Meet the brand manager bringing IU Health into the heart of local communities

The partnerships and people behind IU Health’s record year of community outreach.

When Brand Manager Kara Bishop joined IU Health nearly nine years ago, she brought with her a simple question that would shape the trajectory of her work: How can we meet people where they already are?

What began as a handful of community events has since grown into a vibrant, multi-county partnership strategy that helped IU Health connect with thousands of residents in 2025.

“I’m a strong believer in connecting with the community—not just inside our walls when they come to us but going out in the community and meeting people where they are,” Bishop says. “People want to see us in the places that matter to them.”

A relationship-driven approach

One of Bishop’s many strengths is building relationships—with event organizers, local leaders, team members and residents. It’s one of the things that makes the work so meaningful to her, and what has helped her efforts flourish.

“I’m a very social person and I love meeting new people,” she shares. “Showing up at these events is a way for me to connect with people who are enjoying something that matters to them on a personal level. It really fills my bucket.”

Those connections helped fuel a year of growth. By the end of 2025, IU Health had a presence at more than 150 community events across the legacy West Region, which includes Arnett, Frankfort, Tipton and White Memorial hospitals. Those events included festivals, school partnerships, wellness presentations, nonprofit collaborations and more.

Finding purpose in community

For Bishop, the most powerful moments of the year often came from unexpected conversations and connections—the resident who shared how IU Health saved a loved one’s life, or the team member who said volunteering helped brighten a difficult week.

“When someone tells me that a screening helped them catch something early, or when a volunteer leaves an event feeling energized … that’s powerful. That’s purpose,” she says.

Partnering with the legacy West Region’s Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) team played an instrumental role in the success of the community outreach efforts last year. Working together, Bishop and the COE team helped bring health screenings, education and wellness support to residents where they live, work and gather.

Highlights From the Year

Some of Bishop’s favorite moments from 2025 included monthly screenings at the West Lafayette Wellness Center, the Pride Lafayette wellness clinic, athletic training partnerships with local schools and a standout new collaboration: the Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build, where IU Health team members volunteered to help build two homes.

Additional standout highlights from last year are detailed in the photo below.

Looking Ahead

With 2026 underway, Bishop is excited to keep the momentum going, expanding this work across even more communities.

“I’m excited to spread this strategy and make an impact in new communities, just like we’ve done here,” she says.