Lake Norman Woman Magazine March 2015

Page 22

Dr. John

ballas ballas chiropractic

D

r. John Ballas is easily characterized with boundless energy. While he may readily credit his health philosophy, his background affords additional details. Before they ever met, his parents immigrated to America, his mother, 15, on the Queen Mary, his father, a bit older, aboard the Queen Frederica. Demetrios Balatsias had $12 in his pocket. Dr. Ballas recognizes his mother as “the glue that held everyone together, teaching love and consideration.” A small age difference spanning the four siblings accounts for the youngest, Dr. Ballas’ independent streak, one steeped in leadership. An expeditor in his father’s restaurant, he was working full-time at 13. The family mentality governed: there wasn’t enough money, so everybody worked. After earning psychology and biology degrees, the future Dr. Ballas cared for his grandfather, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, for four years. This experience combined with his lifelong love for fitness propelled him toward chiropractic care. “That very first class was the first time medicine made sense to me because the approach was proactive, not reactive,” he says. “I’d never be able to say, ‘Take this and go home.’ “Health is not just physical, but chemical, emotional, and mental,” Dr. Ballas says. “Though sometimes people must take medications, my approach maximizes care to avoid more medications. Chiropractic care isn’t simply, ‘Give me a pop, Doc!’” He met his wife, Donna, in 2000. Their “explore and do” vacations include rock-climbing in Acadia, rappelling Costa Rican waterfalls, and sailing the French-West Indies. Because Dr. Ballas exercises five days a week, Donna teases they’ve used every gym in every hotel. For their 10th anniversary, they hiked Puerto Rican caverns and rainforests and snorkeled in bioluminescent waters. In March 2003, they opened Ballas Chiropractic in Huntersville. “Foremost, Donna’s my navigator. We wouldn’t be remotely where we are without her,” he says. “I come up with ideas; she makes them happen. My best friend, she keeps me going.” With staff, Dr. Ballas emphasizes teamwork. Naming every member, he acknowledges each individual’s excellence and value on the team. “I’m blessed,” he says. “I would’ve never imagined the good Lord blessing me with the first doctor to walk in the door (Dr. Tyler Slabaugh) as my best friend. They (he and wife Dr. Jessica Slabaugh) are the salt of the earth; we share the same work ethic and goals, and I love them both dearly.

a g e : 50 H o u s e h o l d : Wife Donna, niece Mariah, rescue dogs Kelsey & Suli, & cat Bear LKN t o w n : Huntersville

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22 LKN

| march 2015

“I deeply enjoy mentoring; while we’ve been successful, my competition is myself. The lake population can sustain the growing number of chiropractors. Great coaches like Dean Smith and John Wooden focused on what to do; their perspective wasn’t focused on what the competition might have. Here, the importance is communicating the message of health. If you’ve got a great recipe, why not share it?”


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