Katherine A. Irish-Clardy, M.D. Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Irish-Clardy grew up in Costa Rica. She came to the United States for her last year of high school, later earning her undergraduate degree from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. She returned to Costa Rica after college and obtained her doctorate of medicine from the University of Costa Rica Medical School. She completed the required year of social service as a general practitioner working at a rural health department in Costa Rica.

Subsequently, she moved to Arkansas where she completed her residency in Family Medicine at UAMS West in 2001. Being fluent in Spanish, she worked for four years at Sparks La Clinica Del Pueblo in Fort Smith, serving the Hispanic population in Fort Smith and the surrounding area. During that time, she was part-time faculty at UAMS West. In 2005, she joined the faculty full-time.

Dr. Irish became the Program Director in December 2014. She completed the AFMRD National Institute of Program Director Development (NIPDD) Fellowship in March, 2017.

She continues to see patients in clinic, along with her duties as faculty. Dr. lrish-Clardy also maintains a close relationship with our affiliated hospital, Baptist Health-Fort Smith, serving on several hospital committees.

Dr. lrish-Clardy and her husband, Dr. Bryan Clardy, met during residency and have two children, Kenneth and Erin. She is active in her church and sings in the chancel choir.