Family Medicine Through the Lens of Dr. Jason Rieser

Jason Rieser, M.D., is a Primary Care Physician (PCP) practicing Family Medicine at the Franciscan Health Family Medicine Center in Indianapolis. He also serves as the program director of their Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Rieser completed his undergraduate studies at Indiana University–Bloomington and then pursued his medical education at Indiana University. This was followed by a Family Medicine residency at Franciscan Health, and he has been at this location since then.

He decided on Family Medicine because he enjoyed building lasting relationships with his community and wanted to interact with them over a long period. Although he considered specializing further during residency, he ultimately chose not to. Over time, his patient population expanded—he initially welcomed younger members of his community but later began caring for a large geriatric population from a retiring colleague, along with occasionally treating newborns. This gave him the chance to help patients across the entire age spectrum.

Dr. Rieser also welcomed the fact that his hospital accepted Medicaid patients, and he voiced his support for expanding access to healthcare providers for people on government plans. From the beginning of his career, he was interested in academic medicine but wanted to wait for the right opportunity to transition without losing patient interactions, which were a major driver in his practice. He started by helping with staffing and gradually took on more responsibility, enjoying the chance to mentor residents and shape them into skilled physicians.

When asked about what aspects of Family Medicine should be highlighted more, Dr. Rieser emphasized flexibility. He noted that Family Medicine physicians can tailor their practice toward specific demographics such as geriatrics, longevity, sports, or preventive care. He also highlighted the broad scope of Family Medicine, stating that a well-trained family doctor can manage about 80% of patient complaints. He described the training at Franciscan Health and how it prepares physicians for this broad responsibility.

In terms of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) integration, Dr. Rieser explained that it is supported at the hospital, with an on-site OMT clinic available. The only obstacle, he noted, is that there are fewer DO attendings compared to the number of DO residents, which can slow training at times. However, he believed the structure ultimately ensures the best quality education for residents.

In his free time, Dr. Rieser enjoys spending time with his family and two dogs. He also enjoys backpacking and traveling to national parks with his sons. In August 2025, just a couple of weeks prior to this interview, he returned from a week-long backpacking trip with them.

Finally, he spoke about his faith and how it shapes him as a father, husband, and physician. He expressed a strong sense of duty to be present for his family and to support them, while also serving his patients wholeheartedly. He explained that he is able to balance both because he leaves work each day with a clear conscience, knowing he has used every tool available to care for his patients to the best of his ability.

About the Author

Charbel Harb is a first-year osteopathic medical student attending Marian University's Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is passionate about culturally competent care, osteopathic manipulative medicine and is considering a field in Internal Medicine. Outside of medicine, he is passionate about soccer, sitcoms, and enjoys playing pickleball with friends. Feel free to email him if you have any questions.