Chadwell Vail, DO, FACOI

I’m Chadwell Vail, MD, FACOI, and I joined Phelps Health in 2014 as an internal medicine physician. I see adult patients (ages 18 and up) for chronic health conditions and preventive medicine. I also perform osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT), a hands-on approach to help correct structural imbalances in the body, improve circulation and relieve pain.

My interest in the medical field can be traced back to South America. When I was younger, a friend and I were assaulted in the streets of northern Peru. I took my friend to the local health station and was impressed by how the physicians were able to perform patient care with little to no resources. From that point on, I began thinking about a career in medicine.

After high school, I attended Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), and the Rolla community adopted me as a college student over 25 years ago. Because of this – and after a career as a bioprocess engineer and chemical plant manager at a solution mining facility in southeast Arizona – I decided to return to Rolla. With good schools and a low crime rate, Rolla is a great place to raise a family. Rural medicine, I feel, is where I’m most needed.

My mentors were in internal medicine, and I enjoy the challenge and interaction with the other service lines. When it comes to medications, I am a minimalist. I believe that lifestyle modifications can, in many cases, reduce the need for medications.

My wife and I have three children and when I’m not working, I enjoy carpentry – although I’m not great at it – and computer gaming. I speak both English and Spanish.

My hope is that my patients gain a sense of empowerment to make powerful choices to improve not only their physical health but also their mental well-being.