OUR STORIES

For Christel House Indianapolis graduate Katie Dolen (’21), the dream of becoming a doctor has been taking shape since she first walked through the school’s doors as a kindergartener. Now, as she completes her master’s degree at the University of Indianapolis, Katie’s dream is turning into reality following her acceptance to Marian University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Katie’s academic path has always reflected both drive and curiosity. A valedictorian who made the most of Christel House’s dual-credit opportunities, she earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Indianapolis.  

 Katie began her studies in anthropology, explored research through the Honors College, added a pre-med concentration, and then picked up a chemistry minor. “I had free time… which I say loosely,” she laughs. “It’s not really free time!” Through it all, Katie stayed focused on the purpose behind her ambitions. “I’ve been pretty set on the healthcare field from a pretty early age,” she says. “I was always really passionate about giving back to the community.”  

When Katie received the call notifying her that she had been accepted to medical school, the moment was overwhelming. “I was listening to the voicemail and I just start sobbing,” she recalls. “I’m literally sobbing as I walk to my car, then I sat in my car and cried a little more.” One of her very first calls afterward was to Kara Moreland, her Christel House College & Careers advisor, whose support had been a steady guide through the years. 

Katie is the first to say her Christel House experience shaped her far beyond academics, and she still cherishes the friendships that began in those early classrooms. “I think it really says something about the environment. You were able to foster those relationships.” And the teachers? Unforgettable. “I loved my teachers—they were very personable and really interested in who we were and who we wanted to become.”  

Even now, as Katie volunteers in the community and trains with her college triathlon team, those early lessons continue to echo. She first took up distance running in high school, then—after a nudge from a friend—added swimming and biking, discovering a new passion. “I ended up absolutely falling in love with everything about it,” she says. 

As she looks ahead to medical school, the excitement in her voice is unmistakable. “I kind of want to tell people, ‘Hi, my name is Katie, I’m going to be a medical student.’ It’s a great name—Doctor Dolen.” Katie’s journey from Christel House kindergartener to future physician is a reminder of what happens when talent and determination meet opportunity. “I’m very grateful for my education at Christel House,” she reflects. “It’s honestly helped me be who I am today.”