Our Founder

ROBERT M. OVERHOLT, MD • 1970 - 2024

Dr. Robert M. Overholt was born on June 27, 1938, in Battle Creek, Michigan. His parents were Dr. and Mrs. Bergein M. Overholt. His childhood was spent in Knoxville, Tennessee, and included All-American honors within the Pop Warner Midget Football League. He lettered in football, baseball, track and basketball at West High School from 1952-1955.

Dr. Overholt completed his pre-med years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he played football under Coach Bowden Wyatt and belonged to Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. He attended medical school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and was president of his class. His internship was served at Philadelphia General Hospital in Pennsylvania. In 1963-66, Dr. Overholt underwent Internal Medicine Residency Training. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 and served two years as a Captain at Andrew Radar Clinic in Fort Myer, Virginia. From 1968-70 Dr. Overholt completed his Allergy Fellowship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 1970 he returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, and began medical practice in the field of Allergy and Immunology. He continued to practice in allergy and immunology until his death in June of 2024.

He was a member of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine, the Tennessee Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Southeastern Allergy Association, and the Joint Council of Socio-Economics of Allergy. He was board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He was a fellow of the American College of Allergy and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 

Dr. Overholt was an active member of West Hills Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher and sang in the church choir. He was Past President of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine and Past Chairman of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine Foundation. 

“Dr. Bob,” as he was known to friends and television viewers, was a weekly guest on the Knoxville NBC-affiliate’s Thursday Live at Five and Sunday Morning News for many years. For decades he was the host of "The Dr. Bob Show" on East Tennessee PBS, interviewing physicians on a wide variety of timely medical topics. He served as both President and Chairman of the United Way of Greater Knoxville. Dr. Overholt was active in various community affairs through the years and received the 2001 Tennessee Medical Association Distinguished Physician Service Award.

He is survived by his wife Carole and their two sons, Mark and John, and their families – including his beloved grandchildren, Mary Carole, Cameron, Audrey and Clay.