Dr. David M. Richards began his professional career with distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps from 1999 to 2007, serving in San Diego, California; Athens, Georgia; and Al Jabar, Kuwait. He operated as a Marine/Network Administrator before serving as a Marine Instructor, ultimately achieving the rank of E-6/Staff Sergeant. Following his military service, he pursued higher education at the University of Washington in Seattle, earning a Bachelor of Science in General Biology in 2010.

Dr. Richards attended the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, graduating with his Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree in November 2014. He subsequently completed a comprehensive clinical externship in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2015, which included clinical rotations in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Psychiatry at ACGME-accredited facilities within the University Medical Center and Sunrise Healthcare systems. After obtaining his Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification in May 2016, he completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Alabama Montgomery from 2016 to 2019. He achieved Board Certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine in August 2019.

Entering clinical practice, Dr. Richards served as a Primary Care Outpatient Provider with Southwest Medical Associates (Optum Care) in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 2019 to January 2026. Working a full-time schedule, he provided in-person and video appointments to a diverse patient population utilizing commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. During his tenure, he also served as a preceptor for numerous Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner students.

In February 2026, Dr. Richards transitioned to the Defense Health Agency in Camp Pendleton, California, where he currently serves as a Primary Care Outpatient Provider. In this role, he conducts in-person, video, and telephone appointments primarily for retired military personnel and their families, as well as active-duty service members. Additionally, he serves as an attending physician for family medicine residents completing geriatric rotations at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. Dr. Richards maintains active medical licenses in both Nevada and California, and he is fluent in both English and Spanish.