Ohio Valley Surgical Specialists: About Us

In 1914, Owensboro, Kentucky was a city of about 16,000 people. Typhoid was epidemic and finding a cure was the focus of the medical community. Suffragists marched the streets attempting to gain voting rights for women. Investments by the German American School Corporation laid the groundwork for the construction of Owensboro-Daviess County Hospital. In this environment, Dr. J.C. Hoover began his practice of medicine and surgery in Owensboro.

Royce Dawson, MD

James Anderson, MD

The roots of our surgical group practice extend back to the early 1920s when Dr. J.C. Hoover was joined in the practice of medicine and surgery by his cousin, Dr. I.J. Hoover. Owensboro continued to develop. In the 1930's, Owensboro's population exploded to about 22,800. The Ken-Rad plant began to produce lamps and radio tubes for the entire country. This somewhat isolated Owensboro from the financial crash of that time, Later in the 1930's, the surgical practice of the Hoovers was joined by Dr. Leslie Dodson who grew up in the Utica area outside Owensboro.

After Dr. J.C. Hoover's death, Dr. Dodson and Dr. I.J. Hoover continued their association until the beginning of World War II. Dr. Dodson entered military service for several years. He returned in 1945 after serving as a surgeon at a MASH hospital in Europe. During the time of his military service Dr. I.J. Hoover died of a heart attack. Shortly after Dr. Dodson's return he was joined by Dr. Howell J. Davis.

William G. Hayden, MD

In 1948, Our Lady of Mercy opened as a new 50-bed hospital on Ford Avenue. Owensboro continued to grow and in 1958, Dr. Royce Dawson joined the group. They became known as the "Three D's". Within a few years thereafter, Dr. William McManus became the fourth member.

The 1950's saw the arrival of another surgeon in Owensboro, Dr. Merrill Schell. He moved to Owensboro with his wife and three sons. One of his sons, Robert, age 6, would later join him in surgical group practice named General, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgical Associates (GTV.) In 1955, Dr. Merrill Schell performed the first thorocotomy in Owensboro at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital. During this decade Owensboro was named an All-American City and Kentucky Wesleyan College moved to town.

Dr. Merrill Schell performing the first thorocotomy in
Owensboro at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in 1955.

During the 1960's Surgical Group of Owensboro would welcome Dr. James Anderson in 1964, and Dr. C. William Jansing in 1969. Owensboro gained its first shopping center with the opening of Wesleyan Park Plaza and the bypass was built. This decade was a prosperous time with General Electric Corporation employing over 6,700 employees.

Unemployment rose in the 1970's, hitting 10%. Local leaders began to focus on industry recruitment. Within a relatively short period of time the Owensboro Riverport was constructed and aluminum manufacturing plants began operating in nearby Hancock County. Pinkerton Tobacco opened its doors in 1971 followed by Ragu in 1975. Dr. William G. Hayden joined General, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgical Associates in 1974.

Dr. Scherm and Dr. Cornell

Raised in Western Daviess County, Dr. Michael J. Scherm returned home in 1984 to join Dr. Merrill Schell, Dr. Robert Schell, and Dr. Hayden. The city celebrated the opening of Owensboro Community College and mourned with the nation following the Challenger space shuttle disaster.

The 1990's would be a decade of significant change for Owensboro and Kentucky. Reform laws were passed resulting in major changes for health care (House Bill 250), and education (Kentucky Education Reform Act.) The local community joined together and supported the construction of RiverPark Center, a downtown facility for the performing arts. Wendell Ford retired after serving four terms in the United States Senate. GTV welcomed Dr. Christopher Glaser in 1993, and Surgical Group of Owensboro saw the arrival of Dr. Alan Mullins and Dr. Brad Cornell in 1996.

The year 1997 saw the merger of the two groups founded by Dr. J.C. Hoover and Dr. Merrill Schell, respectively. Ohio Valley Surgical Specialists was chosen as the new name for the group and today consists of Dr. Robert Schell, Dr. Michael Scherm, Dr. Christopher Glaser, Dr. Roger Humphrey , Dr. Alan Mullins, Dr. Brad Cornell , Dr. P. Anthony Decker, and Dr. W. Chad Statton .

Surgeons in the group provide a vast array of surgical services to area residents. With an office in Owensboro and an office in Tell City, Indiana, the surgeons at Ohio Valley Surgical Specialists serve an area consisting of over 100,000 residents.

Surgical care has certainly come a long way in over 80 years since Dr. J.C. Hoover first hung his shingle in Owensboro. The physicians at Ohio Valley Surgical Specialists are proud to be part of a long-standing tradition of providing quality surgical care to our neighbors.

Ridgecrest Medical Park
2801 New Hartford Road
Owensboro, KY 42303
Toll Free (877) SURGEON
(270) 926-1336
FAX: (270) 683-3797

Perry County Memorial Hospital
Professional Building
111 East Highway 66
Tell City, IN 47586
Toll Free (877) SURGERY
(812) 547-7448
FAX (812) 547-7331