The LAFP is excited to recognize Dr. Ernest James as our member of the month. Dr. James is a son, father, soldier, family doctor and program director. He is a Louisiana native growing up in Kenner with his loving parents, Ernest and Lorraine, his brother, Sean and sister, Erica.

Dr. James is a Colonel in the Army Reserve. We asked what led him to enlisting in the Army. Dr. James stated, “I have been graced with having people placed in my life at the most opportune time. One was a neighbor, Donald Spears; he was 3 years my senior. We attended the same primary and secondary school, St Joan of Arc, as well as high school, St. Augustine, and even the same university, Xavier. Unbeknownst to him, I look up to him as an older brother. As a way to pay for college, he joined the Army Reserve. I found myself in a similar situation a few years later. Not wanting to burden my parents with the cost of college or hinder my siblings attending private school, I joined the Army Reserves. If it were not for not having someone who looked like me with similar backgrounds serve as an example that joining the Army Reserve was a possible means to an end, I would have never contemplated joining; nor do I know if I would have been able to overcome the financial hurdle to complete my education.”

We asked Dr. James to talk more about his time in the Army leading up to applying to medical school. He stated, “I enlisted as a Private in December of 1988. Completed basic training in summer of 1989. Completed training as Medical Laboratory Technician in the summer of 1990. My first unit was 4010th US Army Hospital. It was my first exposure to the medical field, as well as the mentorship of physicians like COL Earl Washington, Jr., M.D.(GI), LTC Charlie Bridges, M.D.(Urology), COL Daniel Bouchette, M.D. (Family Medicine). Physicians who looked like me and had a similar history. They offered me guidance and honesty regarding the realities of the path I had chosen. Their advice served me well.”

He continued, “In 1990 I was called to active duty in Support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. It was my first exposure to direct patient care. I gained skills in blood banking during that tour, and that strengthened my desire to be a physician. It also translated a desperate need for employment skills which financed the remainder of college. I was directly commissioned in 2001 as a Captain upon graduating medical school. I have since risen to the rank of Colonel, commanded two Army Reserve medical support units, and been mobilized and deployed on several occasions.”

We asked Dr. James if anyone influenced you to become a physician. He answered, “My maternal grandmother started asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I was in the 3rd grade, my response was a doctor. From that day forth, she would introduce me as her future doctor. I had no clue what that actually meant. My only reference at that time was my Pediatrician, Dr. Jerry Casey.”

Dr. James received his medical degree from Boston University in 2001. While in med school he fell in love with primary care and the specialty of Family Medicine. He stated, “Entering medical school, I wanted to be an Ob/Gyn that is until my Ob/Gyn rotation. I thoroughly enjoyed the rotation, but something was missing. During my Internal Medicine rotation, I often was reprimanded for spending too much time on patients’ psychosocial issues. I refused to see Mrs. Smith as Mrs. Diabetes or Mrs. Hypertension. I chose a community option for my introduction to clinical medicine and was placed in a federally qualified health center (FQHC). My concerns with what we now call the social determinants of health and their impact on patient health were embraced and encouraged. Family Medicine physicians have unique connections with their patients, their patients’ families, their patients’ lives and their community; I felt it is where my purpose lies.”

Dr. James came back home to Kenner for his family medicine residency. We asked about his path to academic medicine. He stated, “Post residency it was my intention to enter a Geriatrics Fellowship and seek an academic appointment following completion. However, as a National Health Service Scholar, I was required to enter service repayment immediately following completion of residency. I was lucky again to find placement in a FQHC. I was privileged to care for individuals of the community in which I had grown up. During my commitment time, I served as medical director and CEO of a FQHC in River Ridge and FQHC Homeless Clinic in Baton Rouge. Even my brief period of homelessness during medical school allowed me to have a unique perspective on the challenges my patients faced. While at the FQHC, I precepted Family Medicine NP students and developed a love for teaching. As my service commitment ended, I received a call inviting me to apply for an academic position at the Kenner program. I feel an obligation to pay back by teaching and mentoring the next generation of Family Physicians.

Dr. James is married to his beautiful wife, Tyra, and the father to five: Kristina, (daughter), Dijon (niece), Christopher (son), Nicholas (son), D’Andre (nephew). He enjoys the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and Beagle field trials and recently gained an interest in car restoration and residential rehabbing.

The LAFP thanks Dr. James for his service to our country and extends congratulations as our July Member of the Month!