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Though he was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Joseph Zastrow has now lived in North Carolina for half of his life.

One of Hugh Chatham’s newest doctors moved to North Carolina to be closer to family, as well as have a change of scenery.

“We wanted to broaden our horizons and get away from the cold and snow,” said Zastrow. “The biggest difference between the south and the Midwest is the temperature. But people are more progressive here with their interpersonal relationships and allow everyone to have their own freedom.”

Zastrow and his family live on Lake Norman, commuting to Charlotte to teach and to practice medicine in Elkin.

“My wife picked out that we would live in the Carolinas, and I wanted to live on the water,” he said. “I’ve used to race sailboats growing up.”

Zastrow started seeing patients at Hugh Chatham Family Practice at the end of August.

“I love small towns where everyone knows each other,” he said. “Elkin has been great so far.”

The Hugh Chatham Family Medicine is traditional family practice cares for newborn patients and up as well as doing urgent and minor surgeries

But medicine isn’t just about the disease for Zastrow, it’s about people.

“It’s no longer pills and procedures, it’s about how can we make your life better,” he said.

Zastrow teaches courses on clinical hypnosis at Carolina’s Medical Center and is the president of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, which is a group of licensed medical physicians.

“Hypnosis can be used before procedures to help with fears and phobias,” Zastrow said. “I used it almost every day. A lot of it is as simple as using it in conversation in a persuasive manner to help people relax.”

Zastrow even used hypnosis to help out a NASCAR pit crew.

“The whole point is to understand people and to make them comfortable,” Zastrow said. “People are more important than the disease. It’s no longer just a ‘gall bladder in room 13.’”

Name: Joseph Zastrow

Employer: Hugh Chatham Family Medicine

How long worked: Started training at the end of July

Family: Wife, Carolina and daughter, Karrie

Sports: Greenbay Packers and Carolina Panthers

Food: Barbecue and pizza

Pastime: Skiing, sailing and taking photos

Born: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Live: Lake Norman

Reach Jessica Pickens at 835-1513 ext. 17 or jpickens@heartlandpublications.com.