Joe Barnard, DO

I was born in Gamaliel, Arkansas, and moved to West Plains, Missouri, when I was ten years old. Medicine is my second career. I graduated from Ozarks Technical Community College as a physical therapist assistant in 2005. I spent many years working in health care, and though extremely rewarding, I decided I was capable of doing more to serve my community. I attended Missouri State University in Springfield, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise and movement science, and then pursued my dream of becoming a rural family physician at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. 

I chose family medicine because it offers the chance to learn many areas of medicine, while building meaningful and lasting relationships with patients and families. I am excited and grateful to complete my residency at CoxHealth Family Medicine Residency because of the close ties to my community, and the leadership and expertise of its many physicians.

My beautiful wife, Kista, is a registered nurse and is eager to become a part of the CoxHealth family. My son, Dagen, will be attending University of Missouri next year with hopes of also one day becoming a physician. My daughter, Haley, is also interested in medicine, but for now settles for cheerleading, playing softball and making slime. As a native of the Ozarks, I love spending my time outdoors. My family and I often canoe, camp, float, swim, hike and travel. I enjoy mountain biking, playing the guitar, hunting, fishing and the occasional video game.