Dr. James Jones, PhD, Physician Associate Certified
Former White House Physician Assistant, now Physician Associate.
Coming early 2027: the second edition, Venom and Valor: White House Physician Associate Recovers from the Amazon Near Death Experience.
Author of the award-winning memoir Venom and Valor, 2025 AAPA PA of the Year, and 11th Army Physician Associate Consultant to The Surgeon General, I have spent over 37 years in the U.S. Army leading clinicians, teams, and organizations through the highest-stakes moments in medicine.
Leadership: I currently command and direct an Executive Medical team in the National Capital Region. I recently completed a tour as Commander of Public Health Command, West. Earlier roles include Director of the Medical Capability Development and Integration Directorate, Branch Chief of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (2018-2021), Chief Medical Advisor appointed by the President on the COVID Task Force (2020-2021), and positions at the White House (2009-2018), including PA to the President and Director of Operations.
Education and training: Master of Physician Associate Studies in Family Medicine, University of Nebraska (2000); PhD in Health Science, Trident University (2009); Master of Strategic Study, Army War College (2021); tactical medical officer training at the White House (2010); and a Protective Medicine Fellowship in cardiopulmonary critical care resuscitation at the Mayo Clinic, Phoenix (2015).
Field experience: As IPAP Program Manager at US Army Recruiting Command (2005-2009), 187th Company Commander (2003-2005), Director of Health Services in Qatar (2002-2003), and BN Surgeon at 1-82 FA, Fort Hood (2000-2002), I established preventive, routine, and emergency services for over 5,000 service members and planned medical contingency operations for official visits to over 94 countries.
Teaching and writing: I have taught cardiology, served as Editor-in-Chief of Cardiology STAT Pearls, published numerous peer-reviewed clinical articles and four PA cardiology review textbooks, and led international research initiatives while deployed. Today I share a twice-daily Clinical Learning Series on Cardiology, Pulmonary, Exercise Physiology, and Sleep (see the Learning Series page).
Honors: 2025 AAPA PA of the Year; 2021 AAPA Military Service Award; Secret Service Life Saving Award; Presidential Service Badge; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Joint Commendation Medal; Expert Field Medical Badge; Flight Surgeon Badge; Gold German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge. Member of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, the Order of the Spur, and the Order of Military Medical Merit.
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Former White House Physician Assistant, now Physician Associate.
Coming early 2027: the second edition, Venom and Valor: White House Physician Associate Recovers from the Amazon Near Death Experience.
Author of the award-winning memoir Venom and Valor, 2025 AAPA PA of the Year, and 11th Army Physician Associate Consultant to The Surgeon General, I have spent over 37 years in the U.S. Army leading clinicians, teams, and organizations through the...
A review of the major medication options for depression and anxiety with their pros and cons, a summary of current guidelines, and why behavioral health, real patient connection and buy-in decide whether a good prescription becomes a good result. Published on LinkedIn, October 19, 2026.
Why the Physician Associate, the Medic and the Corpsman must be ready to keep critical patients alive, and what the Joint Force must build around them. Published on LinkedIn, October 16, 2026.
Fifteen lesser-known body systems tied to how long you live and how well you perform. Each section explains what the research shows, states its limits, and ends with one practical step. Published on LinkedIn, October 16, 2026.
I am thrilled to announce the second edition: Venom and Valor: White House Physician Associate Recovers from the Amazon Near Death Experience. Coming early 2027!
Heart health, lung health, physical fitness, and sleep are not four separate subjects. They shape each other every day in our patients, our teams, and ourselves. That is why I started a Clinical Learning Series that rotates through Cardiology, Pulmonary, Exercise Physiology, and Sleep.
How it works: twice a day I pick one real, peer-reviewed article, verify the citation, and share three practical takeaways along with a question for colleagues. Where the evidence is observational, I say so. The...
About the Author: Dr. James J. Jones, PhD, PA-C, is a senior healthcare leader, clinician, educator, and U.S. Army officer with decades of experience in military medicine, executive leadership, and public health. He currently serves in senior leadership roles supporting executive, protective, and clinical medical operations and teaches graduate-level healthcare administration and public health courses.
Disclaimer: This article is written in a personal capacity. The views and...
