Physicians & Spouses

Wenatchee: More than meets the eye
Perspectives of Wenatchee Valley Medical Center Spouses

by Susan Ballinger (spouse of Paul Ballinger, MD, Gastroenterology)

Living in Wenatchee means that a physician’s spouse is free to choose a lifestyle as an independent person. We have the freedom to act autonomously, not tied to any hidden social agendas or expectations by either the medical community or the society at large. We range from being full-time at-home parents, to part-time or full-time career workers, often moving back-and-forth between these worlds as the needs of family life change. Wenatchee is a great place to raise a family! For spouses ready for a change of career, state universities offer programs in Wenatchee in business, education, nursing, radiology & medical technology, and horticulture.

Physicians at WVMC are part of a thriving multi-specialty clinic typical of larger metropolitan centers, without the hassles of big-city living.  Each physician has easy access to in-house support by colleagues in every specialty. WVMC physicians have an extra gift of time in their workday compared to peers in larger cities due to short commutes and use of only two hospitals. Physician dad or mom can be home for a family dinner, go watch an afternoon sporting event, or hear a school concert and then finish work at the hospital or clinic.

Here are some examples of the range of options available to spouses living in the Wenatchee Valley:

Housing Location Options - The valley offers a wide range of urban and rural living.

• Some choose to live in neighborhoods within a 5 - 15 minute drive from WVMC, Central Washington Hospital, schools, and stores. Short commutes mean a physician parent can be home for the dinner-hour, or attend a school event sandwiched between the office and hospital duties. Bike-commuting is also a stress-relieving option for many physicians and their families.

• Some choose to live in rural settings, either in the pine forests of Squilchuck Canyon, the vista-filled Fancher or Eagle Heights, or orchard-filled canyons near Cashmere and Leavenworth. Raising chickens or tending horses is part of many physician family choices, all within a 20 -minute drive of Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.

Vacation Options-