MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – An open house at Mercy Clinic Family Medicine – Mountain Grove highlights three upcoming milestones. Longtime community member Dr. David Barbe will celebrate 40 years of practice, new physician Dr. Robin Coffey joins the team and the clinic will showcase updates to the facility to better serve patients and their families.
Dr. Barbe is entering his fourth decade of service as a family medicine physician. A native of Mountain Grove, Dr. Barbe grew up and attended high school in the area. After completing medical school and residency, he returned to the community in 1983 to open his practice.
“My wife and I were high school sweethearts from Mountain Grove, and we always knew we wanted to come back home after my medical training,” said Dr. Barbe. “This is a rural community that has been chronically underserved. We felt it was a calling and mission to return and give back to the community we grew up in.”
Dr. Barbe’s practice expanded and he eventually joined Mercy in 1997. His son, Dr. Nathaniel Barbe, followed his father’s footsteps and joined the practice in 2020. The clinic today provides a full range of primary care services for the family, including women’s health.
“I like my patients to know they are more important to their own health than I am,” Dr. Barbe said. “I can give direction, guidance and information, but it’s ultimately up to the patient. The people who are the healthiest are those who take responsibility for their own health.”
In addition to his 40 years of practice in Mountain Grove, Dr. Barbe has also held a variety of influential health-related positions. He served as president of the Missouri State Medical Association from 2005 to 2006, president of the American Medical Association from 2017 to 2018 and president of the World Medical Association from 2020 to 2021.
“My career in family medicine has given me the chance to interact with so many different people over the years,” said Dr. Barbe. “It has made for a very rewarding and fulfilling profession, and I can’t wait to see what the next years bring as my team continues to make an impact on the overall health of this population.”
The practice continues to grow with the addition of Dr. Robin Coffey, who will start this August. Dr. Coffey received her medical degree from Trinity School of Medicine in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She recently completed a family medicine residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Coffey also has experience in physical therapy and completed a doctor of physical therapy degree from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, prior to her medical school training.
“I’ve lived in the Midwest my whole life and knew this is where I wanted to practice when I started my medical education,” said Dr. Coffey. “My focus has always been on rural family medicine and providing great care for the whole family. My husband and I look forward to serving this community the best we can.”
The open house will allow community members the chance to tour updates made to the clinic during a recent refurbishment. The original building was constructed in 1988, with an extension added in 1998. Though the clinic had standard maintenance and small updates over the years, a bigger remodel was needed. New flooring, paint, cabinets, waiting room and exam room furniture were all updated to better meet the evolving needs of the practice.
To learn more about event activities, individuals can view a Facebook event created for the open house. To schedule an appointment online with Dr. David Barbe, Dr. Nathaniel Barbe or Dr. Robin Coffey, click here.
