Local clinic under new management

When Sarah Burcham arrived in Clarendon in 2008 as the community’s newest Physician’s Assistant, she never imagined owning and operating the local clinic. And yet, that’s exactly what happened.
Burcham and her husband, Daniel, took over the ownership and management of Clarendon Family Medical Center on July 1, but patients probably haven’t noticed much difference.
“We’re not looking to make a lot of changes,” Sarah said. “The Howards had a great system in place, and we plan to continue that.”
Talks of a change of ownership began not long after clinic founder, Dr. John Howard, was elected Donley County Judge last November, the Burchams said.
“We were at a point that we were thinking of moving closer to family,” Daniel said. “We’re nine hours away from her family and 16 hours away from mine.”
But then, the Burchams say, Howard began talking to them about the possibility of owning the clinic. He was committed to being a full time judge but not wanting to totally give up medicine, his wife, clinic manager Lori Howard, had put in 17 years and was ready to retire. The timing was perfect.
“This was a turning point for us,” Sarah said. “And we decided to make the decision.”
Dr. Howard was happy to see the Burchams get the opportunity to own the clinic.
“I’m pleased to see local professionals will continue to operate the clinic with the same philosophy,” Howard said. “I’m still at the clinic as a supervising physician for an excellent group of professionals. I’m not prepared to stop practicing medicine.”
Howard said he is committed to his new role as county judge but said medicine is still his first love.
With Mrs. Howard staying on to advice in a transition period and Dr. Howard continuing his role as medical director and supervising physician, the Burchams have stepped into the roles of management.
Daniel’s sister, Jami Vierig, moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Clarendon to become the clinic’s new business manager, bringing with her a 14-year-old son, Christian Wooten, and leaving a daughter in college back in Georgia.
The new owners also brought back a familiar face, Devah Pittman, a well-liked Physician’s Assistant.
Sarah and Pittman, along with Misty Nobles, makes up the main caregivers at the clinic with Howard still seeing patients on Wednesdays. Daniel, with a degree in business, oversees that aspect of the clinic.
Daniel’s main focus is maintaining the clinic’s position in the community, providing 14 jobs, 10 of which are full time.
“The impact and the role we can play in the community makes it worth being away from our families,” he said. “I really like helping keep jobs here. A big company wouldn’t keep the same atmosphere, and we care about everyone in the community.”