Clay Garrison, Regional Operations Supervisor

Clay Garrison knows the value of working with good people. As regional operations supervisor at University Medical Center Physician Network Services, he has many responsibilities; but the people always matter.

“Make sure you surround yourself with good people,” he said, “And appreciate the people that you have around you.”

Clay grew up in Odessa Texas, a town big enough to have a city atmosphere but still small enough for the hometown feel.

“It was great,” he said. “I was born there, raised there; a good environment to grow up in. It’s a place that really instills good West Texas values in you.”

Clay came from Odessa to Texas Tech to major in history. In 2001, as a sophomore, he began working for Physician Network Services at LakeRidge Primary Health Center. He said he’s been working his way up ever since.

“I started out with a part time position in the evenings and weekends, just working around my college schedule,” he said. “It was a pretty good background for me. I worked the front desk and did some nursing assistant work as well.”

Since then, Clay has worked various positions within PNS, including operations supervisor, managed care coordinator and clinic manager for Wolfforth Clinic. In August 2011 he was promoted to regional operations supervisor.

“Having worked my way up through a lot of different areas of the company, it’s just nice to be a part of a successful organization that really cares about helping people out,” he said.

Clay also has a love for sports. He said he follows Texas Tech, but since his grandfather played for Oklahoma, he isfaithful to the Sooners as well. He spoke about Texas Tech’s recent upset of the Sooners on their home field in Norman Oklahoma.

“It was great to see Tech get a win up there. But I think in the long run I’d rather see Oklahoma go undefeated and win a national title game,” he said jokingly.

Clay said it is important to know how to adapt as the medical industry changes, and he is constantly trying to learn and improve; but he certainly appreciates his fellow employees at Physician Network Services.

“I’ve developed relationships with some amazing people at PNS,” he said. “Physician Network Services has truly been a second family for me.”