Growing up was full of new places, new people and a formal, quiet family life for Dr. James. From his career-military father, he learned the value of hard work, honesty, humility and the benefits of an easy laugh. His mother’s influence was ever present with her focus on constant education, inquisitiveness and family values.
After graduating from West Point with a degree in engineering and Indiana University with an M.D., Dr. James trained in dermatology with an icon of the day, Richard Odom. Dr. Odom was the best of a long line of wonderful clinician-educators in military medicine and has remained a model for Dr. James as he has maintained an interest in all aspects of medical dermatology.
In 1987, just 6 years after residency, Dr. James was named the Chief of Dermatology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After 8 years at the helm, he moved into a position at a grand institution, the University of Pennsylvania, so that he could mostly teach, care for patients and write.
Among his nearly 300 publications are many books, the most significant being Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin (co-authorship of three editions), the Emedicine Dermatology text (founding editor) and the Military Medicine Textbook of Dermatology (editor).
He enjoys the beach, exercising, reading and any activity with family and friends.
Q. Which patients have had the most effect on your work, and why?
A. My daughter’s chronic illness has made me appreciate the strength of patients and families affected by untreatable disease.
During my internship, holding hands with a woman as she died made me appreciate the value of the support of just being there in times of sorrow and need.
Seeing a family’s commitment to the Ectodermal Dysplasia Foundation after their family member was diagnosed with this rare familial syndrome taught me the value of simply being able to provide answers to “what is this?” — even without, “here is how you make it better.”
Q. What do you think is the greatest political danger to the field of dermatology?
A. While one of the strengths of dermatology is the variety of care we deliver, my hope is that at the core of each practitioner is the identification that he or she is a dermatologist. Disunity is the greatest political danger that I see in our field.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. I can recall a couple of points of valuable advice.
My wife, Ann, taught me how to be at ease and have fun in a crowd. She has taught me about life and education and people.
Another piece of advice that helped me occurred during Beast Barracks at West Point. An upperclassman once told me after we had both been exposed to a particularly abhorrent demonstration of leadership that I should learn from every situation. He told me this experience could teach me how this poor leader had made me feel and why; then I would be able to resolve to not make these mistakes. Always observing and learning no matter what the situation has been a valuable lesson.
Growing up was full of new places, new people and a formal, quiet family life for Dr. James. From his career-military father, he learned the value of hard work, honesty, humility and the benefits of an easy laugh. His mother’s influence was ever present with her focus on constant education, inquisitiveness and family values.
After graduating from West Point with a degree in engineering and Indiana University with an M.D., Dr. James trained in dermatology with an icon of the day, Richard Odom. Dr. Odom was the best of a long line of wonderful clinician-educators in military medicine and has remained a model for Dr. James as he has maintained an interest in all aspects of medical dermatology.
In 1987, just 6 years after residency, Dr. James was named the Chief of Dermatology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After 8 years at the helm, he moved into a position at a grand institution, the University of Pennsylvania, so that he could mostly teach, care for patients and write.
Among his nearly 300 publications are many books, the most significant being Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin (co-authorship of three editions), the Emedicine Dermatology text (founding editor) and the Military Medicine Textbook of Dermatology (editor).
He enjoys the beach, exercising, reading and any activity with family and friends.
Q. Which patients have had the most effect on your work, and why?
A. My daughter’s chronic illness has made me appreciate the strength of patients and families affected by untreatable disease.
During my internship, holding hands with a woman as she died made me appreciate the value of the support of just being there in times of sorrow and need.
Seeing a family’s commitment to the Ectodermal Dysplasia Foundation after their family member was diagnosed with this rare familial syndrome taught me the value of simply being able to provide answers to “what is this?” — even without, “here is how you make it better.”
Q. What do you think is the greatest political danger to the field of dermatology?
A. While one of the strengths of dermatology is the variety of care we deliver, my hope is that at the core of each practitioner is the identification that he or she is a dermatologist. Disunity is the greatest political danger that I see in our field.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. I can recall a couple of points of valuable advice.
My wife, Ann, taught me how to be at ease and have fun in a crowd. She has taught me about life and education and people.
Another piece of advice that helped me occurred during Beast Barracks at West Point. An upperclassman once told me after we had both been exposed to a particularly abhorrent demonstration of leadership that I should learn from every situation. He told me this experience could teach me how this poor leader had made me feel and why; then I would be able to resolve to not make these mistakes. Always observing and learning no matter what the situation has been a valuable lesson.
Growing up was full of new places, new people and a formal, quiet family life for Dr. James. From his career-military father, he learned the value of hard work, honesty, humility and the benefits of an easy laugh. His mother’s influence was ever present with her focus on constant education, inquisitiveness and family values.
After graduating from West Point with a degree in engineering and Indiana University with an M.D., Dr. James trained in dermatology with an icon of the day, Richard Odom. Dr. Odom was the best of a long line of wonderful clinician-educators in military medicine and has remained a model for Dr. James as he has maintained an interest in all aspects of medical dermatology.
In 1987, just 6 years after residency, Dr. James was named the Chief of Dermatology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After 8 years at the helm, he moved into a position at a grand institution, the University of Pennsylvania, so that he could mostly teach, care for patients and write.
Among his nearly 300 publications are many books, the most significant being Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin (co-authorship of three editions), the Emedicine Dermatology text (founding editor) and the Military Medicine Textbook of Dermatology (editor).
He enjoys the beach, exercising, reading and any activity with family and friends.
Q. Which patients have had the most effect on your work, and why?
A. My daughter’s chronic illness has made me appreciate the strength of patients and families affected by untreatable disease.
During my internship, holding hands with a woman as she died made me appreciate the value of the support of just being there in times of sorrow and need.
Seeing a family’s commitment to the Ectodermal Dysplasia Foundation after their family member was diagnosed with this rare familial syndrome taught me the value of simply being able to provide answers to “what is this?” — even without, “here is how you make it better.”
Q. What do you think is the greatest political danger to the field of dermatology?
A. While one of the strengths of dermatology is the variety of care we deliver, my hope is that at the core of each practitioner is the identification that he or she is a dermatologist. Disunity is the greatest political danger that I see in our field.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. I can recall a couple of points of valuable advice.
My wife, Ann, taught me how to be at ease and have fun in a crowd. She has taught me about life and education and people.
Another piece of advice that helped me occurred during Beast Barracks at West Point. An upperclassman once told me after we had both been exposed to a particularly abhorrent demonstration of leadership that I should learn from every situation. He told me this experience could teach me how this poor leader had made me feel and why; then I would be able to resolve to not make these mistakes. Always observing and learning no matter what the situation has been a valuable lesson.
