Schneck Mental Health & Wellness Welcomes Brieanne Jungels, MD
Where Did You Grow Up?
I grew up in a small town in Northwest Indiana on our family farm. In high school, I ran track and cross country and was a member of the orchestra. I played the violin as well as the upright bass.
Please Tell Us about Your Family.
I met my husband Tucker in medical school. We attended IU School of Medicine’s rural track program, both with an interest in providing care for rural and underserved areas. We spend most of our time walking our two dogs or enjoying time with family. We will often spend weekends at my mother-in-law’s home, relaxing on a lake.
What Hobbies do You Enjoy?
In residency, I started watercolor painting and have loved it since! It’s great for mindfulness and to unwind, having pieces of art to gift to loved ones is a big plus. I enjoy anything creative, often finding a new craft to fill my time with. I also love to cook. I’m a big fan of all the cooking shows and joke that I will be the next Master Chef in a few years. My husband and I enjoy anything on the water, from paddle boarding to just floating on a pontoon boat with family.
Why Did You Choose Psychiatry as Your Medical Specialty?
I love working in psychiatry. I was interested in many different specialties throughout my training, but kept turning towards psychiatry when deciding which field was right for me. I enjoy how broad and diverse this field can be. The experiences differ so much from patient to patient, but the common theme of trust and taking the time to understand an individual’s unique perspective is consistent. Even with difficult moments, knowing that I was someone who could be there for an individual in their time of need brings a sense of satisfaction that fuels my passion to do as much as I can for the field of psychiatry. When I give advice to medical students seeking guidance on which field to pursue, I always tell them to imagine a world where they didn’t need to work at all, what would they do? My answer was and continues to be psychiatry.
"Even with difficult moments, knowing that I was someone who could be there for an individual in their time of need brings a sense of satisfaction that fuels my passion to do as much as I can for the field of psychiatry."
What is One of Your Favorite Patient Experiences?
One of the positives about psychiatry is how memorable moments and patient experiences can be. In residency, I always looked forward to my child and adolescent clinic appointments. One of my favorites being a young girl that would request a specific drawing from me for each appointment. Our first appointment began with her requesting a picture of a monster truck, and this continued for every appointment. She would answer my questions while we drew, and offered insightful critiques of my art if she didn’t feel the drawings were up to par. After completing residency, I was so thrilled to hear from a co-resident that the girl often brings up my drawings and will say, “Mrs. Jungels is the best doctor ever!”
What Attracted You to Work at Schneck Medical Center?
I grew up in a small town that had very little access to mental health care, so it’s been my goal since medical school to return to a small town and give high quality care to those with less access. My husband is also from a rural area, so after hearing about Schneck Medical Center, we both knew this would be a great opportunity and area for us to settle in and create a home. We spent a lot of time apart during residency training, so are looking forward to working with the same hospital!
