ISMA Past President Frederick Ridge Jr., MD, medical director of Greene County General Hospital, died Feb. 24 after an 11-month battle with cholangiocarcinoma. Dr. Ridge was surrounded by family when he died at the hospital at age 71.

"Dr. Ridge was an inspirational mentor to physicians,” said ISMA President Lisa Hatcher, MD. “He was a terrific example of servant leadership: thoughtful, considerate of all perspectives and supportive of necessary changes. When challenges seemed burdensome, he always found a bit of humor to lighten the mood. His contemplative wisdom and his levity will be sorely missed."

A family medicine and obstetrics practitioner and former Greene County health officer, Dr. Ridge was ISMA president in 2010. Previously, he served as president-elect and was speaker of the House of Delegates for three terms. He was also active in the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP), serving as president and on many committees and boards, including as chair. Dr. Ridge was named Indiana’s Family Physician of the Year in 1997 and in 2003 received the IAFP’s Lester D. Bibler Award for long-term dedication and leadership in the development of family medicine in Indiana.

“Rarely has Indiana seen a person so dedicated to ISMA, the AMA, the IAFP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, his patients, his family and his community,” said ISMA Past President and AMA delegate Bill Mohr, MD.

ISMA Executive Vice President Julie Reed, JD, noted that “Dr. Ridge was quietly thoughtful and always seemed to contribute the needed perspective at the right time. Even during his illness, Dr. Ridge embraced the opportunity to attend ISMA’s convention and have a role in it – that’s how loyal and dedicated he was to Indiana medicine and ISMA.”  

Dr. Ridge earned a BS in chemistry from Purdue University with highest distinction and was a member of the John Purdue Club. He received his MD from IU School of Medicine and completed his residency in family practice at IU Medical Center, where he was chief resident. Dr. Ridge established a solo rural medical practice in Corydon in 1978 and was medical director of Ridge Medical and Rural Health Center in Linton from 1979 to 2012. He was a partner of Premier Medical Specialists Group from 2012 to 2017, when he joined Greene County General Hospital clinics. He served as medical director of the hospital for the past year. 

Dr. Ridge was an avid bass fisherman, stained-glass artist and woodcrafter.

Read Dr. Ridge’s full obituary >>