Dr. Sharrona Williams

Surgeon and cyclist Dr. Sharrona Williams finds ample beaches, family time and work-life balance in Wilmington.

For Dr. Sharrona Williams, life in Wilmington is just the haven she was looking for.

An orthopedic surgeon with a specialty focus in foot and ankle, Dr. Sharrona spent 18 years providing expert care to the Atlanta community after settling down there post-residency. Eventually, the fast pace of life began to take its toll, and with two young children to take care of, she and her partner decided to exchange the hustle and bustle of the city for the laidback beach life of Wilmington.

Here, they’ve found a welcoming community, vibrant cultural events and abundant outdoor activities, not to mention a work-life balance they couldn’t have imagined in Atlanta. For Dr. Sharrona, that meant cutting a two-hour commute down to 14 minutes, giving her more time to spend with family while still being able to pursue her career. At work, quarterly teambuilding events contribute to a sense of community, and she’s noticed that both patients and staff are happier and healthier. “Folks in Wilmington spend a lot of time outside, being active, which is perfect because they run into less overuse issues as they age. Many patients even look chronologically younger,” she says.

That active lifestyle is another perk for Dr. Sharrona: an avid and accomplished cyclist, she joined the social riding club Cape Fear Cyclists, which meets every Tuesday night. The wealth of recreation extends to family-friendly activities too, with plenty of beautiful parks around town and water activities by the beach to take advantage of. Between the library, children’s museum, great schools and after-school programs, there’s more than enough for the kids to enjoy, and the mix of young families, old-timers and transplants from across the country makes for a community that’s as diverse as it is dynamic.

For Dr. Sharrona, moving to Wilmington wasn’t just a change of scenery, but a change of pace: “People are less stressed, and there’s a different kind warmth – the happiness is palpable.” With a home just ten minutes from the beach, neighbors who go out of their way to show kindness, and a work-life balance of her dreams, the future is bright for Dr. Sharrona and her family.