2021 Gulf Coast Veterans Parade                             Grand Marshal 

Dr. Inez Kelleher is an orthopedic surgeon and has served on the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1996.          She is a U.S. Air Force Veteran, Gold Star family member and has deployed to Afghanistan and Diego Garcia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  This year’s parade honors the mission of all military and Veteran medical first responders.  

Dr. Kelleher was born in Geneva, Ill., and attended Lewis University on an academic track and field scholarship where she met her first husband, Kevin Kelleher.  After joining the Air Force, Kevin served in several assignments and was eventually stationed at Laughlin AFB, TX for pilot training. Tragically, in 1985 Kevin died in an aircraft training accident, leaving Inez with three young boys, ages 1, 4, and 6.

While raising her family, Dr. Kelleher studied at Georgetown Medical School on a military scholarship, and in 1990 graduated in the top 20 percent of her class.  Following the completion of her orthopedic residency surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN., she earned a fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

She began her orthopedic surgery practice at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS. in 1996, eventually earning the rank of lieutenant colonel.  Dr. Kelleher currently practices as a member of the Medical Staff at Memorial Hospital Gulfport.