Dr. Valorie Parker was recently recognized as Preceptor of the Year by the East Indiana Area
Health Education Center. Dr. Parker has been a family medicine physician at Margaret Mary’s
Health Center of Osgood since 2020.
Consisting of nine regional centers across the state, the Indiana Area Health Education Center
network collaborates with IU School of Medicine to provide hands-on learning experiences for
family medicine students. Dr. Parker has been a preceptor for the program since 2021, guiding
numerous students through their family medicine rotations.
Jeff Hartz, executive director of the East Indiana Area Health Education Center, praised Dr. Parker
for her commitment to teaching. “Dr. Parker’s students appreciate how she shares her clinical
knowledge while modeling excellent communication with patients and families,” he said. “They also
value her practical advice on balancing the demands of being a physician and a working parent.”
Dr. Parker’s role as a preceptor is invaluable not only to her students, but to the future of
healthcare.
“Dr. Parker’s influence ensures students are prepared to meet the challenges of modern medicine
with empathy and professionalism,” said MMH President Liz Leising. “By sharing her expertise, she
helps shape the next generation of physicians who will carry forward the values of patient-centered
care.”
An Osgood native, Dr. Parker received her medical degree from the IU School of Medicine and
chose to return to her hometown to serve her community. She and her husband, Chris, have four
young sons.
