Erik Bare, 2009 Ivy Tech Bloomington Radiation Therapy graduate, helps people living with cancer throughout Central Indiana. He is the Executive Director of Oncology Services at Community Health Network MD Anderson Cancer Center in Indianapolis, Ind.

“I really credit Ivy Tech with getting me in the career field I am now…without that Ivy Tech associate degree in Radiation Therapy, I don’t think I would be where I am today,” Bare said. “It was the foundation that launched my career.”

He’s become a leader in the radiation therapy profession, having worked at the Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center and as Radiation Therapy Department Manager at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind. before accepting his role at Community Health.

Bare was named the Bloomington campus Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for 2023.

“There are a lot of people that I know personally that have gotten the award that have launched into great careers, so to be considered for the award, I feel like I’m in great company and am very honored,” he said.

As a supporter of Ivy Tech, Bare serves on the Radiation Therapy Program Advisory Board and contributes insights into current practices and advocates for the hiring of program graduates. He also serves his community as a member of the Rotary Club of Greenwood, member of the selections committee for Leadership Johnson County, and grant evaluator for the Greenwood Schools of Education Foundation.

Ivy Tech Bloomington offers more than 40 career and four-year transfer programs, with courses that start multiple times per year for quick entry and graduation. To get started, apply for free online at ivytech.edu/bloomington, call 812-330-6013, or email askBloomington@ivytech.edu. For information on free, short-term training programs at Ivy Tech Bloomington, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/NLJ.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.