It’s not everyday you get to introduce the governor, but that was the responsibility Cory Kopitzke ’14 faced just before 8 a.m. on Feb. 27.
He was about to step to the podium and welcome Indiana’s 52nd Governor Mike Braun ’76 to a packed house and open a discussion of leadership and healthcare accessibility at the annual Wabash Club of Indianapolis (WCI) Leadership Breakfast.
“It’s exciting and also really humbling,” Kopitzke said. “It’s cool to have a Wabash alum as governor. This is a topic that’s
essential to the state’s well-being, so getting his thoughts on it is absolutely important. We’re looking forward to the conversation.”
Braun was the first of three speakers, and the governor touched on a lifetime of professional experience with healthcare and healthcare costs, first as a business owner providing for his employees and then in his time both as a state representative and U.S. Senator.
“What an important topic,” Braun said. “I’ve spent a lot of time on it and I’m honored to talk about it.”
The morning’s other speakers, Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO of Eskanazi Health, and Dr. Juan Carlos Venis ’09, assistant professor of clinical family medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, both talked of access and affordability and the benefits and barriers to each.
Venis also stressed the importance of the relationship between doctor and patient and how that is an essential part of good health outcomes.
“The relationship means so much,” he said. “People really do appreciate that relationship and the trust that comes with it. It’s a privilege and honor to build that every day.”
Relationships were also in central focus when the WCI honored two men with Man-of-the-Year honors: Drs. John Roberts ’83 and Scott Douglas ’84, who served the Wabash and Montgomery County communities together for 30-plus years.
The citation honoring the duo mentioned treating students like family, the creation of the Montgomery County Free Clinic, and serving as chief health officers for the county in addition to managing their own practices. The citation also lauded them as “models of the servant leader.”
Roberts and Douglas thanked their College nurses—Sheila Evans, Carol Lamb, and Chris Amidon—for delivering a high-quality level of care, and mentioned the strength of their relationship that ensured a consistency of care.
On Thursday, both were glad they could be celebrated together.
“Isn’t that as it should be?” Roberts asked. “It was really neat. We’ve worked together for so long. Not only did our careers go together, but…”
Douglas picked up the conversation, adding, “it’s so important that our approach was that I could trust that my patients were going to be in great hands with John.”
Venis also reflected on Wabash’s legacy of primary care and family medicine and the impacts of Drs. Roberts and Douglas.
“I am reminded today, celebrating these two college physicians, of how important Wabash was in helping me get to where I am now, instilling in me that appreciation for living humanely,” he said. “I got so much support and encouragement during my time at Wabash to pursue a career where I could work in public health and primary care and merge all my interests to help my community. I don’t know if I would have gotten to where I am now without having that experience and seeing the example of those family doctors in town.”
