Joplin, MO. – Dr. William Estep, Freeman Health System’s newest internist, has a very simple philosophy when it comes to practicing medicine.

“My goal is to give people the tools to try to take care of themselves as best they can,” he said. “There is a lot of information that floats around now, and most of it is less than reliable. I would love it if every single one of my patients only had to see me once a year to tell me they are doing great.”

The beginning of any adult’s well-being is to better understand how his or her body works, which isn’t always intuitive when things go wrong. As an internist, Dr. William Estep focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of both acute and chronic illnesses with his adult patients.

“There are a lot of opportunities in Joplin for healthcare literacy and empowering our community to know more about their health and, in turn, to be healthier,” he said.

A Joplin native, Dr. William Estep was exposed to the world of medicine at a young age thanks to his father, Dr. Dennis Estep, who serves as an occupational medicine specialist.

“I started school as an engineer and I was pretty adamant I wasn't going to be a doctor while in middle school and high school – that youthful rebellion rearing its head here,” Dr. William Estep said. “I was taking some additional physiology and anatomy classes for some of the projects I was working on, looking at biomechanical engineering.”

During this time, he was fascinated by how the human body worked.

“We take for granted how beautifully made we are,” Dr. William Estep said, “and that was what drew me to looking into medicine as a career.”

Dr. William Estep graduated from medical school at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served his internal medicine residency at Freeman Health System.

“I grew up in this community and overall, I’m very excited to give back in turn for what it poured into me,” he said.

During his free time, Dr. Estep loves to keep active by hiking – especially America’s 63 beautiful national parks – and is an avid baker.

“I’ve taken up gardening now that I am putting down some more roots, and I’m looking forward to what I’m able to do to my yard in the upcoming year,” Dr. Estep said. “My wife and I love to travel, read, and try new recipes; mostly our heart is poured into our families and our local church.”