James Thomas, MD

Associate Professor
Pediatrics, Molecular Biology
Graduate Program: Immunology

Contact Information

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

james.thomas@utsouthwestern.edu

To make an appointment, call 214-730-KIDS (5437).

Biography

James A. Thomas, M.D. is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is also the clinical Chief of Critical Care Services, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Dr. Thomas graduated from Princeton University in 1981, magna cum laude with an A.B. in Romance Languages and Literature/Latin American Fiction. He obtained his M.D. in 1989 from Stanford University where he received a Research Honors Award for Distinguished Research in Pediatrics. He completed his pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, receiving the Victor E. Stork Award for "excellent work at the hospital and for promise of future abilities in the care of children"; and the Frances Nunnally Winzer Scholarship for "the resident who has shown unusual potential for growth and professional development"; In 1992, Dr. Thomas came to Dallas for fellowship and research training in pediatric critical care under the auspices of the NIH-funded Pediatric Scientist Development Program. In 1995, the critical care physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists awarded him the Jaws Award for Outstanding Fellow. He joined the Pediatrics faculty in the same year, was later appointed to the Molecular Biology Department. In 2003, was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. Thomas is a Diplomat of the Sub-Board Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, American Board of Pediatrics. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Shock Society, and the International Endotoxin Society. He was recently elected to the Society for Pediatric Research. He serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for six different medical journals and sits on a NICHD scientific review panel. Dr. Thomas research interests focus on the role of the innate immune system in the host response to infection and injury, in particular the impact of the TLR/IL-1 intracellular signaling pathway on the inflammatory response to infection, myocardial dysfunction, and autoimmune disease.

Education

FellowshipChildren's Medical Center - GME (1995)
ResidencyChildren's Hospital of Los Angeles (1992)
InternshipChildren's Hospital of Los Angeles (1990)
Medical SchoolStanford University School of Medicine (1989)

Research Interests

Innate Immune Response to Infection
Innate Immune Signaling and Autoimmunity
Innate Immunity and Myocardial Dysfunction

Publications

Selective decontamination of the digestive tact attenuated the myocardial inflammation and dysfunction that occur with burn injury

Horton, JW, J Tan, D. J White, DL Maass, and JA Thomas, , The American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulator , July 2004; (287):H2241-H2251

Bone marrow derived cells contribute to contractile dysfunction in endotoxic shock

Binck, BW, MF Tsen, M Islas, DJ White, R Schultz, M Willis, V Garcia, JW Horton, JA Thomas , The American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiolog , January 2005; (288(1):):H577-583

Differential induction of apoptosis by LPS and Taxol in monocytic cells

Li, T, J Hu, JA Thomas, L Li, , Molecular Immunology , December 2004;

IL-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 1 mediates protection to Staphylococcus aureus infection

Verdrengh, M, JA Thomas, O Hultgren , Microbes and Infection , 2004; (2004, 6(14):.):1268-72.

The cardiac effects of burn trauma complicated by aspiration-pneumonia-induced sepsis

White, J, JA Thomas, DL Maass, JW Horton , The American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology , 2003; (825(1):):H47-58.

Honors/Awards

Jaws Award for Outstanding Fellow

Awarded by critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists at CMC, Dallas (1995)

Victor E. Stork Award

Awarded for excellent work in Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (1992)

Frances Nunnally Winzer Scholarship

Awarded for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles resident who has shown unusual potential growth and development (1989)

Research Honors Award for Distinguished Research in Pediatrics

Awarded by Stanford University School of Medicine (1989)

Circulo Hispano-Americano Award

Awarded by Princeton University for highest achievement as a Spanish Major (1981)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Association for the Advancement of Science

International Endotoxin Society

Shock Society

Society for Critical Care Medicine