At Lead Physicians, our singular focus is to take great care of patients. In doing so, we will make your skilled nursing facility the best in market through unrivaled end-to-end communication.
Started by two physicians with a breadth of experience in skilled nursing care, primary care, hospital medicine, and leadership, we believe there is nothing that will impact healthcare provision more than constant and excessive communication.
Meet the physicians and nurse practitioners behind Lead Physicians.
Physician
Dr. Ramón Santos, MD, is a compassionate physician, having undergone both family medicine training and a geriatrics fellowship at the IU School of Medicine.
He has worked along the entire spectrum of healthcare in Indiana, including outpatient primary care, SNF work, and hospital-based medicine.
Highlights
Physician
Dr. Joseph Varnau, MD, has been an instrument of positive change and forward progress for each of the healthcare groups he has been involved with.
A family practitioner and finance graduate by training, he has been integrally involved in major transformations at multiple healthcare organizations.
Highlights
Nurse Practitioner
Christine Inman, NP, has been a staple in a local healthcare system hospital. One of the longest-standing nurse practitioners there, she has been not only the glue that has helped hold the hospitalist group together, but also a familiar face to local patients.
She has been taking care of acute care patients within the hospital for 9 years, and has proven herself one of the most reliable and knowledgeable NPs in the area.
Nurse Practitioner
Tosha Forshey, NP, has been quickly advancing her roles and responsibilities in healthcare since graduating with her nurse practitioner degree five years ago. She has been a crucial part of a very active and busy hospitalist service at a local hospital system, leading change inside the hospital, both for patients and for the organization.
She has been one of the clear leaders inside the hospitalist group, identifying individual patient care concerns and more global concerns affecting the hospital and the entire patient population of the central Indiana county in which she resides.
What We Offer
Lead Physicians is focused on the patient and their families. That said, we create a medical environment that develops extreme goodwill for the nursing facility.
Attending physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants well versed in high level acute patient care. The founding team all have a strong history in ICU level and inpatient medical care.
Dr. Ramón Santos is a geriatrician and hospitalist by training. Dr. Joseph Varnau is a family physician and hospitalist, as well. Both are in process of completing certification in Medical Direction in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities. Both have strong history of medical directorship and leadership inside and outside of hospitals.
Quality care focused on outcomes, but with individualized care. We prioritize patient safety. With local and attentive care, we will be actively working to reduce ED visits, reduce hospitalizations, and taking care of problems as they arise, rather than too late.
We strive to connect with patients. This is the most crucial communication that we have. However, we aim to always connect patients, families, care team members, and rehab center leadership to maximize care.
Our Story
Dr. Ramón Santos and Dr. Joseph Varnau started working together at a local central Indiana hospital in 2025. They had a lot in common, in terms of life goals, their Christian beliefs, some interconnected roots in Honduras (Central America), and their entrepreneurial spirit. They often discussed the current state of healthcare and where the vulnerabilities lied for patients.
Dr. Ramón Santos and Dr. Joseph Varnau agreed that the most impacted and vulnerable patients were those residing, coming from, and going to rehab / extended care facilities in Indiana. They laid out a plan to help those people, as they knew that few people in Indiana have the medical background, gumption to act, and compassion for these populations. They viewed the situation as a “must do” and started to brainstorm ideas in how to help nursing home and rehab patients.
Lead Physicians, LLC, was created in April 2026, and there has been no turning back. Their primary objective with the organization was to provide as much care, compassion, and love to this vulnerable population. Within the first few months, seasoned inpatient specialists, Christine Inman, NP, and Tosha Forshey, NP, joined Lead Physicians as founding NPs. They were tasked with the hiring and training / supervision of future APP hires, and to help ensure optimal patient care within the organization.
In sum, we believe Lead Physicians will drive positive change in central Indiana. We will bring excellent patient care and medical leadership to a space that very much needs this.
Get In Touch
We are available to you! Whether you are a patient, a family member, or a rehab facility, we are there for you.
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