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Posted: July 1st, 2017
NRMC Launches General Surgery Associates
On July 1st, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center announced the opening of its newest practice – General Surgery Associates. Conveniently located in the heart of Natchitoches, the practice further expands the hospital’s surgery program ensuring round-the-clock outstanding general surgery services closer to home.
General surgeons, Dr. William A. Ball, Jr., and Dr. Damian DeFrancesch will see patients at their office at 740 Keyser Avenue, Suite D, for scheduled surgery patients and consultations, and they will also be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency patient needs and emergency surgeries at the hospital. Their expertise includes traditional, laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
“Opening a dedicated general surgery practice as a department of NRMC is vitality important to our mission. Our community needs and deserves to have as many specialty services as possible right here in the parish,” noted Kirk Soileau, Chief Executive Officer. “With Dr. Ball who has provided outstanding care to our community for years, and Dr. DeFrancesch whose career includes an extensive background in trauma and critical care, we are able to substantially expand the general surgery services we offer families in the region. Notably, both Dr. Ball and Dr. DeFrancesch are both board certified in general surgery. We appreciate their commitment and vision and welcome them to the NRMC team.”
Dr. William A. Ball, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S. is a graduate of LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. He completed a General Surgery Internship and Residency at Medical College of Augusta, Georgia, and he is Board Certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

Damian DeFrancesch, M.D. is a graduate of LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed a General Surgery Internship and Residency at John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as a surgical Critical Care Fellowship. He is Board Certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.
For appointments or more information, please call 318.354.2555