Brock Shamel named Senior Vice President of Operations as Cox Medical Group announces leadership changes

As CoxHealth launches a new operating model that is part of the organization’s strategic plan, Cox Medical Group (CMG) is announcing several key leadership changes.

Brock Shamel has been named Senior Vice President of Operations for CMG. In the new role, Shamel will work directly with CoxHealth’s other senior vice presidents to align and integrate CoxHealth’s clinic and hospital operations under a new service line model.

Shamel previously served as VP of Cox Medical Group, where he oversaw CoxHealth’s 80-plus clinics throughout the region. Shamel has served in this capacity since June 2021.

“In his time as vice president, Brock has created a significant amount of trust throughout the medical group,” says Dr. Tim Jones, president of CMG. “He is well known as a leader who is trusted by our physicians and providers, and who is a master at solving problems.”

Shamel has deep roots in southwest Missouri and has been with CoxHealth since 2010, when he joined today's Cox Medical Center Branson as an intern. Shamel is a graduate of College of the Ozarks, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Health & Wellness in 2010. In 2012, Shamel completed his graduate studies in Health Administration at Missouri State University.

In his new role, Shamel will oversee all operations for CMG, a subsidiary of CoxHealth that provides leadership for CoxHealth’s physicians and clinics. CMG includes approximately 800 providers across more than 80 clinics and in CoxHealth’s hospitals.

In recent years, CMG has undergone tremendous growth, with revenue nearly doubling over the past four years.

“With this rate of growth, we know we need to have the right support structure to optimize the way we deliver care,” Dr. Jones says. “Brock is the right leader for this pivotal time, and I am excited for his leadership.”

Shamel’s new role is part of changes at CMG that support the launch of CoxHealth’s new operating model.

As CoxHealth implements its new strategic plan, the organization is evolving to a “future state operating model.” The new model organizes CoxHealth around key service lines – such as cardiovascular services, orthopedics and primary care – with the goal of providing efficient care for patients.

“Organizing care under service lines allows patients to navigate the system in a more seamless, streamlined process,” Dr. Jones says. “The new model allows physicians to direct and lead the evolution of how we deliver care, and to optimize coordination of care for every patient.”

As part of the service line realignment under the new operating model, CMG has made three additional key leadership announcements. The changes represent a realignment of CoxHealth’s resources to support CMG functions in the service line-based model. The moves reposition current leaders without significant budget impacts for CoxHealth.

The changes include two VPs of operations, who will serve as strategic leaders for their service lines and focus on growth and strategy. They will function as interlocking leaders to CoxHealth’s hospitals and resources such as IT, finance and marketing.

The leadership changes include:

Ellen Hammock will serve as VP of operations. In her new role, she will have responsibility for the following service lines: primary care/urgent care, women’s care, pediatrics, oncology and medicine subspecialty. Hammock previously served as VP of provider services for CMG. She has a wealth of health care experience, and in her time at CoxHealth, she has served as an executive director, director of physician services, in physician development, and as administrator of the Cox Family Medicine Residency. Hammock earned her bachelor’s in political science at Truman State University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Missouri State University.

Bryan Williams will serve as VP of operations, with responsibility for the following service lines: cardiovascular services, neurosciences, orthopedics and procedural services. Williams most recently served as administrative director for Neurosciences, and, in the last year, he additionally oversaw Cardiovascular Services. Williams has worked at CoxHealth for the last 23 years, beginning his career as a transporter while attending X-ray and ultrasound school. He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Evangel University and completed a Master of Health Administration degree from Webster University.

Andrea Elliott will serve as VP of finance. With recent growth and the increasing financial impact of CMG, Elliott will take on an elevated scope of responsibility in the medical group. Elliott previously served as administrative director of compensation and finance for CMG. She has experience as an auditor and financial analyst, and served as controller at Skaggs Community Health Center, now Cox Medical Center Branson. She is a certified public accountant and earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Southwest Baptist University.

All of the leadership changes are effective immediately.