Dr. Clayton Wagner is all about family, and family medicine.
Since his first job working for his grandpa at Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store in Jordan (back when it was Jim’s Apple Farm), Dr. Wagner has honed his passion for helping people . . . and farming.
Dr. Wagner cares for patients of all ages.
Appointments in Farmington: (651) 460-2300
First job? Working for my grandpa at the apple barn. He had me do physical work – pulling weeds, folding boxes. By the time I was 10, he trusted me to run the cash register. On a quiet day, he left me alone to run the store for a few hours. One thing I learned then that serves me well now is that my mission is to please the person that I’m serving. It’s important to be able to interact with each person in a positive way.
Free time? Being outside. The orchards or the woods are my happy place. I like farming, hiking, camping with my kids. We recently got a side-by-side ATV that fits six. We have a trail from our house to town, where my kids like going to the park and then the gas station for a milkshake.
Best part of your work? Seeing repeat patients. It’s flattering that they chose me to be their family doctor. That’s the best feeling. And when they refer their mom or a family member to me, that feels great too.
Best advice? “The secrets to success aren’t secrets, they’re common sense things. You thank people. You listen to people. You show respect. And you work harder at it.” This is my favorite quote, from Glen Taylor – a fellow Mankato State graduate and past owner of the Timberwolves. I live by this idea, and I share it with my kids. My wife and I are firm to ensure manners, and we encourage tenacity for our kids. It builds responsibility and confidence.
Why healthcare? I guess it became a calling. My sister is a hospitalist. She’s a year younger than me, and we were in competition all the time. When we were both studying at Mankato, I earned a degree in business finance because I wanted to run the family store. But Medicine was always sort of tugging at me. There are few other careers where you have the opportunity to walk alongside people during their most vulnerable moments, to provide guidance, to heal. Medical school fed my craving for science. I also like interacting with people, so I chose family medicine. Each day I am reminded of the honor it is to help and to heal.
If not healthcare, then what? Farming! Apples for sure, but I really want to farm pears. The nurseries that sell trees keep talking me out of it. There’s a reason there aren’t pear orchards in Minnesota.