Helen A. James, MD

Medical Degrees and Medical Licenses and Certifications

Dr. James received her medical degree and bachelor of surgery from the University of Otago, New Zealand, in 1964. In 1973, Dr. James was awarded a Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons in England. Dr. James became board certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1986.

Dr. James currently holds an active medical license in the state of Washington, and inactive licenses in Florida and North Carolina.

Post-Doctoral Training

Dr. James has held several internships, residencies, and fellowships in the United States and abroad. Her post-doctorate training in the United States includes a Fellowship in Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida from 1977 to 1979, and a residency in plastic surgery with North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, from 1979 to 1981.

Post-doctorate training abroad includes serving as house surgeon with Palmerston North Hospital in New Zealand from 1965 to 1966; a cardiothoracic surgery registrar with Wellington Public Hospital in New Zealand in 1967; and a philosophy demonstrator with the University of Otago Medical School in New Zealand in 1968. In 1969, Dr. James served as a neurosurgery and general surgery registrar with New Zealand’s Dunedin Public Hospital.

In 1970, Dr. James traveled to Quinhon, Vietnam, where she was a surgeon with the New Zealand Surgical Team. From 1972 to 1973, Dr. James served as a general surgery registrar with the South London Hospital in London, England. In 1973, she relocated to Perthshire, Scotland, where she practiced plastic surgery. From 1974 to 1975, Dr. James was a plastic surgery senior house officer with Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, Bucks, United Kingdom. Dr. James served as a registrar of plastic surgery with St. Luke’s Hospital in Bradford, England, from 1975 to 1977.

Hospital Appointments and Private Practice

Dr. James has held an appointment with St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington, since 1982. From 1982 through 1989, she held an appointment with St. Luke’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. Dr. James also held an appointment with Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida from 1981 to 1982.

Dr. James has been in private practice in Bellingham, Washington, since 1982. Prior to relocating to Washington, Dr. James was engaged in private practice in Miami Beach, Florida.

Professional Organizations

Dr. James is currently a member of several professional organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. She is also a member of the Washington State Medical Society, the Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Northwest Society of Plastic Surgery and the Whatcom County Medical Society.