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.
