James Atkins, M.D.

Dr. Atkins graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas and performed his internship and residency in internal medicine and his subspecialty training in cardiology at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Atkins has had a long-term interest in cardiac arrest and the care of acute myocardial infarction having written several papers and chapters on these issues. Dr. Atkins has been medical director of the paramedic system in Dallas County for 27 years having stepped down in 2002. He is chairman of the accreditation body that accredits paramedic training programs (Committee on Accreditation of Emergency Medical Services Professions). He has also been involved with the National Heart Attack Alert Program of the NHLBI for the entire 10 years of the program and has chaired the Access to Care Subcommittee and the Executive Committee of the NHAAP. He is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and works as a cardiologist at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas VA Hospital, and Zale-Lipshy Hospital. He has received special awards for his service in the area from the American Heart Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and the NHLBI. A past president of the American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate, Dr. Atkins was named an Honorary Life Member of their Board Directors last year. Dr. Atkins has also served a three-year term as President of the Texas Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, and he served as a member of the Board of Governors for the college.

Medical School	University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (1967)
Residency	Parkland Memorial Hospital (1968), Rotating
Residency	Parkland Memorial Hospital- Internal Med Residency (1969), Internal Medicine
Fellowship	UTSW - Cardiology (1970), Cardiology
Fellowship	UTSW - Cardiology (1971), Cardiology
Residency	Parkland Memorial Hospital (1972), Chief Resident
Fellowship	UTSW - Nuclear Cardiology (2002), Nuclear Medicine

• General Cardiology
• Heart (Cardiology)

• Primary Interests
• Angina Pectoris
• Atrial Fibrillation & Flutter
• Bradycardia
• Cardiac Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeats)
• Cholesterol - Dyslipidemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Heart Palpitations
• Left or Right Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure)
• Syncope (Fainting)

• Cardiac arrest management
• Early treatment of acute myocardial infarciton
• Emergency medical services delivery
• Emergency medical services education

Featured Publications

Use of "diving reflex" for the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

Wildenthal K, Atkins JM American Heart Journal October 1979 98 536-537

Effect of digitalis on left ventricular function in exercising dogs

Horwitz LD, Atkins JM, Saito M Circulation Research December 1977 41 744-750

Cardiac autonomic blockade in exercising dogs

Atkins JM, Horwitz LD Journal of Applied Physiology June 1977 42 878-883

Ventricular conduction blocks and sudden death in acute myocardial infarction; potential indications for pacing

Atkins JM, Leshin SJ, Blomqvist G, Mullins CB New England Journal of Medicine February 1973 288 281-284

Role of the Frank-Starling mechanism in exercise

Horwitz LD, Atkins JM, Leshin SJ Circulation Research December 1972 31 868-875

Automated defibrillators

Atkins, JM Kuehl, AE (ed) Prehospital systems and medical oversight Winter 2002 449-451

Prehospital providers in the emrgency department

Atkins, JM, Hartung, RW Kuehl, AE (ed) Prehospital systems and medical oversight Winter 2002 584-589

Consultant’s Corner: How should I manage this patient with atrial fibrillation?

Atkins, JM Family Practice Recertification August 2000 22(8) 15-23

Cardiac rehabilitation for the primary care physician

Atkins, JM Family Practice Recertification May 2000 22(5) 50-65

Procedure: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Atkins, JM Rakel RE (ed) Saunders Manual of Medical Practice Spring 2000 278-285

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of NIH
  Certificate of Recognition (2001)
• Texas Department of Health
  Texas EMS Hall of Fame (1996)
• American Heart Association
  Citation of International Service (1984)
• Food and Drug Administration
  Commissioner’s Special Citation (1984)
• American Heart Association, Texas Affiliate
  Paul V. Ledbetter, M.D. Professional Volunteer of the Year (1982)

• American College of Cardiology
• American College of Emergency Physicians
• American College of Physicians
• American Heart Association Clinical Council
• National Association of Emergency Medical Service Physicians