Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) was founded in 1965 on Broadway in downtown Columbia. It started as a white frame house near Boone Hospital Center. COG built their current 72,000 square feet state-of-the-art facility at Broadway and Keene in 2008. The current facility includes an in-house ambulatory surgery center, doctor offices, exam rooms and an imaging center.
Longtime former Columbia Orthopaedic Group president Dr. Mark Adams joined host Fred Parry Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Dr. Adams, who served as COG’s president for 18 years, emphasizes their humble beginnings and growth. He notes the bedrooms in that 1965 white-frame house served as exam rooms. Dr. Adams tells listeners that COG today sees 700 visits each day, adding they have 27 physicians and more than 225 employees. Mr. Parry and Dr. Adams also discussed numerous other topics on the show, including the $10-billion merger between St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare and Kansas City-based St. Luke’s. Dr. Adams tells listeners that he sees the merger as an attempt to shift the power curve that exists in medicine. Dr. Adams says insurance has had pricing power for many years. They also discussed a number of benchmark developments in Columbia healthcare in the past 40 years, including Columbia Regional Hospital’s 1974 opening. Dr. Adams tells listeners that Boone was very crowded at that time, adding that Columbia Regional, which is behind the Moser’s on Keene and is now Women’s Hospital, essentially became an orthopaedic specialty hospital. Fred and Dr. Adams also reflected on three of COG’s founders: Garth Russell, Glenn McElroy and John Payne:
(LISTEN): New Columbia Orthopaedic Group vice president says it’s important to provide point of access to mid-Missourians
A Columbia native and Rock Bridge graduate is ecstatic after being named vice president of Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG).
Dr. Shawn Sahota says he appreciates the trust of his colleagues and the support he’s received from the entire COG staff and mid-Missouri’s medical community. Dr. Sahota tells 939 the Eagle that it’s an honor.
“For a long time knew I wanted to do orthopaedics after I shadowed in seventh grade one of my partners actually. Shadowed (Dr.) Mark Adams when I was in seventh grade and thought gosh that’s really what I want to do with my life. Columbia Orthopaedic Group, it’s such an honor to be back here and taking care of the people of mid-Missouri. That was always the goal,” Dr. Sahota says.
Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) was founded in 1965 on Broadway in downtown Columbia. They built their current 72,000 square feet state-of-the-art facility at Broadway and Keene in 2008. The facility includes an in-house ambulatory surgery center, doctor offices, exam rooms and an imaging center. Dr. Sahota says he aims to carry on the tradition that COG has stood for, while encouraging growth, access and value to their patients.
“I think particularly for folks in mid-Missouri and rural Missouri, it’s important for us to provide a point of access to them. It’s important for them to know that there are opportunities to seek care, to seek help. And we want to be that for them, not just in Columbia but expanding outside the four walls that our Columbia Orthopaedic Group,” says Dr. Sahota.
He says COG currently has more than 300 employees in the building and in their business office.
UPDATE: Missouri state troopers urging you to stay home during winter storm
State troopers say ice roads across mid-Missouri remain treacherous this morning, and they’re urging you to stay off the road.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol tells 939 the Eagle that westbound I-70 in Kingdom City has now reopened, after this morning’s deadly crash involving a semi. Troopers are urging motorists to stay off the roads if possible. Columbia Police are also urging you to slow down, saying hazardous driving conditions have caused them to implement the delayed crash report protocol.
Jefferson City and Fulton have closed their city halls, and all libraries in the Daniel Boone Regional Library system are closed today due to poor road conditions. They include the Columbia Public Library, Callaway County Public Library in Fulton, Holts Summit Public Library and the Southern Boone County Public Library.
The Columbia Orthopaedic Group is closed today, and MU Health Care clinics plan to open at 1 pm for their urgent care and quick care clinics. Patients who need emergency care should go the University Hospital’s emergency room.
(LISTEN): Columbia Podiatry goes under the Columbia Orthopaedic Group umbrella starting in January
Columbia Podiatry’s well-known founder will be joining the Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) in less than four weeks.
Dr. Robert “Scott” Foster, who’s board-certified in foot surgery and in podiatric orthopedics, will join on January 1. Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) chief executive officer Andrew Lovewell tells 939 the Eagle that Dr. Foster has been serving Columbia and mid-Missouri communities for more than 35 years.
“And provided great care to everybody in the region and it just helps us broaden our reach and develop our comprehensive musculoskeletal model in the region,” Dr. Foster says.
Dr. Foster moved to Columbia in 1986 and started practice with hospital affiliations at Boone Hospital and with Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, before expanding to establish clinics in Moberly and Boonville. Mr. Lovewell says Dr. Foster will continue to practice at 305 North Keene in Columbia, near the Surgery Center of Columbia. Mr. Lovewell says Dr. Foster has extensive experience in foot and ankle medicine and has a shared commitment to providing personalized patient care.
“Our goal is to keep him there, keep him busy, and eventually add another podiatrist to compliment his practice, to grow that. As there’s high demand with diabetic foot care or toenail care or anything in that region that we feel like is important,” says Dr. Foster.
COG’s headquarters are also on Keene.