 1 with the Indiana University School of Medicine Colon and Rectal Residency Program at Kendrick Regional Center for Colon and Rectal Care, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

Reidy is the second fellow in this colorectal residency program, the first of its kind in central Indiana. She follows Shirley Shih, M.D., who completed her one-year fellowship this month.

Reidy has completed a general surgery residency at Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, earned her doctorate in 2005 at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Florida.

Upon completing her training, Reidy will be eligible for the qualifying and certifying exams of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

The residency program was established in 2008 through a partnership between IU, St. Francis and Kendrick Regional Center and marks the first educational joint venture between St. Francis and the medical school, the nation’s second-largest academic medical institution.

The teaching staff comprises surgeons with Kendrick Regional Center and assistant clinical professors with the IU School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery. They are Drs. Olaf Johansen, Fred Lane, R. Barry Melbert, Bridget Sanders, Dipen Maun and Ben Tsai from Kendrick; and Drs. Bruce Robb and Virgilio George from IU.

Sanders was appointed program director in May 2010; Maun serves as associate program director.

More information about the fellowship is available by calling 317-834-9618 or at the Kendrick Regional Center for Colon and Rectal Care website www.kendrickcenter.com, or the IU School of Medicine site, www.medicine.iu.edu.

In 2007, St. Francis established the Colorectal Cancer Center center of excellence for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. It’s one of the largest programs of its kind in Indiana. To learn more about its services, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Cancer/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=38

St. Francis Hospital surgeon selected to help lead new info tech changeover

INDIANAPOLIS – David M. Mandelbaum, M.D., has been appointed to the lead physician role in the implementation of a sweeping health information technology system under development at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

He will serve as “Physician Champion” for St. Francis’ EpicCare implementation. Mandelbaum also has agreed to serve part-time as medical director of the Specialty Division for St. Francis Medical Group.

Mandelbaum, a surgeon who has been affiliated with St. Francis since 1986, is the chief representative for physicians and will participate in system design, configuration and training. He will add valuable input throughout the process, acting as an advocate for his peers as it relates to physician involvement in the design and content of EpicCare.

Earlier this year, the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. selected EpicCare, a comprehensive, integrated suite of applications produced by the Wisconsin-based Epic Systems Corp. St. Francis is the first among the 13-member Sisters of St. Francis Health Services system to implement EpicCare (now referred to as OneChart by SSFHS).

Among the areas where the new computer technology will be integrated:

Patient medical records
Medication administration; operating room/surgery management
Medical imaging
Emergency room documentation and patient tracking
Cardiology and anesthesia
Physician order management
Hospital scheduling, registration and billing

Mandelbaum also will serve part-time as medical director for the Specialty Division, St. Francis Medical Group. In that capacity, he will focus on improving care and efficiency within the division, support specialty physician recruitment, and identify and implement quality measures and reporting.

His surgical specialties are in breast and breast diseases, biliary tract, colon and rectal, gastrointestinal and hernia, often applying his expertise through laparoscopic procedures.

A native of New York City, Mandelbaum has served as president and vice president of the St. Francis Medical Staff, chaired the Department of Surgery, and is a former member of the Franciscan Surgery Center Board of Managers.

New manager assumes central scheduling role at St. Francis Hospital

INDIANAPOLIS – Kimberly Stettler has been appointed manager for central scheduling at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers.

Stettler previously was a manager for the St. Francis Imaging Center-Greenbrooke, where she supervised facility operations, including implementing patient registration and scheduling. She also served as the center’s compliance officer.

A resident of Greenwood, she held the post of auditor at the Indiana University School of Medicine Office of Compliance Services before coming to St. Francis in 2006.

Stettler, who is certified in coding and compliance, earned her undergraduate degree at Indiana University.

St. Francis Hospital appoints new Vice President of Medical Affairs

INDIANAPOLIS – Christopher B. “Topper” Doehring, M.D., has been appointed Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, effective June 7.

Doehring assumes responsibilities held the last five years by Alan Gillespie, M.D. Gillespie is the former president of the St. Francis medical staff and medical director of Women’s Health Services. He has been associated with St. Francis for nearly 30 years, particularly through his work with Southside OB GYN.

"We thank Dr. Gillespie for his outstanding leadership and dedication and know this level of commitment will be continued as we welcome Dr. Doehring to his new role,” said President and CEO Robert J. Brody. “He brings great depth of experience in medical education programming and is active in a variety of community organizations. He will be a great asset to each of our hospitals."

Doehring came to St. Francis in 2003 and is associate director of the hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program. In 2009, he was appointed medical director of St. Francis Medical Group, an organization of more than 120 physicians who collaborate with St. Francis to serve patients throughout Indianapolis and south-central Indiana. He also is a member of the professional services committee for St. Francis Health Network and the credentials committee for Advantage Health Solutions.

“I am honored to be appointed to this position and look forward to the challenge of achieving our shared vision and goal of making St. Francis the hospital of choice for the communities we serve,” Doehring said.

The new vice president has vast experience as a family medicine physician. Doehring was a physician with the U.S. Army at Fort Gordon, Ga., and served as staff doctor for Butler University Student Health Clinic and St. Vincent Occupational Medicine.

Doehring currently holds an academic appointment at the Indiana University School of Medicine as clinical assistant professor, Department of Family Medicine. He also held similar appointments with the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and the Medical College of Georgia.

He is a Diplomate-American Board of Family Medicine and has been certified in advanced trauma/cardiac/pediatric life support and holds similar certificates in neonatal and obstetric care.

He holds memberships in the American Academy of Family Physicians, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Indiana Academy of Family Physicians, Indiana State Medical Association, and Indianapolis Medical Society.

Doehring has been active in community outreach and activities. He currently is vice chair of the board of directors for the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation and is a member of the Horizon House board of directors. He has served as team physician for the Scecina High School football team and is an active volunteer at College Park Church in Indianapolis.

He has earned several honors throughout his academic, teaching and professional career, including his induction into Phi Beta Kappa-Furman University.

A native of Vandalia, Ill., Doehring earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1996) and graduated with honors from Furman University (1991). He completed a family medicine residency at St. Vincent Hospital and a primary care fellowship at Michigan State University.

He currently is pursuing a graduate degree in medical management at Carnegie-Mellon University (Pittsburgh).

Doehring and his wife Marla, an emergency medicine physician, reside in Zionsville with their two children.