Andrew James

Dr. Andrew James obtained his medical degree from the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand and trained in neonatology at National Women’s Hospital, Auckland and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  He also completed the Certificate of E-learning (University of Toronto); and obtained a graduate degree in biomedical informatics (OHSU).

Dr. James has been the lead physician for clinical informatics in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at SickKids since 1993.  His contributions have been those of a physician advisor and champion for the development, implementation and maintenance of the NICU's clinical management information system. Dr. James’ current informatics activities include knowledge representation, the visual design and display of information, predictive analytics and advanced clinical decision support. His current clinical focus is the outcome of neonates with suspected/definite brain injury.

Research

Dr. James’ primary focus has been the application of the information and communication technologies for clinical care. He was co-lead for the Artemis Project, a collaborative, multidisciplinary, international team that was developing advanced clinical decision support applications for the early identification of late onset neonatal sepsis, the recognition and classification of neonatal spells, the recognition of pain and the recognition of sleep/wake cycling in newborn infants.  His current research activities include the structured representation of the clinical care of the newborn infant by SNOMED CT and biomedical ontologies; problem oriented clinical documentation; the visual display of information; predictive analytics; advanced clinical decision support; and the neurodevelopmental outcomes of neonates with suspected/definite brain injury. 

Education

• 1971: B.Sc., Human Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
• 1974: MBChB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
• 1981: FRACP, Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• 1995: FRCPC, Fellowship, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• 2002: Graduate Certificate of Medical Informatics, Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States.
• 2003: Certificate of E-Learning, School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2007: MBI (Master of Biomedical Informatics), Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States.

Experience

• 1981-1984: Tutor Specialist, Neonatal Paediatrics, National Women’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
• 1984-1985: Senior Fellow, Division of Neonatology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 1985-1986: Staff Neonatologist, Division of Neonatology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 1986-1993: Staff Neonatologist, National Women’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
• 1993-2020: Staff Neonatologist, Division of Neonatology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 1993-1998: Medical Director, Neonatal Transport Team, Division of Neonatology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2000-2014: Associate Clinical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Neonatology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2003-2010: Foundation Chief Medical Editor, AboutKidsHealth, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2014-2017: Interim Chief, Division of Neonatology, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2014-2018: Interim Clinical Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Neonatology

Achievements

• 1999: Award for Teaching Excellence (1998–99), Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Training Program, Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
• 2001: RHA Haslam Pre-Clerkship Teaching Award for Excellence in Pre-Clerkship Teaching (1999–2000), Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
• 2005–2006: Member, Physician Expert Documentation Panel, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, Ontario.
• 2006–2008: Co-Chair, Steering Committee, Brampton, Ontario (2006–08) Nominated by the Health Results Team – Information Management, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Ontario.
• 2008–2014: Co-Chair, Concept Model Special Interest Group, International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 2018–Present Member, Steering Committee, SickKids Initiative for Medical Artificial Intelligence, SickKids and SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

1. James AG, Spackman KA. Representation of disorders of the newborn infant by SNOMED CT. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2008;136:833-8. PubMed PMID: 18487835. 
2. Lee SK, Aziz K, Singhal N, Cronin CM, James AG, Lee DS, Matthew D, Ohlsson A, Sankaran K, Seshia M, Synnes A, Walker R, Whyte R, Langley J, MacNab YC, Stevens B, von Dadelszen P. Improving the quality of care for infants: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2009: 181: 469-476. 
3. Blount M, Ebling M, Eklund M, James A, McGregor C, Percival N, Smith K, Sow D. Real-time analysis for intensive care: development and deployment of the artemis analytic system. EEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine. 2010; 29(2): 110-118. 
4. Schulz S, Spackman K, James A, Cocos C, Boeker M. Scalable representations of diseases in biomedical ontologies. J Biomed Semantics. 2011 May 17; Suppl 2: S6.
5. Simpson CD, Hawes J, James AG, Lee KS. Use of bundled interventions, including a checklist to promote compliance with aseptic technique, to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit. Paediatr Child Health. 2014 Apr;19(4): e20-3.

See a full list of Andrew James' publications