USA Health welcomes GI laparoscopic, bariatric surgeon
Crawford Cox, M.D., recently completed a minimally invasive surgery/bariatric fellowship at the University of Missouri.
By Carol McPhail
[email protected]
Charles Crawford Cox, M.D., has joined USA Health as a fellowship-trained GI laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon.
Board certified in general surgery, he will address a range of conditions in patients including abdominal wall hernias, achalasia, appendicitis, Barrett’s esophagus, gallbladder stones, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, inguinal hernia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and paraesophageal hiatal hernia.
As part of USA Health, the academic health system for the University of South Alabama, Cox will hold the title of assistant professor of surgery at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine.
He pursued laparoscopic surgery because of the benefits that minimally invasive surgery provides for patients. “I was drawn to bariatric surgery, in particular, through my initial experiences as a resident with Dr. (William) Richards, chair of surgery,” said Cox, who completed a general surgery residency at USA Health. “Providing care to this patient population is a unique relationship as it begins months prior to surgical intervention and continues beyond the immediate postoperative period to ensure long-term success.”
A native of Birmingham, Cox earned his medical degree from the Whiddon College of Medicine. Following residency training, he completed a minimally invasive surgery/bariatric fellowship at the University of Missouri.
He is one of five surgeons who recently returned to Mobile, where they completed their surgery residencies and where four of the five new surgeons graduated from medical school.
“It has been my goal to return to Mobile and USA Health on both a professional and personal level,” said Cox, whose wife, Taylor, is from the area. “I also wanted to return to the academic health system where I trained to provide care to the population as well as provide mentorship and teaching to residents similar to what I experienced.”
His research interests include improvements in bariatric surgery outcomes as well as technical improvements in paraesophageal/hiatal hernia repairs.
Cox is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
He is married with one son, and enjoys golf and tennis.
He will see patients at Mastin Surgical Specialists and USA Health University Hospital, 2451 University Hospital Dr., and at the USA Health Center for Comprehensive Weight Loss, 6304 USA Health Blvd., in Mobile. To make an appointment, call 251-455-8282.
