David M. Holmes MD
David M. Holmes
MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Director of Global Health Education, Associate Program Director, Interim Medical Director, Associate Clinical Chief, ECMC Family Medicine
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Addictions; Behavioral Health; Community Based Participatory Research; Family Medicine; Global Health; Health Services Research; Health Services Research; Substance Use Disorder
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
As a family physician, I have always wanted to work where I’m needed most. I enjoy practicing in medically underserved communities both locally and globally. I see patients on Buffalo’s East Side. I also routinely take medical students with me on medical relief trips to impoverished and developing countries. I was born in Kenya, East Africa and am grateful to my parents for giving me an international upbringing and global perspective on life. They were inspiring teachers who had a heart for students and for serving those in need around the world. This contributed to my passion for global health.
From delivering babies to caring for those at the end of their lives and all ages in between, I engage in the full spectrum of family health care. I see patients and precept students and residents at ECMC Family Health Center in Buffalo; I perform outpatient procedures as well as visit patients in their homes. Patient education is an important aspect of my care, because I strongly believe that part of my work is to prevent disease. I strive to practice high quality, patient-centered and holistic health care. I address not only the physical wellness of my patients, but also their emotional, social and spiritual needs.
I am also board certified in addiction medicine. I love working with patients struggling with addictions because, over several months, I see many of their lives dramatically change for the better.
I enjoy teaching students and residents in various settings, e.g., in classrooms, hospitals, outpatient offices, free clinics—and even farther afield in backdrops such as the Adirondack Mountains and rural Haiti. At times, I hold informal seminars at my home. Seeing trainees progress through the years and develop into outstanding physicians inspires and gratifies me.
After completing my residency at UB, my wife, who is also on the medical school’s faculty, and I liked Buffalo so much that we decided to raise our children in Western New York. Being a UB faculty member is a perfect fit for me. It allows me to teach, care for those in need, pursue my research interests and above all, make a difference. I try to live by my personal mission statement: “The purpose of my life is to love and honor God and my family and make a positive and significant difference in the lives of others.” Being a medical faculty member at UB gives me the supportive environment and diverse community to work toward those goals every day.
Education and Training:
- Residency, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo (1995)
- MD, Medicine, University of Vermont (1992)
- BA, Human Biology, Stanford University (1986)
Employment:
- Director of Global Health Education, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2012-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2008-present)
- Associate Chair of Medical Student Education, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1995–2013)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1995–2008)
Awards and Honors:
- Top Docs in WNY (2013)
- Alumni Achievement Award (2011)
- New York State Family Physician of the Year (2007)
- Recent Alumni of the Year Award (2007)
- Siegel Teaching Award (2004)
- Humanism in Medicine (1999)
Research Expertise:
- Community-Based Participatory Research
- Family Medicine
- Global Health
- Health Services Research
- Medical Education
- Medical Student Education
- Residency/Fellowship Education
- Spirituality in Healthcare
- Substance Use Disorder and Behavioral Health
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- September 2011–September 2016
Pre-Doctoral Training in Primary Care
Health Resources and Services Administration
Role: Co-Investigator
$940,252 - July 2006
Spirituality in Medicine Grant
Templeton Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$50,000
Journal Articles:
- Lee R, Holmes D. (2023) Barriers and recommendations for colorectal cancer screening in Africa. Global health action (Dec), 16(1): 2181920. doi:10.1080/16549716.2023.2181920
- Ewing B, Holmes D. (2022) Evaluation of Current and Former Teleradiology Systems in Africa: A Review. Annals of global health (Jan), 88(1): 43. doi:10.5334/aogh.3711
- Chin F, Chou R, Waqas M, Vakharia K, Rai H, Levy E, Holmes D. (2021) Efficacy of prayer in inducing immediate physiological changes: a systematic analysis of objective experiments. Journal of Complementary & Integrative Medicine. (Feb) doi:https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jcim-2020-0075/html?
- Claffey AJ, George JC, Thorne KA, Zittel KW, Zelasko JC, Holmes DM. (2020) Impacts of village isolation on childhood nutritional status in rural Malawi. Journal of Global Health Reports (Aug), 4(e2020079) doi:https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.14378
- Herskind J, Zelasko J, Bacher K, Holmes D. (2020) The Outpatient Management of Hypertension at Two Sierra Leonean Health Centres: A Mixed Method Investigation of Follow Up Compliance and Patient Reported Barriers to Care. African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine (Jun) doi:https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2222
- Polsinelli V, Satchidanand N, Singh R, Holmes DM, Izzo JL. (2016) Hypertension and aging in rural Haiti: results from a preliminary survey. Journal of human hypertension (Jul), 2016: 1-7.
- Holmes D, Zayas L, Koyfman A. (2012) Student Objectives and Learning Experiences in a Global Health Elective. J Comm Health (Feb), 47(5): 927-34. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-012-9547-y
- Holmes D, Tumiel-Berhalter L, Zayas L, Watkins R. (2008) “Bashing” of Medical Specialties: Students’ Experiences and Recommendations. Family Medicine (Jun), 40(6): 400-6. doi:https://fammedarchives.blob.core.windows.net/imagesandpdfs/pdfs/FamilyMedicineVol40Issue6Holmes400.pdf
- James, Shipengrover, Crosson, Young, Kernan, Heaton, Holmes. (2002) Primary Care Education: Measuring Instruction to Improve Quality. Academic Medicine (Sep), 77(9): 922. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-200209000-00025
- David G. Bostwick D, Null W, Holmes D, Weber E, Barchas J, Bensch K. (1987) Expression of Opioid Peptides in Tumors. N Engl J Med (Dec)(317): 1439-1443. doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198712033172304
Books and Book Chapters:
- Holmes, D,. (2014) Tinnitus. In: 5 Minute Clinical Consultant edited by Frank J. Domino, MD, 2007, last revision 2014. Lippincott, Wiliams and Wilkins
- Holmes, D. (2007) Family Medicine Ambulatory Care. In: Cough - in and Prevention. McGraw Hill
Professional Memberships:
- Alpha Omega Alpha (2010–present)
- American Academy of Family Physicians (1992–present)
- Buffalo General Hospital
- Oishei Children's Hospital (Kaleida Health)
- Christian Medical and Dental Associations
- Eire County Medical Center
Presentations:
- "Global Health Education: Does it help with Family Medicine Recruitment? How is it done without funding?" STFM Medical Student Education Conference; STFM (2012)
- "Spirituality in Medicine" Exploring the Dimensions of Health Care in a Religously Diverse Community Conference; Kaleida Health Bereavement Committee; ECMC; Network of Religious Communities (2011)
- "Spirituality in Medicine" Grand Rounds; Pinnacle Health System (2011)
- "Improving Family Medicine's Coolness Factor" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2010)
- "Spirituality in Medicine" Symposium on Spirituality; Niagara University (2010)
- "Using Grief, Homelessness, Illness, End-of-Life and an Interdisciplinary Approach to Teach Spiritual Sensitivity" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2010)
- "Healthcare Reform...at the Tipping Point?" Discussion on healthcare reform; UB Medical Emeritus Faculty Society (2009)
- "Sports Medicine and Injection Workshop" UB Family Medicine Resident Training; UB Family Medicine (2009)
- "How to Bash Bashing: Students' Experiences and Recommendations" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2009)
- "Healthy Aging" UB Wellness Day (2008)
- "UB Spirituality and Medicine Interdisciplinary Training Program" ; UB Faculty Senate Executive Committee (2007)
- "Improving Trainee and Faculty Prescribing Practices: An Educational Intervention" STFM Annual Conference; STFM (2007)
- "International Health Education: What is its Value?" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2007)
- "Medical Challenges of Providing Care to Uninsured Persons" Christian Community Health Fellowship National Conference; Christian Community Health Fellowship (2006)
- "Perception of Student Communication Skills by Student, Standardized Patients and Faculty Assessments" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2006)
- "Student Perceptions of Family Medicine: Do They Chage from First to Fourth Years?" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2006)
- "Bashing of Medical Specialties: Unprofessional Behavior that May Affect the Future of Family Medicine" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2005)
- "Spirituality in Medicine: Family Medicine, Hospice and Chaplains Offer a Unique Curriculum to Medical Students" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2005)
- "The Value of Collaboration with Hospice and a Family Medicine Clerkship" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2004)
- "The Value of Peer Feedback in a Third-year Family Medicine Clerkship" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2004)
- "Taking a Spiritual History" Bioethics Conference; Center for Hospice and Palliative Care (2003)
- "An Intervention to Improve Instructional Quality Among Learners" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2002)
- "Evaluation of Clerkship Instruction in Community Sites: Experience with the MedIQ" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (2000)
- "Measuring Medical Instructional Quality" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (1998)
- "Students and Community Medicine" STFM Pre-Doc Conference; STFM (1998)
- "Travel Medicine" UB Family Medicine Grand Rounds; UB Family Medicine (1994)
Service Activities:
- Interdisciplinary Global Health Outreach (iGHO) – committee of global health faculty from several professional schools at UB; Member (2017–present)
- Global Health Scholars Track, Dept. of Family Medicine Residency Program; Director (2013–present)
- Medical Student Sub-committee of the LCME Self Institutional Review; Chair (2009–2011)
- Apppointment, Promotions,Tenure & Privileges; Member (2008–2011)
- Leave of Absence; Chair (2004–present)
- Leave of Absence Committee; Chair (2004–present)
- Faculty Senate; Member (2004–2005)
- Curriculum Committee; Chair (2004–2005)
- Family Medicine Clerkship and Electives; Director (2003–2013)
- UB Spirituality in Healthcare Committee; Member (2003–2010)
- Election & Bylaws; Member (2002–2005)
- Faculty Council; Member (2002–2007)
- Faculty Council Steering Committee; Member (2002–2005)
- Third and Fourth Year (Phase 2) Committee; Member; Chair: 6/02 – 5/05 (1997–2013)
- Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine; Physician (1995–present)