Ball State Health Center experiencing staff shortage

The Amelia T. Wood Health Center will have one less physician to serve students when director Kent Bullis leaves his position after Sept. 27 and his interim successor steps up.

Current full-time staff physician Deidre Dorman will take over Bullis’ position as the interim health center director. When Dorman moves up, however, there will not be another physician to take her place as a full-time staff physician.

“I do think we are a bit of a unique situation,” Dorman said. “We unfortunately have not been able to get [the position of a new full-time physician] filled so quickly. I am going to be not able to see patients regularly like I am now. I do think some changes will have to take place.”

Because of the staffing situation, Dorman will still see patients, but not in the capacity she is currently able to. Also, a nurse practitioner at the Health Center who only works one day a week will increase her work schedule to three days a week.

Dorman said students may see longer wait times at the Health Center but she does not anticipate turning away students.

“We’ve never turned away patients if they come in during our scheduled hours,” Dorman said. “We will stay until the last patient is seen that checks in within our time period.”

This year, the Health Center received approval to hire another full-time physician. Although the position has not yet been filled, recruiters have received an applicant and are the interview process. The position was posted before Bullis announced he would leave.

The position for permanent health center director has also been posted and Dorman will remain the interim director until it is filled. She anticipates the process may take around three months. Dorman said she also applied for the permanent position.

Dorman worked at the Ball State Health Center from summer 2005 to 2007 and returned to the Health Center in 2009 where she has served as a staff physician ever since.

This is not the first time the Health Center has been down a primary physician in the time Dorman has worked there and she said the Health Center was able to cope and serve students’ needs.

Bullis will move to his new position as health center director of Gannett Health Services at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York after 12 years of service to Ball State.

In his final weeks at the health center, Bullis has been trying to prepare Dorman for her new responsibilities.

“Essentially there is someone stepping into my position on an interim basis and [I am] teaching them all of the things and making them aware of all of the things that need to be taken care of,” he said. “[That is] is how I am spending most of my time right now.”

Dorman has had increased contact with Bullis in preparation for her interim position.

“[I have been] attending some of the meetings he is involved in so I can see the side of how students interact with Ball State and how he is involved with that other side instead of just direct patient care,” she said.

Bullis hopes the transition is smooth.

“I’m trying to do everything I can to make sure things continue in a transparent way to students as possible,” he said. “I’m hoping they don’t see too much change. Certainly I have very much enjoyed working with Ball State students during my time here. I wish them all the very best.”