Dr. Masheika James was born in Syracuse, New York and was primarily raised in Birmingham, Alabama.
Her interest in medicine first began through her participation in the Ronald E. McNair summer research 
program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Under the mentorship of two prominent 
neonatologists, She garnered a passion not only for pediatric research but also for an academic career in 
medicine. She gained additional experience in the field through her work as a data analyst at the 
Newborn Follow-Up clinic (NBFU) in Birmingham, Alabama. She tracked premature and sick term infants 
to come to their follow up appointments. The clinic assessed their cognitive and motor development, 
nutrition, and overall health. Interacting with these sick infants who had a range of issues from 
underdeveloped lungs to motor development delays sparked an interest in medicine that she has
pursued throughout her graduate career. 
After working in the NBFU clinic, she pursued and completed her masters and doctorate degrees which 
involved research that examined the underlying mechanisms of vitamin A in the improvement of 
impaired alveolar development. While a graduate student, she volunteered with multiple programs such 
the Birmingham YMCA Y-Achievers, the UAB Ronald E. McNair Scholars, and the UAB Physiology 
Understanding Week which exposes elementary aged youth to heart and lung physiology and the 
dangers of smoking. She also volunteered with multiple community projects as a member of the Junior 
League of Birmingham. As a medical school student, She volunteered at the Student Free Run Clinic, 
which provides health services for uninsured patients, and she served as a peer mentor through the 
Junior League of Mobile at the Dumas Wesley After-School Program. She also organized and participated 
in multiple class volunteer projects as the community service co-chair. As the chair of USACOM Anatomy 
outreach program, she organized events to provide anatomy exposure to local and surrounding Mobile 
high schools. She was also a member of the Student National Medical Association where she
volunteered with multiple events, including the exposure of minority high school students to basic 
clinical skills. 
After medical school, Dr. James served her country in the United States Navy as a Family Medicine 
resident. She was honorably discharged and medically retired. She was an active member of the 
Resident Wellness Committee and Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Baby Friendly Committee. 
Dr. James is the proud mother of a 26-year-old lovely daughter who is a math and science school teacher who is currently pursuing her doctorate in education.