Dr. Mark E. Shirley is a uniquely accomplished leader whose life and career span over four decades at the highest levels of medicine, military service, and martial arts. A dual board-certified Osteopathic Sports Medicine Physician (DO) with a sub-specialty in Sports Medicine, Dr. Shirley brings over 40 years of clinical and field expertise to human performance and injury prevention.

A Career Built on Elite Credentials

Holding an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science with elite certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Dr. Shirley spent two decades as the Associate Team Physician for the University of Nebraska Omaha. His expertise in combat sports is globally recognized; he has served for over 20 years as a Ringside Physician for amateur and professional MMA and boxing, including a prestigious tenure as Chief Ringside Physician for 10 world championship bouts for retired undefeated champion Terence “Bud” Crawford. For the past decade, he has balanced these high-performance roles while working full-time in Emergency Medicine.

Three Decades in Uniform

In August 2025, Dr. Shirley capped a distinguished 35-year military career, retiring at the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force. His service included pivotal leadership roles as a Flight Surgeon and as the State Air Surgeon for the Nebraska Air National Guard.

40+ yrs
Clinical and field expertise in human performance and injury prevention
35 yrs
Military career in the United States Air Force, retiring at the rank of Colonel
20+ yrs
Serving as a Ringside Physician for amateur and professional MMA and boxing
48th yr
Of continuous training as a martial artist, now a 6th Degree Black Belt Master

A Lifelong Martial Artist

A lifelong martial artist now in his 48th year of continuous training, Dr. Shirley is a 6th Degree Black Belt Master in G-Shim Taekwondo. He has owned, operated, and managed martial arts schools across the Omaha area, Offutt AFB, Union Pacific Railroad HQ, and Panama City, Florida. Today, he seamlessly blends his lifelong disciplines, serving as the Director of Fitness and Nutrition and the dedicated Sports Medicine Physician for Global Traditional Martial Arts (GTMA).

Service Beyond the Clinic and the Dojang

Beyond his clinical and military duties, Dr. Mark E. Shirley has dedicated his lifetime of expertise to philanthropy, community enrichment, and empowering the next generation of leaders. In his voluntary role as the Sports Medicine Physician and Director of Fitness and Nutrition for Global Traditional Martial Arts (GTMA), Dr. Shirley provides his elite specialized knowledge entirely pro bono. He has been deeply instrumental in creating and evolving GTMA’s flagship Leadership Program—a comprehensive initiative designed to forge character, discipline, and excellence in the organization’s future martial arts instructors and leaders.

“Dr. Shirley’s passion for service is equally reflected in his extensive personal mentorship portfolio. Drawing upon his rare combination of rank as a retired Air Force Colonel and his decades as an Osteopathic Physician, he serves as a vital bridge for young Americans navigating highly competitive fields.”

He actively mentors aspiring service members preparing for military entry, as well as active-duty personnel striving to earn commissions as officers. Committed to the future of healthcare, Dr. Shirley also provides rigorous guidance, mock interviews, and clinical insight to medical school applicants, current medical students, and resident physicians navigating the complexities of post-graduate medical training. Through this profound dedication to community and mentorship, he ensures that his legacy of leadership, medicine, and martial arts excellence continues to inspire and elevate others.