Brett Clayton, PA-C, MHS

I’m Brett Clayton, an orthopedic physician assistant (PA-C) with the Phelps Health Orthopedics Department. My collaborating physician is Orthopedic Surgeon Michael Potter, MD.

I joined Phelps Health in 2013. My specialties include general orthopedics, including shoulder, knee, hip, hands and feet. I am skilled in MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray interpretations; general orthopedics and sports medicine; intra-articular, bursal and tendon sheath injections; suturing, splinting, casting and fracture reductions; and preoperative and postoperative evaluation and treatment for inpatient and outpatient care. When possible, I like to use conservative treatments first, including physical therapy, medications and pain injections.

I grew up as a busy student athlete – playing basketball, volleyball and baseball – with an interest in medicine. Orthopedics, then, is a logical fit for me. I enjoy learning how to best take care of the body, and helping others to do the same.

As a provider, I am big on patient education and spend a significant amount of time explaining procedures and how patients can care for themselves afterwards. I want to empower my patients, so they can make informed decisions. Recovering from a joint replacement surgery is more of a marathon than a sprint, and 75% of that recovery is mental. It takes patience. My ultimate goal is to improve a patient’s quality of life.

I bring a unique perspective to Phelps Health, having been raised internationally in US Embassy communities. I attended high school in Germany (when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989), Las Vegas, Nevada, and finally, in Israel. I also speak fluent German.

Today, my wife and I are happily settled in Rolla with our six children. We enjoy traveling and watching our kids compete in band and sports.