Dr. James M. Douglas, Jr.
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital (HDCP 20)

With a career spanning world-class institutions, groundbreaking surgical firsts, and decades of leadership, Dr. James M. Douglas Jr. is a true pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery.

Dr. Douglas is currently the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Peacehealth Saint Joseph Medical Center. In 1994 he was instrumental in establishing cardiac surgery at Saint Joseph Hospital. He brought special expertise in mitral valve repair, minimally invasive valve surgery, aortic surgery and video–thoracoscopic surgery to Bellingham. He was one of the first surgeons in Washington state to perform beating heart coronary artery bypass surgery.

Prior to developing the cardiac surgery program in Bellingham, Dr. Douglas was assistant professor of surgery at Duke University Medical Center, where he co founded the Duke Endosurgery Center and served as director of thoracoscopic surgery and surgical consultant to the Duke University Endocarditis Service. Dr. Douglas has authored journal articles and textbook chapters on topics including mitral and tricuspid valve surgery, coronary artery disease and thoracoscopic surgery. He was a featured surgeon on the television program "The Operation," which aired on the Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel.

Dr. Douglas’s hobbies include golf, tennis, traveling, experiencing new restaurants and playing drums. He especially enjoys spending time with his wife, Veronica and adult children, Jared and Marissa.