A Conversation with Dr. James Simmons, new Chief Medical Officer for St. James Health & Wellness
February 11, 2026
Dr. James E. Simmons is the new Medical Director for St. James Health and Wellness, Inc., a community health medical provider with six locations throughout Georgetown County. A Board-certified pediatrician, Simmons recently spoke with the Gazette about his recent promotion to lead St. James and his goals for the future of the community health organization.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
Tell us about your background and how you got interested in medicine.
Dr. James Simmons:
I grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina, where I was raised by my grandmother after my mother passed away when I was an infant. I went to a community health center throughout my childhood. I attended Morehouse College in Atlanta for my undergraduate degree (in biology) and went to medical school at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. I hated the snow and came back south.
I completed my residency in pediatrics at the University of South Florida in Tampa and returned to Beaufort in 1999 to serve as a pediatrician at the community health center I grew up in for five years.
Then I went into private practice for 20 years. I got burned out and decided to do something different, opting to become a travel doctor for about a year. My first stop was in Georgetown with St. James, where I served as a pediatrician. It felt like I had come full circle and this is where I needed to be. After three years, I applied for the medical director opening and was promoted to that role in January of this year.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
What attracted you to St. James and why was it a good fit?
Dr. James Simmons:
I have seen the value of a community health center from both sides – as a patient and as a provider. Many people don’t realize how effective community health centers are. We are not a free clinic, but we do not turn anyone away from getting healthcare. We have a number of ways to cover the costs, whether that’s a sliding pay scale (based on your ability to pay) or grants we obtain to help cover these expenses. The ability to pay is not an obstacle for our patients.
At St. James, we’re always looking to find ways to bring healthcare to those who need it. It was like that when I was in Beaufort.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
What are your goals as the new medical director?
Dr. James Simmons:
I want our organization to be recognized as a staple of healthcare in the Georgetown community, whether that is someone who is underserved or someone with private insurance. We have a high quality of service metric that I am proud of, and we want to expand our great healthcare services to everyone in Georgetown and Horry counties.
Georgetown SC Gazette:
What would you tell someone contemplating a change in health care providers? Why is St. James a good fit?
Dr. James Simmons:
As I mentioned before, we have an outstanding record of providing the highest quality of healthcare services, whether that’s primary care, pediatrics, or behavioral health services. We also help patients overcome obstacles that may prevent them from seeking care, such as ability to pay, labs, transportation, etc. Did you know that the recent insurance premium increases (between 25-50%) are cited as being one of the most frequent causes of personal bankruptcy in our country? That’s not going to be a problem at St. James. We’re committed to making sure everyone gets the healthcare they need and deserve.
