Joel Hernandez, MBA, CPXP, Neurosurgery, Practice Administrator, University Medical Center, Lubbock
Joel Hernandez, MBA, serves as Practice Administrator for UMC Physicians Neurosurgery at University Medical Center Health System. In this role, he leads clinic operations, provider engagement, and staff culture initiatives that reflect UMC’s core value: “Service is Our Passion.”
With over 20 years of experience in healthcare operations, patient experience, and military medicine, Joel brings a leadership style rooted in service, accountability, and compassion. His efforts have strengthened communication between providers and frontline teams, improved patient access, and fostered a culture of excellence across multiple specialties.
Joel’s career began in the U.S. Army, where he served as a combat medic and led multidisciplinary medical teams. He oversaw clinical readiness, training, and operational policy for large-scale missions, earning numerous honors including the Bronze Star Medal and Joint Service Commendation Medal. These experiences continue to shape his leadership approach, emphasizing empathy, discipline, and teamwork.
At University Medical Center, Joel has played a key role in elevating patient experience, helping drive emergency department satisfaction scores from the 16th to the 80th percentile through service recovery, staff coaching, and process improvement.
He holds dual MBAs in General Business and Healthcare Administration from Wayland Baptist University, is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Project Management Professional (PMP), and earned his Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) credential in 2025. He is currently pursuing Fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).