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Ripley County
Health Department Employees
Primary Line: 812-689-5751
Nursing: 812-689-0506
Onsite Sewage: 812-689-0507
Vital Records: 812-689-0508
David J. Welsh, MD
Ripley County Health Officer
djwelsh_1980@yahoo.com
Dr. David J. Welsh is the Ripley County Health Officer. Dr. Welsh is an independent practitioner at Margaret Mary Health specializing in Surgery. He went to school at the Indiana University School of Medicine, completed his residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati and is Certified with the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Welsh has served as the Ripley County Health Officer since his appointment in 1990.
Lexi Bushhorn
Administrator/ Maternal-Child Health/ Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
lbushhorn@ripleycounty.com
Lexi is the Administrator, Maternal-Child Health and Public Health Preparedness Coordinator for RCHD. She was raised in Ripley County where she attended Jac-Cen-Del schools. Lexi received her Bachelor's Degree in Health Service Management through Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI. She started with RCHD during her Senior year of college as the Public Health Assistant where she started RCHD's Safe sleep program and helped create the Car Seat program for the county. Lexi says she loves serving the community in a positive way and promoting and protecting the health of Ripley County.
Candy Guenther, LPN
Public Health Nurse
cguenther@ripleycounty.com
Candy is the RCHD Public Health Nurse. She started working for the Health Department between her Junior and Senior year of High School inputting county Death Records. She then continued with RCHD doing pool and food inspections. She left for a short time where she attended Ivy Tech in both Madison and Richmond Indiana for nursing. She came back to RCHD in 2021 as our Public Health Nurse. Candy has a great desire to improve the health of the community and inform the public on Health practices and standards.
Erica Hicks
Clinic Assistant
ehicks@ripleycounty.com
Erica is the Clinic Assistant for RCHD. She handles the county Communicable Disease Statistics, TB Tests, Vaccination Records and administers Vaccinations for our Clinics. She is from Napoleon IN and attended Jac-Cen-Del in Ripley County. She recently received her Bachelors of Science degree in health Service Coordination from Western Governors University. She enjoys being social with the public and being able to relate with people to help guide and protect their health.
Traci Bauman, EHS
Chief Food Specialist
tbauman@ripleycounty.com
Traci is the RCHD Chief Food Specialist. She started with RCHD in 2003 as the Food Inspection Safety Officer assisting with Septic Systems and Environmental complaints. She now handles all Retail food inspections, Tattoo & Body Piercing Permits/Inspections, Environmental Housing Complaints and Animal Bites for the county. Traci grew up in Friendship and Dewberry Indiana and has lived in the Versailles area for 35 years. She earned her Associates Degree at ITT Tech in MIS and minored in accounting.
Missy Byrd
Public Health Assistant
vitalrecords@ripleycounty.com
Missy is responsible for the Ripley County Vital Records- both birth and death certificates. Missy has grown up in Versailles and stayed here her entire life. She has three children of her own- 2 sons and a daughter and also is a wonderful bonus mom to 4 children! In her spare time, we can catch her hanging out with her husband, family and friends. When she isn't running around supporting her kids or visiting her daughter in Bloomington, she loves to read and craft. Her three dogs also have her heart when they snuggle! Missy loves the history of Ripley County and enjoys entering old data into the new system because this gives her the opportunity to see known names from the past that laid the roots and foundation of our community that are still here today!
Elisha Forwalt
Environmental Health Specialist-Sanitarian
ehs@ripleycounty.com
Elisha is the RCHD environmental health specialist. She does everything with septic systems for homeowners, pools and assists with housing complaints and animals bites. She grew up in Holton, IN and attended South Ripley Schools. She is the mother of two beautiful girls where they currently reside in Osgood, IN. She enjoys being with her boyfriend and two girls and spending time with family. She is excited to continue learning and growing with the health department.
Sara Bowling
CoAg School Liasion
rchealth@ripleycounty.com
Sara is assisting with Ripley County School Needs and educating public health to students and staff. Sara grew up in Bedford, KY and has resided in the Bennington, IN area for the past 16 years. She is currently attending Jefferson Community College to attain her LPN. Sara enjoys working with the youth and has a desire to improve their health and to teach and guide them towards living a healthy life!
Lindsey Meyer
Data Management Clerk- EHS Assistant
ripleyehs@ripleycounty.com
Lindsey first came to our department as a temporary employee to assist in COVID-19 response. She is now with us part time assisting our environmental division! Lindsey has lived in the Friendship/Cross Plains area for her entire life. She graduated from South Ripley in 2020 and she is now currently attending Ivy Tech studying Surgical Technology! In her free time, you can catch her spending time with her friends, being outdoors or reading!
Ashley Salyer
Medical Clerical Assistant
rchd@ripleycounty.com
Ashley has been a Ripley County resident her entire life, she currently resides in Versailles with her husband and 2 children. She has a passion for health and wellness as well as community outreach. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, camping, or being out on their boat.
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