Rachael Kunkle is a Physician Assistant with Franciscan’s HEALTHeACCESS program in Crawfordsville, where she provides comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages. Her role encompasses a wide range of services, from treating acute illnesses and workplace injuries to managing chronic conditions and promoting preventive health. Rachael joined the HEALTHeACCESS team in July 2025, bringing with her a strong background in both urgent care and surgical practice.
After earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Butler University in 2020, Rachael began her career in cardiothoracic surgery. While she found the work clinically challenging and rewarding, she soon realized that her true calling lay in direct patient care. Transitioning into urgent care allowed her to develop lasting patient relationships and achieve a more balanced connection between her professional and personal life. Over the past four years, Rachael has refined her skills in acute care, diagnostics, and patient education—experience that now serves as the foundation for her work in employer-based healthcare.
At the Crawfordsville HEA clinic, Rachael focuses on preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and early intervention. She is deeply committed to helping patients adopt sustainable, healthy habits rather than short-term fixes. Her care philosophy emphasizes practical lifestyle changes, encouraging patients to find forms of physical activity and nutrition that are both enjoyable and achievable. Rachael believes that small, consistent changes are the key to long-term success and that prevention is the best form of medicine.
Her approach to patient care is grounded in compassion, attentiveness, and thoroughness. Rachael strives to ensure every patient feels heard, respected, and confident in their care plan. She takes time to explain treatment options, empower patients to take an active role in their health, and provide the tools needed for success at home and at work. For Rachael, excellence in healthcare means balancing clinical precision with human connection.
Rachael’s work often extends beyond the exam room. She collaborates with local employers to promote workplace safety, offering education on injury prevention, proper lifting techniques, and strategies to reduce the health impacts of sedentary work. She also values the HEALTHeACCESS model for its accessibility and convenience; features like on-site labs, included medications, and open scheduling make care easier for patients to access and maintain.
Among her many rewarding experiences, one that stands out most is treating young children with common joint injuries known as “nursemaid’s elbows.” Watching a child’s pain disappear moments after a successful reduction, and seeing the relief wash over worried parents—reinforces for Rachael why she chose medicine in the first place. She views those moments as reminders of the privilege of trust her patients and their families place in her care.
Outside of work, Rachael enjoys staying active, walking her dog, and exploring new recipes in the kitchen. Her enthusiasm for health and wellness naturally carries into her personal life, where she lives the same balance and mindfulness she encourages in her patients. She also finds inspiration in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” It’s a guiding principle that reflects both her compassion and her purpose as a healthcare provider.
Rachael is proud to be part of a close-knit, collaborative team in Crawfordsville that values communication, teamwork, and mutual support. Together, they provide patient-centered, accessible care rooted in the Franciscan mission of continuing Christ’s ministry in their daily practice. For Rachael, each day offers a new opportunity to help patients feel better, live healthier, and experience care that truly listens.