James Atkins, MD

Professor
Internal Medicine, Surgery

Contact Information

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390

james.atkins@utsouthwestern.edu

Biography

Dr. Atkins graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas and performed his internship and residency in internal medicine and his subspecialty training in cardiology at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Atkins has had a long-term interest in cardiac arrest and the care of acute myocardial infarction having written several papers and chapters on these issues. Dr. Atkins has been medical director of the paramedic system in Dallas County for 27 years having stepped down in 2002. He is chairman of the accreditation body that accredits paramedic training programs (Committee on Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Professions). He has also been involved with the National Heart Attack Alert Program of the NHLBI for the entire 10 years of the program and has chaired the Access to Care Subcommittee and the Executive Committee of the NHAAP. He is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and works as a cardiologist at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas VA Hospital, and Zale-Lipshy Hospital. He has received special awards for his service in the area from the American Heart Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and the NHLBI. A past president of the American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate, Dr. Atkins was named an Honorary Life Member of their Board Directors last year. Dr. Atkins has also served a three-year term as President of the Texas Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, and he served as a member of the Board of Governors for the college.

Education

Graduate SchoolUniversity of Texas Southwestern Med Ctr Dallas (1967)
UndergraduateAustin University (1963)

Research Interests

Cardiac arrest management
Early treatment of acute myocardial infarciton
Emergency medical services delivery
Emergency medical services education

Publications

Featured
Use of "diving reflex" for the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

Wildenthal K, Atkins JM , American Heart Journal , October 1979; (98):536-537

Featured
Cardiac autonomic blockade in exercising dogs

Atkins JM, Horwitz LD , Journal of Applied Physiology , June 1977; (42):878-883

Featured
Ventricular conduction blocks and sudden death in acute myocardial infarction; potential indications for pacing

Atkins JM, Leshin SJ, Blomqvist G, Mullins CB , New England Journal of Medicine , February 1973; (288):281-284

Featured
Effect of digitalis on left ventricular function in exercising dogs

Horwitz LD, Atkins JM, Saito M , Circulation Research , December 1977; (41):744-750

Featured
Role of the Frank-Starling mechanism in exercise

Horwitz LD, Atkins JM, Leshin SJ , Circulation Research , December 1972; (31):868-875

Automated defibrillators

Atkins, JM , Kuehl, AE (ed) Prehospital systems and medical oversight , Winter 2002; :449-451

Prehospital providers in the emrgency department

Atkins, JM, Hartung, RW , Kuehl, AE (ed) Prehospital systems and medical oversight , Winter 2002; :584-589

Procedure: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Atkins, JM , Rakel RE (ed) Saunders Manual of Medical Practice , Spring 2000; :278-285

Cardiac rehabilitation for the primary care physician

Atkins, JM , Family Practice Recertification , May 2000; (22(5)):50-65

Consultant’s Corner: How should I manage this patient with atrial fibrillation?

Atkins, JM , Family Practice Recertification , August 2000; (22(8)):15-23

Honors/Awards

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of NIH

Certificate of Recognition (2001)

Texas Department of Health

Texas EMS Hall of Fame (1996)

American Heart Association

Citation of International Service (1984)

Food and Drug Administration

Commissioner’s Special Citation (1984)

American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate

Paul V. Ledbetter, M.D. Professional Volunteer of the Year (1982)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American College of Cardiology

American College of Emergency Physicians

American College of Physicians

American Heart Association Clinical Council

National Association of Emergency Medical Service Physicians