Doctors are people too. In Behind the White Coat, Jefferson City Magazine takes readers beyond the practice to reveal the personal stories of local physicians.

Drew Cox, DO | General Surgery | MU Health Care

My name is Drew Cox, and I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.

I have spent most of my life and schooling in Missouri. Growing up, I always excelled in math and science. I went to Oak Park High School in north Kansas City, where I met my wife, Sarah, and then received my undergrad degree from the University of Missouri before attending medical school at Kansas City University.

The idea of specializing in surgery came to me during my rotations. After my first month in this area, I knew I was made for surgery. The hands-on part of surgery fits in with my skills and hobbies, and I enjoyed the challenge of learning the skills to become a successful surgeon in the operating room, along with the knowledge of becoming a good doctor on the floor. One of my biggest life moments was when I matched into general surgery. All my hard work had paid off, and I was able to continue pursuing my new dream of becoming the best surgeon I can be. I think a doctor should always be willing to listen and learn. All doctors are smart and have the right answers, but the good ones can listen to what a patient has to say and help them feel heard. Doctors also need to keep learning as medicine is constantly progressing and evolving.

Outside of the office, I enjoy time with my family: spending time with my wife after work, watching our shows, or going out for dinner. My wife is a vet tech, and we have collected five fur babies over the years. We started with three cats, Lorenzo, Ronan, and Sulley. We now also have two dogs, Gryffin and Swift, who are duck-tolling retrievers.

We spend a lot of time rooting for the local sports teams, like the Chiefs, Royals, and Mizzou, watching them on TV or going to games in person. Recently, I’ve been golfing as much as I can. I started golfing when I was an undergrad and have picked it up again. I enjoy being outside on the nice courses — even in between my bad shots.

We have only lived in Jefferson City for a short time now, but we like Jefferson City’s small-town, Midwest feel, and everyone is so friendly.

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(573) 632-5700
Surgery Clinic, MU Health Care
1125 Madison St., JCMO
muhealth.org