Dr. Ronald W. Helms, Jr. is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician from Pell City, where he moved in 1978. He and his sister, Shannon Helms Gifford, were raised in Pell City by his parents, Ron and JoAnn Helms.

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He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, for 34 years. They have seven wonderful children, ranging in ages from 5 to 31, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, 2 grandchildren, 2 on the way,  4 dogs, 2 horses, 2 cows and 10 chickens.  

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Jennifer’s mother, Sarah Rhodes, lives in Pell City as well and was married to the late Robert Rhodes.  He has three brother-in-laws, two that live in Pell City – Preston Rhodes and Grant Hall – and  Chip Gifford, who lives with Shannon in Birmingham. He has one niece, Hollis Gifford.

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Dr. Helms and his family live in Pell City after moving from Residency and establishing practice in 1999.

His education includes:

• Pell City High School in 1988

• University of Alabama with a B.S. in Microbiology in 1992 cum laude

• University of South Alabama School of Medicine in 1996

• University of Alabama Family Medicine Residency in Tuscaloosa in 1999

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He began practicing in Pell City in 1999 and after two years, he co-founded an independent primary care practice, Northside Medical Associates.  He remained the managing partner and practicing physician throughout its growth from three providers to over 20 primary care providers and 200 employees until 2020. 

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The practice was sold to Complete Health Partners in 2020, where he helped lead the rapid growth and success of the company and practiced there until 2025.

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Over the years, he has enjoyed helping direct the medical care for our veterans at Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans home, Golden Living Nursing Home and Alacare Home Health. He also had the pleasure of practicing hospital medicine, taking care of his patients during their hospital stays over the past 20 years.

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Now, in the early spring of 2025, he is excited to start the next chapter in his professional life by establishing another independent medical primary care company, Helms Healthcare.  He is proud to announce his first clinic will be in Vincent, expected to be followed by expansion to areas closer to home in early 2026.

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He enjoys spending time with Jennifer, his family and friends, gardening, farming and hunting. He and Jennifer also enjoy being members of the church at FCF Pell City and worshiping and sharing fellowship with their church family.

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He believes, like most, that access to medical care has become too complicated, inefficient and impersonal. 

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He looks forward to bringing a more hometown feel to his new practice – a place where people from all walks of life can enjoy walk-in availability and talking to a compassionate human when they call. It will be a place where patients feel welcomed, accepted, and treated with love and not like just another number. 

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Most of all, he is eternally grateful to be a believer in and a brother of Jesus Christ, an adopted child of God.  He knows that God is spirit and love and that all that is good comes from HIM.

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His favorite bible verses are John 13:34-35, Romans 8:28.