IU Health Bloomington

10/19/2026

Congratulations to Be Exceptional Everyday (BEE) Award winner Carli Stickles, CCMA, with our IU Health Bloomington 4E Acuity Adaptable and Cardiovascular team!

Carli is a Monitor Unit Secretary and Cardiac Monitor Technician, and she knows how important it is to notice small changes, share your observations, and help the right information reach the right person at the right time.

Her award nominator noted how Carli’s rapid assessment and action prevented a patient from progressing to cardiac arrest.

"What I'm most proud of from that situation isn't any one person's actions," said Carli. "The reason the patient received the care they needed so quickly was because everyone worked together."

Please share your kudos below!

10/16/2026

Denise Elliott is the registration team lead for IU Health Radiology – Bloomington. She is also a breast cancer survivor.

Denise’s cancer journey began in 2015 after a routine mammogram led to additional testing. She was called back for a diagnostic mammogram and three biopsies, which revealed invasive ductal carcinoma.

“The years following my diagnosis were difficult, but I made it through with the support of my incredible family and an outstanding team of healthcare providers,” said Denise.

Today, Denise’s experience shapes the way she and her team care for patients at IU Health Radiology – Bloomington.

“Looking back now, it seems only fitting I would eventually work at the very place that helped save my life,” said Denise. “Today, my team and I interact with mammography patients every day. We see women coming in for screenings, biopsies, and appointments to receive biopsy results. Having been in their shoes, I understand how stressful and emotional those visits can be. My sincere hope is that my team and I can make each patient's experience a little easier and a little less frightening.”

Before her diagnosis, Denise had no symptoms and never suspected anything was wrong. Although she tested negative for the BRCA gene mutation, one of the best-known genetic risk factors for breast cancer, the disease still became part of her story.

“If there is one message I would share with other women, it is simple: Get your mammogram,” said Denise. “Every breast cancer journey is unique. Each woman will face her own decisions about treatment, surgery, recovery, and what comes next. There is no single right path. The important thing is knowing you don't have to walk that path alone."

Read the full story at https://iuhealth.org/thrive/a-breast-cancer-survivor-helping-others-navigate-their-journey.

10/15/2026

Congratulations to IU Health Bloomington’s first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators winner, Eliza Deckard, RN, Nursing Professional Development Practitioner.

“She helps staff understand not only what happened, but why certain interventions were performed, turning every patient encounter into a learning opportunity,” said her nominator. “Her ability to connect clinical practice with evidence-based education has improved both nurse confidence and patient care outcomes.”

Before her current role, Eliza has worked as a patient care tech, charge nurse and Emergency department Resource nurse. During this time, she found that the most important thing for nurses to know is something you can’t necessarily teach—kindness and the ability to communicate with patients.

Please share your kudos in the comments below!

10/15/2026

Join us in welcoming Dr. Rija Ghazanfar to the IU Health Neurology - Bloomington team!

Dr. Rija Ghazanfar is a board-certified neurologist. She cares for patients with a variety of needs, including: headaches, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy, stroke follow-up and prevention, epilepsy, and cognitive disorders.

When not caring for patients, Dr. Ghazanfar loves spending time with her family, being a mom of two. She also loves to sketch using pencil or charcoal along with painting with acrylics.

Learn more about Dr. Ghazanfar at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/rija-z-ghazanfar-md-4594669.

10/14/2026

On Saturday, Oct. 3, IU Health team members joined our community at Hoosiers Outrun Cancer to help raise awareness and funds for Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana at this community-favorite event!

In Indiana, more than 42,000 individuals are diagnosed with cancer each year, and over 14,000 Hoosiers lose their lives to this disease. These numbers reflect the ongoing impact cancer has on our patients, colleagues, families, and communities across the state.

IU Health team members are proud to come together each year to raise awareness, provide support, and make a meaningful difference for those impacted by cancer.

10/13/2026

More than 150,000 people are hospitalized with pneumonia each year, leading to roughly 41,000 deaths from the disease or related complications. The good news is there’s a vaccine designed to help reduce these numbers.

“Studies have shown that getting the pneumonia vaccine helps to prevent the most common type of bacterial pneumonia in many adults and this leads to less hospitalizations, missed days of work and death due to the infection,” says IU Health South Region emergency medicine provider, Robert (Bob) Adams, DO.

Learn more in the Q&A with Dr. Adams below:

IU Health South Region emergency physician Robert Adams, DO, shares information on how the pneumococcal vaccine can help reduce the risk of pneumonia.

10/12/2026

Check out the newest episode of our new podcast-style video series, Beyond the White Coat!

In this episode, Dr. Surdam sits down with Dr. Bryan Wohlfeld for a conversation that goes beyond the operating room.

From his Southern Indiana roots and trademark cowboy boots to becoming one of the early adopters of endoscopic spine surgery, Dr. Wohlfeld shares the experiences that shaped his career and his passion for advancing patient care.

Hear how innovative technologies and minimally invasive procedures are helping transform spine care for patients across south-central Indiana.

Stay tuned for new episodes each month!

10/09/2026

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Melissa Nam honored the 10th anniversary of the passing of her daughter, Evelyn Nam, by donating ten memory boxes for bereaving parents and a cart of books for Bloomington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) families. The gift was accepted by Samantha Sweatman, RN, who supported Nam ten years ago through her daughter’s passing.

“Samantha was so in tune to what we needed and what we didn’t,” said Melissa. “And it just got us thinking, what could we do to honor both the people that do what they do for families like ours, as well as our own child. Because a parents fear no matter how old your kid is, is that your kid is going to be forgotten, because they’re not here with you.”

Read the full story at https://iuhealth.org/thrive/iu-health-bloomington-donation-honors-a-daughters-memory-by-supporting-other-families.

Since 2016, Evelyn Nam’s parents have made a series of donations in her memory. Their most recent donations are to comfort families at IU Health Bloomington.

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Sunshine Award winner, Woodson Hughes, registration specialist with our IU Health Podiatry team in Bloomington!

Woodson shares, “Though I'm not a hands-on provider, I love being able to help our patient's when they come for treatment by making the whole process as easy for them as possible and to comfort them with the knowledge that they will be in good hands with their provider and staff.”

His award nomination says, "“Woodson’s role may not be clinical, but it matters deeply. He checks us in, gathers any needed paperwork, and directs us to the right seating area until a nurse or aide calls us back. More than that, he sets the tone for the entire visit.”

The nominators note their personable and funny interactions with Woodson, and how he demonstrated a care for their needs.

Please share your kudos below!

10/08/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

“One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime,” shares IU Health South Region Obstetrics & Gynecology provider, Rachel Manley, MD.

Early detection, however, can help discover cancer when it is the most treatable and drastically improve survival rates.

IU Health Radiology offices across South-Central Indiana provide convenient access to screening mammograms. Understanding your risk and keeping up with routine screenings are effective ways to ensure early detection and protect your long-term health.

Learn more below:

IU Health Bloomington OBGYN Rachel Manley, MD, and Jon Prairie, NP, share their insights on the importance of getting regular screening mammograms.