2016 Health Care Champions Top Doctor: Dr. Rosellen Meystrik

Dr. Rosellen Meystrik has worked behind the scenes to bring breast cancer care in the Ozarks into the 21st century.

A surgeon at Mercy Clinic Plastic Surgery, Meystrik started her own Springfield practice in 1990 before joining the Mercy team four years later amid a changing health care landscape.

“When I first came to town, I learned very few women with a diagnosis of breast cancer were offered a consultation with a plastic surgeon regarding the possibility of breast reconstruction. So was born my first crusade,” says Meystrik, a former chief resident at the University of Missouri Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “Surgical grand rounds were organized, many ‘lunch and learns’ at local general surgeons’ offices were provided and countless talks at ladies’ groups in the early 1990s started changing options presented to ladies.

“I am happy to report today, women of the Ozarks that face the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer learn they have options.”

First licensed to practice medicine in the Show-Me State in 1986, Meystrik holds her medical degree from the University of Missouri. When she joined the Mercy team in 1994, she felt ill-prepared to manage the business realities of an independent practice as competition consolidated in health care delivery. Ten years ago, she received her MBA at Missouri State University as someone who could write a business plan and understand financials in an ever-changing health care environment.

“I believe that business training makes me a better physician. I still will listen to the teddy bears of the children that come to the office, but I also can sit in the board room and actively contribute in the hard financial decision that must be made,” Meystrik says.

While she remains active in breast care reconstruction as well as breast cancer education, she also has a soft spot for children in need – especially those facing cleft-lip and palate challenges.

“One of my breast care patients, who is a retired Navy nurse, … wanted to establish a foundation to assist the children of the Ozarks with special needs,” she says of the start of the Smile Foundation. “We were able to raise funds to help patients obtain specialized feeders and bottles, transportation for care, as well as dental needs of cleft patients.”

In her 22 years at Mercy, Meystrik has been involved in over a dozen administrative committees to enhance hospital services and care, including as chairwoman for the hospital’s plastic and reconstructive surgeon section and as vice chairwoman of the Mercy Medical Executive Committee. Beyond the operating room, Meystrik also has served the Springfield Police Department as a medic on the SWAT team.

“I enjoyed the SWAT medic course and found out I was a pretty good shot. Who doesn’t like to shoot pistols, rifles and machine guns on occasion, blow stuff up?” she says.

While she has found several avenues for service, Meystrik says she is a surgeon first. “God has given me a gift, and I absolutely love to do what I do, which is to take care of people who seek my care,” she says.