Shaping the Next Generation of Healthcare in East Central Indiana
In East Central Indiana, the future of healthcare is being built close to home. Over the past eight years, a growing network of hospitals, colleges and universities, and community partners has worked to strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline—connecting education, training, and clinical practice so local students can pursue meaningful careers while helping improve community health.
Grants to Grow Healthcare Talent in East Central Indiana Among $5M Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded more than $5 million in its second round of grants for 2025.
A major focus of this round supports projects that strengthen East Central Indiana’s healthcare workforce pipeline. This funding will help expand medical education, launch new healthcare credential programs, and provide hands-on experiences for high school and college students preparing for healthcare careers.
Grantee Spotlight: Ivy Tech Muncie to Launch EMT Program to Jumpstart Careers in Emergency Medicine
When many students think of a career in healthcare, they think of becoming a nurse or doctor. Ivy Tech Muncie/Henry County’s new EMT/Basic Emergency Medical Studies Certificate program will introduce students to another critical role in the healthcare field—emergency medical technician. The demand for EMTs is growing in East Central Indiana, and Ivy Tech’s program, which launches Fall 2025, will help address this critical need while opening doors for students in Muncie to explore a rewarding profession.
East Central Indiana Emerging as Hub for Training Indiana’s Healthcare Workforce
Joint Op-Ed By: Jud Fisher and Trevor Friedeberg
It’s no secret that East Central Indiana faces notable challenges as it works to reinvent itself. Like many other rust belt regions across the Midwest, we are tackling issues including population decline, workforce development gaps, and housing shortages.
Op-Ed: Cybercrime is a growing threat Indiana communities need to address
The threats we face in the digital world are evolving at a frightening pace. From phishing schemes and ransomware attacks to identity theft and deepfake impersonations, the list of cyber threats keeps expanding. As technology advances—and the internet becomes ever more integrated into our daily lives—the security of our information and systems has never been more critical.
Grantee Spotlight: Ivy Tech Launches Sonography Training Program, Cementing Muncie as a Community of Opportunity for Healthcare Workers
In the height of the COVID pandemic, Ivy Tech Community College jumped at the chance to respond to a need identified by IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital: the need for sonography technicians. Sonography technicians play a critical role in helping to identify blood clots, heart disease, and more.
Project Sybertooth: Ball Brothers Foundation partners with Ivy Tech, local law enforcement agencies to enhance cybercrimes training
As technology grows, so too does the threat of cyber attacks on the community.
“Cybercrimes are the crime of the future. It's so rapidly evolving, and we see how it can really have such a detrimental effect on our community,” said Jim Duckham, chief of the Ball State University Police Department.
Jud Fisher’s Remarks at Ivy Tech Community College Ribbon Cutting for the “Fisher Campus” in Downtown Muncie
On August 1, 2019, Ivy Tech held a ribbon cutting to celebrate renovations to the “Fisher Building”—now renamed the “John & Janice Fisher Campus” in downtown Muncie. Printed below is a copy of remarks prepared for the occasion by Jud Fisher, Ball Brothers Foundation’s president & chief operating officer.
BBF Grants Promote Innovation in Healthcare Training and in Local Schools
Ball Brothers Foundation (BBF) awarded more than $3.2 million in grants to over 30 organizations in its first grantmaking round of the year. The grants were approved during the foundation’s board meeting in May.