Medical Services

Dr. Wolfe and his family moved to Texas County from Colorado in 2013 after finishing his medical training in family medicine.

He has practiced medicine at MOCH since 2017; becoming Medical Director in 2021. He enjoys making connections in the local community while raising his six sons with his wife, Melissa. They enjoy the natural adventures this special part of the country provides.

Dr. Wolfe is available to see patients in the Houston clinic, Monday-Friday.

Dr. Sherard received her Medical Degree from Loma Linda University in 1999.

She has practiced at the Lifestyle Center of America, as well as working as a Staff Physician for Veterans Affairs. She was also the co-author of “The Full Plate Diet”, a New York Times bestseller!

Dr. Sherard is available to see patients at the Ava clinic, Monday-Wednesday, 8:30am-5:30pm.

Ida graduated from UMKC with her Master’s in Nursing in 1998. She has more than 18 years of experience practicing as a family nurse practitioner.

Ida attended nursing school at Westark Community College in Fort Smith, Ark.

She also served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 2006 and retired as a Major.

Ida is available to see patients in the Ava clinic, Monday-Friday, 7am–3:30pm.

Taylour graduated from Maryville University in 2020 with her Masters in Science (MSN) and is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

She graduated with her BNS from College of the Ozarks and worked for over 4 years as a pediatric and adult care nurse at Cox Health. She is from the Hartville area and is excited to return closer to home to provide care for the community. In her free time, Taylour enjoys spending time with her family, and camping and fishing at the lake.

Taylour Emery is available in the Gainesville clinic, Monday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. She’s available in the Ava clinic, Tuesday-Wednesday from 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and at the Mansfield clinic, Fridays 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Brenda graduated from Graceland University with her Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) in May of 2014 and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).

She attended Southwest Missouri State University in West Plains, MO graduating with her Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) in 1997. Brenda worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) in a variety of disciplines including Medical Surgical, Operating Room, Intensive Care, Long Term Care, Emergency Room, and Travel Nursing which has given her a diverse knowledge base for primary care. She provides medical care to children and adults of all ages for both wellness visits and acute illnesses or injuries. Brenda was raised in Cabool, MO and is pleased to provide medical services in her home town and surrounding communities.

Brenda Taylor is available in the Cabool clinic, Tuesday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Dr. Ball is a 1980 graduate of the Kirksville School of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, MO. and is Board-Certified in General Practice.

Dr. Ball has been providing family practice medicine since 1981 in Mountain Grove, MO.

Dr. Ball is available to see patients every Wednesday, 8am-5pm in the Cabool clinic.

Mina Higgins FNP graduated from Missouri State in 2000.

She has over 20 years’ experience as an FNP in many rural areas of Missouri. She is happy to serve the health care needs of Ozark County, MO!

Mina Higgins is available in the Gainesville clinic, Tuesday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Melissa Crawford started her career as a nurse, receiving first her LPN degree and then her ASN-RN degree from Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield. She later received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Colorado Mesa University in Colorado.

In 2021, she graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a Master of Science in Nursing. Melissa has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, including specialty clinics like endocrinology and cardiology, the medical-surgical floor and intensive care unit (ICU) in a hospital setting, family practice/rural health/federally qualified health centers, and home health. She joined Missouri Ozarks Community Health in April 2022 as a family nurse practitioner.

Melissa and her husband raised three children in Pleasant Hope, MO. She now has five grandchildren. She and her family love to camp, hunt and fish. She also enjoys baking, sewing, and reading in her spare time.

Melissa Crawford is available in the Houston clinic, Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Jacqueline Austin originally grew up in Ava, MO., and moved to California in 1995. She has spent over 12 years providing care as a Registered Nurse in both the emergency and urgent care settings, as well as the perioperative setting.

Jacqueline completed her student rotation at Missouri Ozarks Community Health and graduated in December 2018 as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

She is very excited to return to the communities she grew up in and provide high-quality care to MOCH patients. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and her 3 dogs.

Jacqueline is available in the Mansfield clinic, Monday-Friday, 11am-7pm.

Kathy has been with Missouri Ozarks Community Health since 2007.

She is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, providing a wide variety of patient care. Previous to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Kathy was an Registered Nurse at Mercy Hopsital, providing care in the trauma center.

Kathy is available to see patients in the Mansfield clinic, Monday-Thursday, 7am-5pm.

Renee graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2004 as a registered nurse and has experience in a variety of areas.

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2017 and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner.

She has experience as a nurse practitioner in pediatrics, gastroenterology, family medicine, urgent care, and occupational medicine.

Renee was born and raised in Louisiana, but she has relocated to Missouri with her husband and three children. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, spending time with her family, and being outdoors.

Kalynn graduated from Missouri State University in December 2019 with her Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies. Prior to that, she attended Evangel University and obtained her Bachelors degree in Biological Chemistry.

She is from Ava, MO and grew up on the family farm. She loves the people that call the Ozarks their home and looks forward to serving them at the Mountain Grove clinic. She and her husband enjoy serving in their church, hanging out with their family, friends, and dogs, and spending as much time as possible outside and on the farm.

Kalynn is available to see patients in the Mountain Grove clinic, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Kody graduated from Cox College in 2021 with his Masters in Science (MSN) and is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

Kody received his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 2016 and a Bachelor’s of Science in 2012. He has spent over 5 years as a nurse in the ER at Cox Hospital. He is from the Mountain Grove area and is excited to provide care to his hometown. He enjoys spending time with his family and exploring new places.

Kody Johnson is available in the Cabool clinic, Monday 8:00 am.-5:00 p.m. and at the Mountain Grove clinic, Tuesday and Thursday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Dr. Mary Pendergrass joined Missouri Ozarks Community Health in January 2023.

She has more than eight years experience as a physician. Dr. Pendergrass attended the University of Missouri, Columbia and A.T. Still University in Kirksville. She has ties to the Ozark County area.

Dr. Pendergrass is available to see patients at the Mountain Grove clinic.