Former Indiana state Senator John Ruckelshaus has joined ISMA as vice president of government affairs. 

“We’re excited to welcome John to the ISMA and proud to have him advocating on our behalf,” said ISMA President Elizabeth Struble, MD. “John’s legislative expertise will help amplify the voice of physicians to help drive the future of health care in the Hoosier State.”

Ruckelshaus served District 30 of the Indiana Senate from 2016 to 2020 as the ranking member of the Health and Provider Services Committee and a member of the Senate committees on Insurance and Financial Institutions and Environmental Affairs.

He also served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1990 to 1992, where he was a member of the House Public Health Committee. 

Most recently, Ruckelshaus worked for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) as director of talent fulfillment. He previously served as director of business development at Van Ausdall and Farrar and as a consultant for American Health and Wellness. Earlier in his career, Ruckelshaus was deputy commissioner at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development under Gov. Mitch Daniels. 

“John was always a voice of reason in the Indiana Statehouse, and his ability to collaborate with colleagues on both sides of the aisle helped drive policies that improved the quality of life for Hoosiers,” said Julie Reed, JD, ISMA executive vice president. “With his passion for health care, John will help us work toward our goals of making Indiana the best state in which to practice medicine and for patients to receive care.”