FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Lovins chosen as next ISMA president

(NOBLESVILLE) - Columbus direct primary care physician Teresa Lovins, MD, FAAFP, will serve as the 180th president of the Indiana State Medical Association, following her election Sunday at the ISMA’s 177th annual Convention.

Dr. Lovins has been a member of ISMA since 2005 and has served in various capacities. She has served as chair of the board of trustees, assistant treasurer, and a member of the executive committee, Women in Medicine committee, commission on legislation, commission on medical education, and American Medical Association delegation. She was also instrumental in developing ISMA’s new strategic plan.

“Dr. Lovins is a lifelong Hoosier and has been serving her hometown Columbus community for over 30 years,” ISMA Executive Vice President Clif Knight, MD, said. “She has been a leader locally, statewide, and nationally throughout her career. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and talented physician to lead the ISMA.”

Dr. Lovins will be ISMA president-elect until September 2027, when she will succeed Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, as president. Dr. Gunderman, of Zionsville, was sworn in Sunday to begin his presidential term for 2026-2027. Dr. Gunderman is Chancellor’s Professor of Radiology, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Philosophy, Liberal Arts, Philanthropy, and Medical Humanities and Health Studies at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He is a 10-time recipient of the IU Trustees’ Teaching Award and the author of 15 books, including “We Make a Life by What We Give” and “We Come to Life With Those We Serve.’ Dr. Gunderman graduated summa cum laude from Wabash College and earned his MD and PhD at the University of Chicago. An ISMA member since 2005, Dr. Gunderman chairs the organization’s Physician Wellness Steering Committee.

Other ISMA officers sworn in for one-year terms include the following: Speaker of the House of Delegates Tyler Heavin, MD, Danville; Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates Tashera Perry, MD, Bloomington; Treasurer Stephanie Kidd, DO, Roanoke; and Assistant Treasurer Daniel Udrea, MD, Indianapolis.

Dr. Gunderman was also elected as a delegate to the American Medical Association. Due to increased AMA membership amongst Indiana physicians, Indiana’s AMA delegation is growing by one additional delegate and one additional alternate delegate in 2027 and will include six of each, with half of the delegation positions elected to 2 year terms each year. Three AMA delegates and four alternate delegates to the Indiana delegation were elected on Sunday. Elected as AMA Delegates are Dr. Gunderman, J. Elizabeth Struble, MD, North Manchester; and Tashera Perry, MD, Bloomington. AMA delegation members serve two-year terms and are elected on a staggered basis. Alternate delegates elected include Sara Brown, MD, Fort Wayne; Caitlin Bernard, MD, Indianapolis; Monica Wehby, MD, Carmel and Colin Ray, MD, Noblesville. Dr. Ray will serve a partial term vacated by Dr. Struble when she was elected as delegate.

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About the Indiana State Medical Association  
The Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) is a federation of county and district medical societies across Indiana. With 9,000 physician and medical student members, the ISMA seeks to maximize the leadership and impact of physicians, make Indiana one of the best states in which to practice medicine, and make Hoosiers among the healthiest people in the country. Learn more about the ISMA’s mission and history at www.ismanet.org. 

For more information: 
Krista Rutherford, Managing Editor, Indiana State Medical Association