Russell Holmes, M.D., cut his path to success early.  Valedictorian of the graduating Class of 1970, he also served as class president, captain of the varsity basketball team, and was named winner of the Most Service to School award.  As a President’s Scholar, Dr. Holmes completed his B.A. with highest honors in chemistry at UCSD in 1974.  Four years later, he earned his medical degree from the UCSD School of Medicine.  Dr. Holmes then went on to practice family medicine, serving as Chief Resident at USAF Medical Center Scott AFB in Illinois.  In 1981, he obtained his American Board of Family Practice Certification, scoring in the top 1%.  Since 1984, he has practiced medicine in the North County, working as a staff physician and chairman of the Family Practice Department at Tri-City Medical Center.  He added certification in Geriatric Medicine in 1992.  Dr. Holmes was an Executive Partner at Mission Park Medical Center before co-founding North County Hospitalists, Inc.  In 2003, he was named the International Health Care Service Excellence Customer Focused Physician of the Year.  During the past six years he has received seven Tri-City Medical Center Academy Awards of Hospital Excellence for best bedside manner, penmanship, dictation, communications, documentation, sense of humor, and computer proficiency.   Prior to his arrival in Oceanside, Dr. Holmes attended school to the sixth grade in Lincoln, Nebraska. In recognition of his career accomplishments and his ties to the Cornhusker State, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman commissioned him as an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.  Dr. Holmes has served as team physician for the OHS Pirates varsity and JV football squads.

‍