INDIANAPOLIS — James Ballard, Ed.D., has been named the executive director of the Indiana Area Health Education Centers network at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The mission of the Indiana AHEC network is to improve health by recruiting, educating and retaining health care professionals for underserved communities in Indiana.
“I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Indiana to work with the Indiana AHEC team,” said Dr. Ballard. “This is a premier program that has accomplished a great deal in very little time. I am excited to think about the opportunities that exist for this program and, ultimately, the citizens of Indiana and beyond.”
Dr. Ballard comes to IU from the University of Kentucky, where he served with the UK Area Health Education Center and, most recently, as the associate director for the UK Center for Interprofessional Health Education.
“Dr. Ballard brings a wealth of experience and a steady leadership hand. We will undoubted benefit greatly from Jim’s addition to the Family Medicine faculty,” said Kevin Gebke, M.D., chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the IU School of Medicine.
Dr. Ballard’s background is well-aligned with the Indiana AHEC mission, Dr. Gebke noted. In addition to his expertise in inter-professional education, his experience includes promoting and enhancing experiential health professions education and community faculty development. He is especially drawn to the pipeline mission of AHEC. He brings a strong commitment to academic and community partnerships and a belief that faculty should be engaged in the academic process to ensure successful collaboration and communication between the campus and the community.
“The Indiana AHEC Advisory Board looks forward to supporting Dr. Ballard and all AHEC staff,” said Jerry King, president of the advisory board and executive director of the Indiana Public Health Association. “The advisory board ensures that partners from across the state join with AHEC in our shared purpose of preparing a workforce to meet the diverse health challenges of Hoosier communities.”
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Ballard join the Indiana AHEC network,” said Angela Boyer, deputy director of the Indiana AHEC network. “His experience with AHECs and his higher education expertise will be a tremendous asset to our current and future efforts.”
Dr. Ballard will hold an associate professor faculty appointment in the Department of Family Medicine.
For information about the Indiana AHEC network, visit ahec.medicine.iu.edu or call 317-278-6695.