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After being away from Elkin for 10 years, Will Ballard saw Elkin through a different perspective when he returned home with a family.

“Returning as an adult has given me a perspective of what a good safe, area Elkin is,” Ballard said. “It’s safe enough to take a walk down the street. For a small town we have a great recreation department and schools.”

Ballard graduated from Elkin High School in 1997 where he played basketball, soccer and tennis. He went to Washington Lee in Virginia on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 2001. Ballard continued his education at UNC medical school and did his residency in Charlotte.

Ballard and his wife, Lindsey, returned to Elkin in 2008.

“Living in Charlotte definitely had its perks. Coming from the city, I do miss the variety of restaurants, but we’ve gotten better at cooking,” he said with a laugh. “The biggest reason we came back was to be close to family. We left Charlotte at a good time, right before the housing market dropped.”

Since returning to Elkin, Ballard and Lindsey have gotten involved with the Elkin Valley Trails and the Jaycees. Ballard is on the Parks and Recreation board of directors and Lindsey is on the board for the Foothills Arts Council.

The couple is also involved with March of Dimes, since their twin sons, Aidan and Connor were born 16 weeks early in 2007.

“March of Dimes is about helping preventing premature birth. Our sons were in the hospital for three and four months. There is a medication that helps the lungs of premature babies mature and work,” he said. “March of Dimes helped a lot with their development and we have been involved ever since.”

Ballard started working at his father’s family practice, Jonesville Family Medical Center. His father is one reason Ballard was interested in medicine.

“I wanted to become a doctor, because of my dad and I was always interested in biology,” he said. “It made me feel better to understand my body, and the human body in general.”

Ballard grew up with his father’s partners, who have both practiced for 30 years. He appreciates having their experience, while he can also help with some of the newer technology.

“Working here is really the ideal practice environment,” Ballard said. “I get to work see babies to elderly, go to the hospital to see patients or see healthy patients for physical. Family medicine has a little bit of everything, which is what attracted me to it.”

Growing up in the family practice, also has brought several familiar faces to Ballard in the form of patients.

“When I first started, a lot of people remembered me as a child. It was a little awkward at first seeing people I knew,” he said. “But now it’s nice to get to know people in a different way and as patients. I’m also getting to see the children of some of friends.”

Full name: Will Ballard

Job: Doctor at Jonesville Family Medical Center

How long been at job: 4 years

Favorite food: Mexican

Favorite pastime: Basketball

Favorite Sports Team: UNC

Family: Wife, Lindsey. Twin sons, Connor and Aidan, and two year old, Grant.

Residence: Elkin

City born in: Durham

Reach Jessica Pickens at 835-1513 ext. 18 or jpickens@heartlandpublications.com.