Michele C. McIntosh, MD

Dr. Michele McIntosh, daughter of Sanford Cockerell, founder of the practice, has lived all but 12 years of her life in Independence, MO. Those 12 years were spent in Texas, at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Baylor Medical School in Houston, and the University of Texas, Houston. Dr. McIntosh married her high school sweetheart, Jim McIntosh, and returned from Texas in 1976 to establish a pediatric practice with her father. She considers her happy marriage with Jim (who has since retired after a successful career in business), along with her two high-achieving children, James McIntosh, a local urologist, and Allison McIntosh Carenza, a teacher turned successful photographer, the great accomplishments of her life.

Since opening the practice, Cockerell & McIntosh Pediatrics has grown to include 8 physicians, 2 nurse practitioners, and a staff of approximately 60 employees who all tend to the medical needs of the children in Eastern Jackson County. Dr. McIntosh has seen those medical needs diminish in large part due to the powerful effect of immunizations and other preventative measures taken at Cockerell & McIntosh Pediatrics.

Dr. McIntosh is very involved in the community. She has served on multiple local community boards, including the Child Abuse Prevention Association and Drumm Farm. She is also passionate about foster children and the families who care for them. The first time she met a foster mother as a medical student and realized what that meant, she was brought to tears. Dr. McIntosh has also consulted on several Independence School District projects.

Outside of caring for patients and staying involved in the community, Dr. McIntosh loves to play tennis. She is on several USTA teams, which have been very successful lately. She feels everyone should keep in shape enough to play Super Senior Tennis (age 60 and up). Dr. McIntosh also enjoys reading, mostly literary fiction and history, and completes about one book every week. It is hard for her to pass by any reading material without peeking at it.

Most of all, Dr. McIntosh has loved spending her days and years with families and children, providing medical advice and reassurance to families as well as sharing both happy and sad times with them. Seeing so many children evolve from infancy to adulthood, and sometimes into parenthood, has given her immense pleasure and fulfillment. She hopes that someday she will see that evolution continue to “grandparenthood.” Dr. McIntosh would like to thank the parents of Eastern Jackson County for allowing her to help them raise their children and be a part of both the joys and the challenges of parenting.