At just 11 years old, Dr. Hakes decided he wanted to be a family doctor.

"I was in the Boy Scouts and we were doing first aid and I found that the subject of health appealed to me," he said.

Dr. Hakes grew up in Dana, Illinois, about 20 miles from where he has practiced medicine since 1984.

"This practice serves the area and many of the people I've grown up with," he said. "I enjoy the sense of community and the connections that are so evident in the rural setting."

His approach to care is to focus on the patient's history first, then apply evidence-based strategies and engage the patient in decision making. "We partner together to bring the plan to fruition," he said.

When not working, Dr. Hakes enjoys biking, home improvement projects, craft beer and reading. He and his wife, Becky, have five grown children.