Delaware County names new health officer after ‘Doc’ Peterson dies
Delaware County named an interim health officer Wednesday afternoon, after the death of long-serving officer Dr. John Peterson. As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, Peterson was known to the community simply as “Doc.”
Audio Transcript
Delaware County Health Department Administrator Jammie Bane says Dr. John Peterson had served on the county’s board of health for 34 years and as the county health officer for the last year.
“There’s stories just flooding social media of the different families he’s delivered their children, delivered them, healed them.”
In 2024, Peterson told The Facing Project he saw fewer patients than other doctors so he could “spend more time with my patients, who are people and not numbers.”
Peterson was known as both a local doctor and local musician. He once owned Doc’s Music Hall in downtown Muncie. And in 2025, the Mayor’s Arts Awards recognized Peterson with a Lifetime Achievement Award for fostering the arts community.
In a series of special meetings, county officials named Dr. David Brand as the county’s interim health officer.
Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host. Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.
