Tia Harne, DO
It’s the homecoming that she always hoped to have.
Tia Harne, DO, a 2021 summa cum laude graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has “come home” to Indiana as a resident at Indiana Regional Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
Harne, a member of the IUP Cook Honors College, earned her biology degree in the biology honors program, and was selected for both Phi Sigma Pi honors fraternity and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.
She completed her medical studies at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie in May and began her three-year residency at IRMC in June. While at LECOM, she completed research at Millcreek Community Hospital and volunteered at an Erie County animal rescue organization, a community food bank, and an organization supporting mental health.
Harne grew up in Burnt Cabins, Fulton County, and she is committed to living and working in a rural community.
“Since high school, I knew I wanted to work in the medical field,” she said. “I grew up on a farm, and because we had animals, I thought maybe I wanted to become a veterinarian,” Harne said. “After thinking more about it, and doing some shadowing at a local emergency room, I realized that I really wanted to work with people.
“IUP was close to home, and it had a strong biology program and a great pre-medicine program. I had the chance to be in advanced classes, in the Honors College, and in the biology honors program. I also joined the IUP American Medical Student Association, which was very helpful and created a great community of support,” she said.
“IUP was a wonderful experience,” she said. “Dr. (Narayanaswamy) Bharathan was incredible and super helpful during the medical school application process. Dr. Robert Major, my biology professor, was great, encouraging me all throughout my studies, which really made a difference,” she said.
“I think it’s great that IUP is going to offer a college of osteopathic medicine. I wish it was here when I was an undergraduate, I would have loved to study medicine at IUP,” she said.
“A commitment to rural medicine has always been in the back of my mind,” she said.
“Being in a rural community is where I have felt the most comfortable, and where I have felt a true sense of community. I did brief rotations in Pittsburgh, but that wasn’t for me, but it did confirm for me that I wanted to be in a rural setting, in a place where I can really get to know my patients and their families. Continuity of care is an important part of family medicine, and that is very important to me, making that very purposeful impact in people’s lives.”
Harne chose osteopathic medicine because “it looks at the whole person with a holistic approach, getting to know and understand people’s lives.” She also appreciates that osteopathic medicine includes osteopathic manipulative therapy, which is a hands-on approach to diagnose, treat, and prevent health issues by manipulating muscles, joints, connective tissues, and bones.
Harne said that she “loved Indiana” while at IUP as a student, and she’s very happy to be back.
“I love Indiana’s small-town charm, I think there are plenty of things to do—and the town has grown since I graduated—and I am very glad to be at IRMC and in Indiana,” she said. “I liked being in Erie, but coming back to Indiana really feels like coming full circle, coming home. It’s a really good feeling,” she said.
“Dr. Vaglia does a wonderful job with the residency program and really works to get us involved with the community, meeting the people that we’ll be taking care of as residents,” she said.
She hasn’t yet chosen if she’ll do a fellowship track, but she’s enjoying her current time rotating with the obstetrics service.
While she has time to determine her next steps, she’s not ruling out practicing in Indiana as part of her future.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Harne return to Indiana to train here at IRMC,” IRMC Family Medicine Residency Program Director and Director of Medical Education Amanda Vaglia said. “She is a strong member of our team, and we look forward to watching her learn and grow here in her home away from home. We anticipate that many future IUP undergraduates and IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine graduates will make Indiana their academic and professional home in the years to come.”
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.