When Cary Ellis, a special education teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), considered attending a health screening at the myIPS Employee & Family Clinic at Howe in late 2024, he experienced some reluctance. “I was very nervous,” said Ellis, who works at James Garfield School 31. “I knew I was overweight, had a family history of heart issues and diabetes, and I’d had some bad experiences with doctors throughout my life.”
A phone call from Sandy Staehler, a nurse practitioner connected to the clinic, changed Ellis’s perspective. “Sandy kept encouraging me to go. When I finally did, (clinic staff) April and Choice were so kind and made me feel welcome. Then I met Donna Cummings, (a physician assistant) at the clinic, who truly listened and took her time with me. I didn’t feel pressured. I felt like my health mattered.”
This visit in October marked a significant change for Ellis, who has since lost 35 pounds, sleeps better, and has improved his blood sugar levels. Ellis also expressed gratitude for the clinic staff acknowledging his weight loss, saying, “I still have more to lose, but I honestly feel like I’m not just a patient—I’m part of the family. I am 51 and feel better than I have in years.”
Ellis’s experience reflects the impact of the clinic, which began at the start of the school year in collaboration with Ascension St. Vincent. Between September and December, the clinic served 403 individuals, including 318 employees, 23 spouses, and 62 dependents, offering services such as behavioral health support and nutrition counseling.
“Partnering with Ascension St. Vincent to bring this invaluable resource to our IPS employees and their families has been a game changer,” said Christina Aden Hamer, chief human resources officer for IPS. “This initiative is one more way we’re taking care of our people—and it’s already making a difference.”
Survey results showed that IPS patient satisfaction averaged 88.8%, with a peak of 93% in October. Physician ratings consistently surpassed 93% each month.
Clinic services are free for IPS employees and their families, with convenient options such as on-site prescription pickup or delivery to homes or local pharmacies. “Our employees have wholeheartedly embraced the clinic and its amazing staff,” Hamer noted. “The feedback has been overwhelming—people are calling the care ‘thorough,’ ‘compassionate,’ and even ‘life-changing.'”
Ellis concluded, “The best decision I ever made was listening to Sandy and going to the clinic. It’s changed my life.”
