W. Blake Rodgers, M.D.
Dr. Rodgers is president of Spine Midwest, Inc. and Spine Midwest Research, Inc.
His surgical practice in Jefferson City, Missouri is predominately dedicated to the treatment of degenerative conditions of the lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spine with a smaller emphasis on neoplastic, deformity and traumatic conditions.
He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, where he received the Clarence W. Mendell Prize. He completed his medical degree at Harvard Medical School and was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. He served as a surgical intern at Massachusetts General Hospital and received his orthopaedic training in the Harvard Combined Residency Program in Orthopaedic surgery in Boston, Massachusetts. He served as Chief Resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Rodgers completed a fellowship in adult spinal surgery in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Afterwards, he was the Ober Fellow in Pediatric Spinal and Orthopaedic Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. His research as Ober Fellow won the Richard Kilfoyle Prize from the New England Orthopaedic Society in 1996. He is board certified in orthopaedics by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Rodgers is Medical Director of the Spine Center at St. Mary’s Health Center in Jefferson City. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the Association Europeene des Groupes de Recherche pour l’Osteosynthese Rachidienne (ARGOS), St. Mary’s Health Center and the Columbia Independent School. He is a member of the Development Board of Yale University and the National Board of Advisors of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Dr. Rodgers served as Chief of Spine Surgery at William Beaumont Army Medical Center while on active duty in the Army in 2003. He is Associate Editor of ARGOS Spine News.
Dr. Rodgers is a member of the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery and numerous other medical associations; he has published more than 30 articles in various peer-reviewed medical journals and has presented at academic meetings throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Curtis S. Cox, M.D.
Dr. Cox is a Neurosurgeon and Community Outreach Coordinator of Spine Midwest, Inc.
Prior to joining Spine Midwest in June 2007, Dr. Cox was in private practice as President at the former Neurosurgery-Spine Specialists, Inc. in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Of particular import to Dr. Cox, over the course of his 40-year surgical career, has been the development of spinal surgical techniques which are minimally invasive to the patient, and which have as their complementary aims a reduction in post-surgical trauma and the speeding of one’s recovery period. Accordingly, he has published a number of articles on this topic, in addition to presenting his findings at medical conferences throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.
Dr. Cox pursued his Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, in three disciplines: Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany. He went on to obtain his M.D. from the same institution in 1970, which is the oldest regional institution of higher learning in the Caribbean, being originally established as an external College of the University of London.
He served his Neurological surgery residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, and at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was also Chief Neurosurgery Resident.
A recipient of the Cole County Medical Society’s Humanitarian Service Award for Foreign Medical Service in 2001, Dr. Cox also served in 2003 as the Society’s President. In addition to holding active membership in a number of professional organizations, he has been a fellow of the American College of International Physicians since 1992, and has a seat on the Physician Consultative Committee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Missouri.
Since moving to Jefferson City in 1979, Dr. Cox and his wife, Elise, have raised four sons: Neil S., Brian J., David F. and Kevin C. who now work, variously, in the business managerial, film and stage entertainment, and insurance fields.
Dr. Cox brings to each visit with his patients his characteristic concern as to their holistic well-being in the time before, during and after they are discharged from his care. He is greatly pleased to answer your needs should you ever have to call upon him.
Edward J. Gerber, PA-C, MPT
Ed Gerber joined Spine Midwest in January 2007. He is the Clinical Manager at Spine Midwest and assists Dr. Blake Rodgers in his orthopedic spine practice.
Ed graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry from Quincy University in 1995. He attended graduate school at Midwestern University, where he earned his Master of Physical Therapy degree in 1998. He worked as a physical therapist in a sports medicine clinic in St. Louis, Missouri for four years. He returned to graduate school at St. Louis University, where he earned a Master of Medical Science degree in 2004. Ed passed his national boards in 2004 as a Certified Physician Assistant. He worked for several years in Springfield, Illinois with an orthopedic group before moving to Jefferson City.
Ed is a member of several national organizations: Physician Assistants of Orthopedic Surgery, American Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has presented at the Physician Assistants of Orthopedic Surgery National Conference for the past three years and most recently gave three presentations at the National Conference for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has been published in several medical journals since joining Spine Midwest in January 2007.