Alumni

Clarke Holmes

  • Program

    B.A. in Biological Sciences ( College of Liberal Arts ), Doctor of Medicine, M.D. ( Graduate School )
  • Hometown

    Nashville, TN (South)
  • Social Media

  • Quick Intro

    Dr. F. Clarke Holmes earned his B.A. in Biological Sciences in 1994 and his M.D. in 1998 from the University of Mississippi. He completed his residency at Tallahassee Memorial Health Care, where he served as Chief Resident, followed by a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Ball Memorial/Central Indiana Sports Medicine. Dr. Holmes lectures on sports medicine topics and has appeared on CNN, ABC’s World News, Nightline, and several local news programs in Washington, DC and Nashville. He has been quoted in print media, including People Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and The Tennessean.

Alum Spotlight

Please discuss your path since graduation and career goals at this point.

I am a practicing physician with a specialty in orthopedics and sports medicine. I served as a professor in two academic medical centers—the University of Mississippi in Jackson and Georgetown University in Washington, DC, before I opened a sports medicine private practice in Nashville. Patients from several surrounding states seek my opinion, and it is a privilege to care for individuals, both athletes and non-athletes, with a variety of medical conditions. Ole Miss prepared me well indeed, both academically and socially, to succeed in the medical profession. 

How, when, and why did you decide to study biology?

I decided to pursue a degree in biology at the beginning of my undergraduate experience. I had intentions of attending medical school from the age of 15, and I felt that a biology degree would prepare me well for a career in medicine. 

How did your experience at Ole Miss help shape your interests and future career path?

Ole Miss is a special place for me. My undergraduate experience was marked by the development of deep friendships, fantastic memories, and a challenging and rewarding academic curriculum. I distinctly recall studying long and consistent hours, particularly Sunday through Thursday, but then making time for social life once my work was done and on the weekends. I was named “Marshall” of the College of Liberal Arts at commencement, finishing with a 4.0 GPA. Upon graduation, I headed immediately to medical school at where I graduated magna cum laude. This was followed by a residency in Florida and a fellowship in Indiana.