Tom Reed, Executive Director of the West Tennessee Physicians’ Alliance, will retire in early 2014 after 30 years as head of the organization.

Reed helped found the alliance with a core group of about 25 Jackson-area doctors in 1984. Today, the alliance has about 110 doctors practicing in more than 40 clinics throughout West Tennessee.

“It’s just grown steadily since then to where we are now,” Reed said. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to pull together a group of very independent-minded physicians and very independent-minded practices and clinics so they could succeed collectively over a long period of time.”

Many clinics in the alliance began as one- or two-physician practices and have grown into practices with several doctors and a significant presence in the region.

Reed said the alliance has always worked to meet the needs of primary care physicians and their patients, particularly in rural areas.

“We’ve been very responsive to the marketplace and very responsive to our doctors,” Reed said.

The alliance is interviewing candidates for a new executive director. Reed will remain with the organization for a brief transitional period after a replacement is found.

And then, Reed — an accomplished author — plans to regroup and write more books. He also plans to travel to visit his children and their families.