The Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance traces its roots back to the formation of Dickson-Diveley Clinic, an independent orthopedic practice that began in 1923 in Kansas City. Founded by Dr. Frank D. Dickson, who served in the medical corps during WW1, and Dr. Rex L. Diveley, the practice quickly became one of the leading orthopedic medicine institutions in the country.
By 1928, the Dickson-Diveley Clinic moved into a building attached to St. Luke’s hospital at 43rd Street and Mill Creek Parkway, where a thriving practice remains today.
Just a decade later, orthopedic medicine saw a boom in scientific exploration and popularity around the country. In 1933, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons was formed. The organization saw both Dr. Dickson and Dr. Diveley serve as its president over the next decade.
The 1930s also saw the creation of Dickson-Diveley Clinic’s first teaching program-one of the first of its kind following the regulations of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. The programs have continued to mold phenomenal orthopedic surgeons for more than 90 years. One of the program’s graduates, Dr. Paul Herrington, would go on to be a pioneer in spinal surgery. The Herrington Rod, his first-of-its kind surgical solution to scoliosis, would become the standard of scoliosis care for decades.
As the United States entered WWII in 1941, Dr. Diveley stepped in to serve as the United States’s Chief of Orthopedic Operations in the European Theater.
In the years following WWII, the world of orthopedic medicine continued to grow and advance. Dickson-Diveley Clinic continued to be an influential practice in the medical field.
In 1969, the practice would continue to gain notoriety locally in Kansas City as practice member Dr. Paul Meyers was named official team physician for the Kansas City Athletics Major League Baseball team and later the Kansas City Royals American League Baseball team.
As medical education requirements continued to evolve, so did the Dickson-Diveley Clinic practice. When the American Board of Surgery began to require affiliation with Higher Education organizations in 1980, Dickson-Diveley Clinic’s residency program integrated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Orthopedic Medicine, a relationship that continues today.
In 1987, a young Dr. Charles Rhoades assumed administrative duties for Dickson-Diveley Clinic following the tragic death of colleague Dr. Stephen Hall. Dr. Rhoades would serve the organization until his retirement in 2024, overseeing mergers, major medical advancements and eventually the creation of the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute (KCOI).
The 1990s was a decade of growth and partnerships for the practice, bringing on the team from St. Lukes Midwest Orthopedics in 1992 and deepening partnerships with the Rasmussen and Barnthouse Groups in 1998. These organizations would together create KCOI, the regions’ only dedicated orthopedic specialty hospital.
KCOI opened its doors to its first patients in January 2000, with Dr. Rhoades performing the very first procedure himself. It opened with a modest four operating rooms and nine in-patient suites.
KCOI has continued to provide excellent patient care in Kansas City for the past quarter of a century. In 2016, it saw the addition of KCOI Ortho Urgent Care, offering extended hours for patients with lower-acuity injuries.
Continued growth and orthopedic surgical demand led the hospital to expand in 2018. Nearly doubling its existing footprint, KCOI opened its 22,000-square foot expansion which includes a separate entry and waiting room area for urgent-care patients, four urgent care exam rooms, and 11 additional inpatient rooms.
2020 saw the largest merger yet for Dickson-Diveley Clinic. The practice merged with fellow KCOI practicing physicians Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Consultants. The merger created an organization with 25 physicians and a support staff of more than 120. Shortly after, in 2021, the group merged with APEX Orthopedics, creating an even more impactful and influential group of physicians and support staff at KCOI.
To mark the occasion of formally bringing together these major orthopedic organizations, Dickson-Diveley Clinic became the Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance (KCOA) in 2021.
KCOA’s growth has not ended since its formation. In 2024, KCOA added physicians and support staff from the Barnthouse Group, Midwest Orthopedics, and the Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Clinic of Kansas City.
Dating to our formation in 1923 with the formation of Dickson-Diveley Clinic, KCOI and KCOA have been at the forefront of orthopedic medicine. From starting one of the country’s first orthopedic medical residency programs and being recognized as some of orthopedic medicine’s founding fathers to building Kansas City’s first and only dedicated orthopedic care center, we are known around the country as leaders in our field.
Our story does not end here. We are driven by a simple mission: to deliver the best orthopedic care possible in a patient-centered environment. We are proud to continue to deliver innovative, compassionate patient care and an unparalleled patient experience for many years to come.
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Celebrating a quarter century of service to our region.