PROFILE
By Glenda Graves | Portrait photo by Keith Branch
Dr. Wes Cox
The Evolution of Health Care in Northwest Arkansas
A former lead product developer for Microsoft once said, “Look into the future, see what’s missing and solve for it.” This statement is a perfect representation of the career of Dr. Wes Cox, orthopedic surgeon and section chief for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences orthopedics in Northwest Arkansas. Wes is a problem solver, and Northwest Arkansas benefits from his desire to see a continuous evolution in our community’s health care.
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Wes has spent years mastering the art and science of orthopedic surgery, but at his core, he’s just a hometown guy who wanted to come back to the place he loves most — Northwest Arkansas. Born in Fayetteville at Washington Regional Medical Center and a proud Fayetteville High School alum, Wes always felt a strong connection to his community. His journey took him far and wide for education and training, but he said the call of home was too strong to ignore.
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“I love Northwest Arkansas,” Wes said, smiling. “Even if I had been born somewhere else, I think this is exactly the kind of place I would have wanted to live.”
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With a growing family and a passion for helping others, he and his wife, Alexis, knew Fayetteville was the perfect place to set down roots. When he first came back to Arkansas, there was only one other fellowship-trained shoulder surgeon in the state, which made his return not just personally meaningful but also offered an opportunity to fill a much-needed role.
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Growing up, Wes was an active kid — playing sports and pushing the limits. “I was fortunate that I was never seriously ill as a kid, but I did break plenty of bones, sprained joints and dislocated things,” he said. “I spent more time in orthopedic offices than anywhere else, and that exposure fueled my passion for the field.”
But Wes said he didn’t arrive at this career on his own; several mentors helped guide him along the way. One of the most influential was Dr. Ed Whiteside, Arkansas’ first specialty-trained allergist and a close family friend. Wes also credits his father, an attorney with a focus on health care, for exposing him to the medical world early on.
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Before scrubbing into his first surgery, Wes earned a degree in microbiology at Auburn University. “Orthopedics doesn’t have a lot of crisis situations, but one of the biggest challenges we face is infections. My microbiology background helps me think through those problems in a different way,” he explained.
![IMG_3590[1].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b6722a_9a1958cb8a4748e292f23d9949602015~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_683,y_0,w_3523,h_3118/fill/w_560,h_496,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_3590%5B1%5D_JPG.jpg)
Dr. Wes and Alexis Cox with their children, Campbell, Crawford and Marin (Photo by Amy Long Photography)
“Ultimately, orthopedics made the most sense for me,” Wes said. “My personality aligns well with the field — there’s a problem, there’s a solution and then it’s fixed. I get a lot of satisfaction from solving a problem definitively and then moving on to the next one rather than managing long-term conditions.”
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His early exposure to orthopedics, combined with his natural inclination for problem solving, made it a clear pathway.
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During his residency, Wes trained under some of the best in the field, an experience that shaped his approach to patient care. One of his mentors gave him a piece of advice that stuck with him. “If I’m doing things five years from now the way he taught me, then he taught me nothing,” Wes said.
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That mindset of continuous learning and innovation has been a guiding principle in his practice since.
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​After medical school and residency at UAMS in Little Rock, Wes and his family traveled to San Francisco for his fellowship in shoulder, elbow and sports medicine. While there, he had the chance to work with world-renowned surgeons, some of whom pioneered arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and designed the most widely used shoulder replacement systems in the world.
That experience reinforced his natural curiosity and drive for innovation. He’s constantly searching for better ways to improve surgical techniques and patient outcomes. “I constantly find myself thinking, ‘There has to be a better way,’” he said.
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This drive has led to his registering 11 patents, developing new bracing and surgical implants, and even authoring a book on Little League Baseball injuries.
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Sports have been a huge part of Wes’ life since childhood. He loves golf, enjoying both the game itself and the chance it gives him to bond with his kids. His eldest now plays at the collegiate level, something that makes him especially proud. “Golf is unique,” Wes said. “It’s a great way to spend one-on-one time with my kids.”
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Beyond the golf course, the Cox family loves Razorback athletics, lake weekends and traveling together. While Wes grew up hunting and fishing, his busy schedule makes it difficult to find time for those hobbies, but staying active remains important. Daily workouts have replaced his old running routine after a back injury.
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​Balancing the demands of a surgical career with family life is no easy task, but for Wes, it’s a priority. “At the end of our lives, none of us will regret not working more,” he said.
Dr. Wes Cox treating former Razorback football player Jalen Catalon (Photo courtesy of UAMS)
Having seen how medicine can strain relationships, he structured his career to ensure his family always comes first. “My goal has always been to work as hard as I can but not at the expense of my family,” he said. “That balance is difficult in medicine, but it was something we built into our family as a priority.”
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His wife has been his rock throughout the years. From enduring the long hours of residency to supporting his career moves, Alexis has been there every step of the way. Now, as their kids grow up, they remain committed to making time for what matters most.
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Wes ultimately found his niche in shoulder and elbow surgery, drawn to its complexity and the opportunity to work with patients of all ages. No doubt a specialization in the field allows him to continually tweak and improve his skills and techniques.
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He’s had the privilege of working with elite athletes, serving as a team physician for the Arkansas Razorbacks and an orthopedic consultant for the LPGA Tour. He’s treated professionals across the MLB, NFL, PGA, LPGA and even Olympic-level athletes.
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Wes said there is nothing more rewarding than helping someone return to the activities they love. “I think about my own experience as a patient — not from an athletic injury, but from a significant back surgery that could have threatened my career if it hadn’t been done perfectly with a proper recovery,” Wes said. “I enjoy the challenge of working with high-demand individuals where success is the only option. When an elite athlete’s passion and livelihood depend on a full recovery, we have to get it right.”
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He continued, “Every athlete I’ve treated has been a privilege, but some of my proudest moments come when we’re able to help an athlete avoid surgery. It may seem unusual for a surgeon to say that, but when someone is facing surgery as their only option and we find a way to get them back without it, that’s incredibly rewarding.”
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With that said, when surgery is necessary, seeing athletes return to peak performance is always fulfilling for Wes.
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Wes sees the future of sports medicine evolving with advancements in technology, from stronger surgical anchors to augmented reality-assisted shoulder replacements. He’s particularly focused on how the role of team physicians is changing, especially with the rise of name, image and likeness deals in college athletics. “It’s more important than ever to ensure that athletes are getting the best care, not just what benefits their teams or stakeholders,” he said.
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Wes’ role as section chief for UAMS orthopedics in Northwest Arkansas allows him to combine his passion for medicine with his dedication to his community. And whether he’s in the operating room or with his family cheering on the Razorbacks, one thing is clear: He’s exactly where he’s meant to be.