James was born in
New York City in 1915 but moved to
New Rochelle, New York when he was young. He graduated from
Columbia College,
Phi Beta Kappa, in 1937. He received his medical degree from the
Yale School of Medicine,
cum laude, in 1941. After completing his internship at
Yale New Haven Hospital in 1942, he began his career in public health as assistant health officer in
Williamson County, Tennessee. He returned to the
East Coast in 1944 and earned his master's of public health from
Johns Hopkins University in 1945. James joined the
New York State Department of Health and served until 1955, when he became director of public health of
Akron, Ohio. In 1956, he returned to
New York City and became a deputy commissioner of health in charge of program planning, research, and evaluation activities. He was made First Deputy Commissioner of Public Health by Commissioner
Leona Baumgartner, serving in that position from 1959 to 1962. During his career he also served as president of the
National Health Council. James suffered a stroke in 1971, and died of a heart attack at the
Good Samaritan Hospital on March 19, 1972. He was 56 years old. == References ==