James gained a First Class BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences from the University of St Andrews in 2005, before undertaking his Medical Degree at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 2008. After completing his Foundation Training in the East of Scotland, he undertook three years of surgical training and anatomy teaching, including becoming a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS) in 2010. After beginning anaesthetic training in August 2013, he was appointed to a Clinical Lectureship in Anaesthesia in February 2014 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) in 2016.