One Team - Sarah Harris
How long have you worked for TTUHSC?
I have worked for the TTUHSC for 6.5 years. I started in Human Resources and moved to Provider Payor Relations-Faculty Recruitment in 2015.
What is your role at TTUHSC?
I am currently the Director of Faculty Recruitment and Enrollment. I work with the
School of Medicine departments in Lubbock and Amarillo to recruit, onboard, and retain
the best physicians in the nation. I oversee the enrollment team who are fantastic
at enrolling all of our new providers into all of the insurance plans. I help the
enrollment team with tracking of the data, but they are the ones who really make the
difference.
What’s your favorite thing about working at TTUHSC?
The willingness to help each other, students, patients, and the Lubbock community.
In the highest of life’s moments and the lowest, the HSC community supports its own.
What about your job excites you the most?
I feel like my job gives me a lot of autonomy and the ability to fail without serious
repercussions. The ability to fail sounds like an odd thing to say, but if we aren’t
failing, that means we likely are not getting out of our comfort zone. The HSC administration
trusts me to lead new projects and supports my ideas, even if they are a little bit
out of the norm.
How do you see the TTUHSC Values being implemented every day within your department
at TTUHSC?
The Provider Payor Relations department is a highly functioning team. We don’t always
agree and we don’t always succeed, but we work together to provide the best experience
for each other, HSC staff & faculty, and our patients. Our team has put in the work
to empower each other and to communicate effectively despite barriers. I am proud
to be on the PPR team.
What values do you see most across the campus?
As a faculty recruiter, I often have candidates from all over the world who are in
Lubbock or at the HSC for the very first time. My candidates always tell me how genuine
and kind the staff and faculty have been during their visit. While walking around
the building, it is common to see a staff member assisting a patent to a clinic and
going the extra mile to ensure the patient is satisfied. The HSC staff and faculty
are kindhearted and go above and beyond to live out our mission and values.
Why is creating a sustainable values-based culture important to TTUHSC?
When I ask my candidate’s what they are looking for in a new position, an answer I
hear often is a “positive and collaborative culture”. A sustainable values-based culture
guides employees to action. Values are not just words on a wall, they are a reminder
of how to treat others. In healthcare, the people(patients) in our building are often
in some type of physical or mental pain. As healthcare professionals, we are held
to a higher standard to ensure our patients have a great experience and to make their
pain a little less.
Related Stories
A Rite of Passage for Next Generation of Physicians
Students in TTUHSC's School of Medicine Class of 2028 received their first white coat and pledged their commitment to the medical profession at the White Coat Ceremony Friday (July 26) at the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
As spring approaches, some people’s thoughts turn to gardening. Whether it’s a flower garden they desire or a vegetable garden want to have, they begin planning what they’ll plant and what they need to do to ensure a successful garden.
Adopt a Growth Mindset for a Better Life
A “growth mindset” accepts that our intelligence and talents can develop over time, and a person with that mindset understands that intelligence and talents can improve through effort and learning.
Recent Stories
Gov. Abbott Appoints TTUHSC’s Varma to Texas Medical Board District Three Review Committee
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s (TTUHSC) Surendra Varma, M.D., to the Texas Medical Board (TMB) District Three Review Committee for a term set to expire January 15, 2026.
Marching Through the Heat: College Band Members Tackle Physical Challenges
Marching band musicians endure physical strain which could pose a significant risk of injuries if proper precautions aren’t taken. David S. Edwards, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians sports medicine physician, spoke about injuries and preparation.
TTUHSC’s Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Establishes Brain Drug Discovery Center
The Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Amarillo has developed the Brain Drug Discovery Center, the newest TTUHSC research center.