Introduction

The story of Southwest Renal Care is one of passion, perseverance, and a shared vision to revolutionize the dialysis experience. The company was founded by two seasoned dialysis professionals—Justin Strickland, CEO, and Tonya Smith, CEO, Co-founder—who built their expertise from the ground up, starting their careers as clinicians and ultimately transitioning into business ownership.

With years of combined experience across every facet of dialysis, Justin and Tonya leveraged their unique backgrounds and hands-on knowledge to establish a dialysis company rooted in compassion, innovation, and operational excellence.

The Beginning: Clinicians at the Frontlines

Both Justin and Tonya’s journeys into the world of dialysis began on the clinical floor, working directly with patients and learning the complexities of dialysis firsthand. Their passion for improving outcomes and understanding the challenges within the treatment landscape laid the foundation for their future endeavors.

Tonya's Path

Tonya began her career as a clinician and quickly demonstrated leadership and expertise. Her dedication to excellence and mentoring led her to assume various leadership roles throughout her career, including:

• Charge Nurse

• Clinical Director

These positions allowed Tonya to gain experience overseeing teams, streamlining clinical operations, and ensuring that high-quality care was consistently delivered. Her commitment to both patients and providers shaped her leadership philosophy and vision for future growth.

Justin's Path

Justin’s journey began as a front-line technician and expanded through a series of roles that demonstrated his adaptability, knowledge, and leadership in the dialysis field. His positions included:

• Preceptor

• Lead Technician

• Regional Preceptor

Justin’s roles allowed him to train and mentor staff, streamline processes, and improve patient care through education and leadership. His passion for strategic growth ultimately led to his promotion as Vice President of Licensure for one of his employers. This role gave Justin insight into the operational, regulatory, and administrative aspects of dialysis—further preparing him to lead his own organization.

From Experience to Vision: The Birth of Southwest Renal Care

After years of learning, leading, and improving processes within the dialysis space, both Justin and Tonya felt the call to take their careers to the next level. With their combined experience in clinical operations, education, leadership, and management, they shared a vision: to create a company that prioritized both innovative patient care and operational excellence.

Southwest Renal Care was born out of a desire to use their years of clinical and administrative experience to transform the way dialysis care was delivered. They recognized the need for a patient-centric model focused on both quality outcomes and operational integrity—a vision that stemmed from their personal experiences and the challenges they had faced throughout their careers.

Building the Business: A Foundation of Expertise

The journey from working in various clinical roles to owning and operating their own company was not without its challenges. However, Justin and Tonya's combined expertise gave them the tools they needed to navigate the hurdles of entrepreneurship.

1. Leveraging Clinical Experience:
   Both Justin and Tonya brought unique clinical perspectives to the business. Tonya’s leadership in managing teams and overseeing treatment protocols combined with Justin’s operational insight provided a well-rounded approach to business development.

2. Operational Expertise:
   Justin’s experience as Vice President of Licensure gave him the administrative and compliance knowledge necessary to manage the complexities of licensure, regulation, and organizational strategy. Tonya’s experience in day-to-day clinical leadership and direct patient oversight informed operational processes focused on quality and teamwork.

3. Building a Team:
   Their early success depended on assembling a team of skilled clinicians, administrators, and operational leaders who shared their values. Together, they established processes that ensured Southwest Renal Care could scale while maintaining compassionate, quality care at every step.

A Shared Vision: Patient Care at the Forefront

Justin and Tonya's ultimate goal was—and remains—to place the patient experience and outcomes at the forefront of their business model. Their years on the clinical floor gave them firsthand insight into the struggles that patients and providers face every day. With Southwest Renal Care, they aimed to create an organization that addressed these challenges by prioritizing:

• Innovative Treatment Models

• Comprehensive Provider Training and Education

• Operational Excellence Focused on Compliance and Quality

• Empowerment for Clinical Teams through Leadership Development

Their approach not only stemmed from their own expertise but from a desire to ensure that every patient and provider would feel supported and empowered throughout their experience.

Southwest Renal Care Today

Today, Southwest Renal Care stands as a testament to Justin and Tonya’s years of hard work, dedication, and strategic vision. The company has grown to offer cutting-edge dialysis care while staying true to its roots: a commitment to teamwork, innovation, and quality outcomes.

Justin and Tonya’s journey from the clinical floor to the boardroom underscores the transformative potential of experience, shared passion, and leadership. Their story serves as an inspiration for healthcare professionals seeking to turn their passion into impact.

Conclusion

Justin and Tonya’s journey from humble beginnings as front-line clinicians to founders and CEOs of Southwest Renal Care is a powerful reminder of the impact of hard work, dedication, and shared purpose. By combining their clinical expertise with a strategic vision, they’ve built not just a company, but a platform for change—one patient, one provider, and one innovation at a time.

Their story continues to inspire as they lead Southwest Renal Care into a future that prioritizes innovation, quality, and compassion at every level of care.

Justin began his dialysis career in 2015 as a dialysis technician. Over the past ten years, he has gained extensive experience, taking on nearly every role in the field. He has served as a preceptor since his second year in dialysis. His many accolades include "Employee of the Year," the "Lead Technician" award, the "Best Patient Care Advocate" award, and several others. His passion for dialysis remains a constant source of inspiration.

In 2019, Justin envisioned launching his own dialysis company. After years of dedication and planning, with invaluable support from his mother, Tonya, they successfully founded Southwest Renal Care.