Open Door employees earn statewide honors
Two Open Door Health Services employees have earned top statewide honors in the Indiana Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) annual awards program.
Dr. Max Rudicel, 2020 Philip L. Morphew Health Center Advocate
In his 50th year practicing medicine, Dr. Max Rudicel, Open Door chief medical officer, was named the IPHCA 2020 Philip L. Morphew Health Center Advocate award recipient. This top honor recognizes an individual who has championed the mission of community health centers and the delivery of high quality healthcare, regardless of a patient's ability to pay. The award denotes commitment to community education, partnership, and service.
Dr. Rudicel joined Open Door in 1998 and has overseen the Open Door Obstetrics Clinic since that time. In 2017, following nearly two decades of health advocacy for underserved populations, he was named chief medical officer.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rudicel has delivered approximately 8,000 babies in the Muncie area. He served 46 years as the Muncie Community Schools Physician and 48 years as Muncie Head Start Physician. In 2004, the City of Muncie awarded him a key to the city and declared October 28 as "Max Rudicel Day" in perpetuity.
Under Dr. Rudicel's clinical leadership, Open Door has seen the addition of a pediatrics site, an expanded urgent care site, expansion of behavioral health capacity, and the addition of chiropractic care and pain management services.
Kristen Sherman, 2020 IPHCA Employee of the Year
Kristen Sherman, assistant coordinator of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Delaware and Madison Counties, is the 2020 IPHCA Employee of the Year.
The honor is awarded to one health center employee statewide who has excelled in patient advocacy, collaboration, or creating innovative programs.
In 2014, Kristen joined Open Door as a WIC dietitian and lactation consultant. She was promoted to site supervisor of Madison County WIC in 2015. This fall, she was promoted to her current role.
Kristen's accomplishments include spearheading a diaper bank for the Madison County WIC clients, coordinating Spanish language classes for WIC employees, and completing Shafer Leadership Academy's flagship training program, Emergence.
In addition to these state honors, Open Door was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for achievement in quality measures.
