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Full Time Faculty

Thomas O. Clanton, M.D.

Thomas O. Clanton, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, one of six schools which make up The UT-Houston Health Science Center.

As the only son of an Air Force pilot, he originally intended to follow his father's career pathway into the Air Force and become an astronaut. However, orthopaedic problems that occurred during his first year at the U.S. Air Force Academy resulted in a medical discharge after one year as a cadet. This situation stimulated an early interest in medicine and orthopaedics that was further enhanced by Dr. Clanton's subsequent relationship with the Rice University Team Physician, Edward T. Smith, M.D. Dr. Smith was the founder and first chairman of the Memorial Hermann Hospital (later The University of Texas) Orthopaedic Residency Program. Through Dr. Smith's advice and treatment, Dr. Clanton resumed his collegiate football participation at Rice University after a year of rest and rehabilitation. He went on to become a member of the All-Southwest Conference Academic Team in 1971. It was at this time that he met and married his wife Kay, who was then a student at The University of Texas in Austin. He graduated from Rice in 1973 Magna Cum Laude with a degree in biology.

He received his M.D. degree from Baylor College of Medicine in 1976. Following this, Dr. Clanton entered the five-year orthopaedic residency program at The University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio. After completing this in 1981, he did additional training in Foot and Ankle with Roger A. Mann, M.D., in Oakland, California. Further training in Knee and Sports Medicine was undertaken in Jackson, Wyoming, under the tutelage of John Feagin, M.D., Ken Lambert, M.D., and Bill Mott, M.D., before beginning orthopaedic practice in Houston in 1982. 

Dr. Clanton joined the clinical faculty of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery (departmental status obtained in 1993) chaired by Taylor K. Smith, M.D., in 1982. He has been involved in teaching residents and fellows since that time. He is well known and respected among his colleagues for his many professional and community activities, and was appointed by the Dean as Department Chairman in May 1997, and served diligently through August 2006. He specializes in treatment of the foot and ankle and knee and serves as Director for fellowship programs in Foot and Ankle and Sports Medicine.

In 1984, he was certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons since 1986. His professional memberships include the American Medical Association, Christian Medical and Dental Society, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Association, Texas Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, and the Texas Society for Sports Medicine, for which he served as president in 1993-1994. He was president of the Houston Orthopaedic Society in 1998-1999 and president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society in 1999-2000.

Dr. Clanton, who is widely published and lectures throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe, is an associate editor of Foot and Ankle International.

He began working with the Rice Athletic Department as assistant team physician in 1982, and in 1995 became the co-Team Physician for all Rice athletic programs with his partner, Dr. Leland Winston. At the end of 2001, he was selected as a Team Physician for the Houston Texans, Houston's new NFL team. Other civic duties include being a Goodloe Foundation trustee, Rice University Associate, a board member of the Houston Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a deacon at Second Baptist Church.

He and his wife Kay have two daughters, Kelly and Laura.