Peggy Ballard, MSPAS, PA-C

Assistant Professor, Special Title Series, Physician Assistant Studies

Peggy Ballard loves living and working in Eastern Kentucky.

A native of Fleming County, Ballard graduated from Morehead State University (MSU) for the first time in 1976 with an associate’s degree in nursing. After retiring from MSU’s student health services, Ballard decided she wasn’t finished learning. She then went from employee to full-time student, graduating in 2004 from the Physician Assistant Studies program the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences offers in conjunction with MSU.

Now, Ballard is making another move – this time from a physician assistant to a teacher. Starting in January, Ballard will join the faculty at the College of Health Sciences and will teach Physician Assistant Studies students at MSU.

When asked why she was interested in becoming a physician assistant after retiring from 20 years of nursing, Ballard said she had worked with physician assistants and liked their scope of practice and how they were trained.

“I just wanted to do more,” she said.

In addition, Ballard’s husband, Frank, is a physician assistant. He graduated from the University of Kentucky’s first class of physician assistants in 1975 and recently retired from the Morehead Clinic where he worked in internal medicine and geriatrics.

“Becoming a PA (physician assistant) was just a natural fit for Peggy,” Frank Ballard said. “She’s done a great job as a nurse, as a PA, and she’ll be a great instructor.”

Ballard said although she has struggled with leaving her patients from Saint Claire Regional Hospital, she is excited to impact future students in the program as a teacher.

"I want to instill a sense of professionalism in the students,” she said. “I want that to be my mantra and I want the students to take pride in their profession.”

Peggy and Frank have been married for 10 years. They have five children and three grandchildren. When she isn’t working, Ballard said her favorite thing to do is to play with her grandkids. She also likes being outdoors, vacationing at the beach and reading.

To find out more about the Physician Assistant Studies program at the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences, visit http://www.mc.uky.edu/PA/.

Peggy Ballard, MSPAS, PA-C
Assistant Professor, Special Title Series, Physician Assistant Studies
peggy.ballard@uky.edu