Dr. John M. Richards

Dr. John M. Richards’s career spans for more than three (3) decades literally built on perseverance, dedication and hard work embarking on novel frontiers. A visionary, whose career is fueled by unremitting devotion in his work.

Dr. John M. Richards began his career on a path that may be described as atypical of his fellow brethren in the profession. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, he earned a degree of Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1967 at Howard University. For a time, he worked as a staff assistant to US Congressman Ogden R. Reid. Thereafter as a museum specialist for the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. in the Division of Crustacea under the instruction of Roland Brown, Jr., Senior Specialist.

As a forerunner of a career in public service, he entered military service in 1968.  After his stint as a commissioned officer, with the rank of captain, in the 2nd Infantry Division, USARPAC and 6th Armored Calvary Regimen, Dr. Richards returned to the United States. He then started his federal career as a personnel staffing specialist for the Department of Labor. The tides of destiny began to gesticulate when he was accepted at Meharry Medical College and completed his medical degree in 1976. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine in 1979 at Howard University Hospital, Washington. D.C.

After medical training, he continued his work in the public sector. From 1979 to 1981, he assumed the post of Clinical Director for a District of Columbia Drug Abuse Clinic wherein he managed the healthcare of more than 200 alcohol and substance abusers. He then worked as a Staff Physician for East of the River Medical Center servicing physician deprived areas.

In 1981, Dr. Richards received an appointment as Staff Physician for the Department of Energy health services. Recognized for his insurmountable dedication, he eventually became the Occupational Health Services Medical Director for the Headquarters operations overseeing health care and medical legal services for over 3000 federal employees in Washington, D.C. His appointment was reaffirmed twice by the next subsequent Administration’s Energy Secretaries.  An incomparable feat that bestowed on him the privilege of reporting directly to the Clinton Administration Secretary of Energy, Bill Richardson, who subsequently served as the 30th Governor of New Mexico from 2003 to 2011.

While with the Department of Energy, Dr. Richards took a giant leap in responsibility focusing on occupational health and nuclear safety. He hosted a variety of events, engaged in various studies and participated in conferences concerning Federal Occupational Health Care and Nuclear Safety. He gained reputation in enacting certain guidelines for implementing occupational health legal standards. He codified Federal safety standards and treatment for beryllium exposure. He spearheaded and authored an adjunctive study of medical data methodologies for evaluation of “Health Risk as a Result of Legacy Toxic Contamination At or Near Proximity to NNSA sites (a study of nuclear waste contamination and leakage)”. North Carolina A & T University, Greensboro, North Carolina Massie Scholarship Fund Grant in 1999 – 2000.

Dr. Richards likewise returned to clinical practice. He served the District of Columbia government as a staff physician for the Corrections Department and Homeless programs. He retired from federal service in 2002 after twenty nine (29) years of exemplary and unblemished record.

The desire to serve never faded and at present Dr. Richards entered another era of his professional career, this time as a private practitioner. He turned to an area of interest unnoticed by the medical profession. He was motivated to use alternative treatments and nutraceuticals in the traditional treatment of certain disease processes. It was in this context that he conceptualized and established Clinical and Herbal Innovations, Inc. in 2010.  He explored various combinations of traditional homeopathic, nutraceutical and clinical treatments to improve patient care outcomes. He innovated Panoxol as the first supplement designed for use specifically with other treatment protocols. It is his vision to make significant contribution to medical practice by advocating the use of ancient holistic treatment with modern clinical medicine.

Dr. Richards continues to be a tireless pioneer and a community giver. To this day, he works with the District of Columbia Homeless Outreach Program through the Unity Health Care Program, championed by First Lady Michelle Obama. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and past member of American Medical Society, National Medical Society, and a host of different social charitable organizations.