Certification: Family Medicine
Office Location: Student Health Center, Suite C
To schedule an appointment: Phone Triage Nurse at (865) 974-5080, option 2
Dr. Joanne Clinch has over two decades of dedicated experience in College Health. She earned her medical degree from UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed her residency in Family Medicine at UMDNJ–Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey. A distinguished member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Dr. Clinch is also affiliated with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College Health Association, and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.
Dr. Clinch began her work in College Health in 2001 as Medical Director of the Student Health Center at the UNC School of the Arts. In 2009, she assumed the role of Medical Director of Student Health Services at Wake Forest University, where she served for over a decade. Her clinical focus includes primary care and mental health support tailored to the unique needs of college and graduate students. She has expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and body image issues, and she led multidisciplinary Eating Assessment Teams at both UNC School of the Arts and Wake Forest. In addition to her clinical services, she provides national training to fellow college health professionals on identifying and managing eating disorders within student populations. Before joining the University of Tennessee Student Health team, Dr. Clinch served as Medical Director at Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she provided psychiatric care to medical students.
In 2022, Dr. Clinch relocated to East Tennessee with her husband, Randy, to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law, and first grandchild. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys gardening, cake decorating, and exploring the natural beauty and cultural richness of East Tennessee.