Dream big. Work hard. Achieve.
This was the motto of Sara Sorrell’s graduate scholarship, but it’s also an underlying theme in Sara’s life. Sara grew up in Henry County, and when she graduated from New Castle High School, she knew she wanted to be a doctor.
“My grandfather had congestive heart failure and several hospitalizations, and I decided that I wanted to care for others,” Sara shared.
As a Whitinger scholar at Ball State University, she studied biochemistry and finished her degree early. She studied a semester abroad at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, which eventually led to a PhD in medical genetics. While she was working on this degree, she was an MD student at IU School of Medicine.
The theme of “Dream big, work hard, achieve,” carried on as Sara spent time publishing her PhD work and researching before beginning her residency at IU Health Ball Hospital. Sara married Clemens Wiltsche, who was working in London at the time. The two spent a lot of time flying between the USA and London, eventually settling in Abu Dhabi after Sara’s residency. Not only did Sara see patients, but she also served as the Assistant Dean of Clinical Skills and Simulation at the Khalifa University School of Medicine.
Sara loves teaching and is passionate about service work. Throughout her career, she provided medical service in Ecuador, Jordan, and Kenya.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Sara was pregnant with their oldest daughter Sophia. Sara and Clemens decided to come back to Henry County to be closer to Sara’s family. She began working at IU Health for the East Central Region and practices Emergency Medicine, primarily at Jay Hospital.
Clemens is an Austrian citizen who has a PhD in Computer Science. He works for Palantir Technologies and is a gifted painter. His paintings bring life and vibrance to the walls of their restored New Castle home.
Their daughters Sophia Claire and Magdalena (Lena) Noel are dual citizens in both Austria and the United States. The family attends St. James Episcopalian Church and plans to get involved in the community. Sara has a love for music and believes in blooming where you are planted. She sees potential in rural communities like Henry County.
“Great things can come from small places,” she expressed. “People sincerely underestimate the power in the people who come from small communities. Small towns do have a lot to offer.”