Dr. James McInnis, Lt. (N), MD, CCFP, possesses dual expertise in family and emergency medicine, with a decade dedicated to emergency and trauma care and 16 years as a family doctor. He juggles his medical duties with responsibilities as a full-time father to four, an accomplished athlete, a lieutenant (N) in the Canadian Armed Forces, a naval reservist, and a committed volunteer.

The Early Years

Originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the eldest in a family of four, he was an avid sports enthusiast from a young age. Participating in hockey, baseball, tennis, and golf at competitive levels, he notably played Junior A hockey and was scouted by the Boston Red Sox as a potential pitcher. His athletic pursuits continued into adulthood, broadening to include weightlifting.

He demonstrated a strong work ethic early on, starting with a paper route at age ten and securing his first full-time employment at McDonald’s by age 13.

Education, Professional Licensure, and Certifications

His educational background is extensive. He earned a BBA from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1992. After a period of travel in the United States, he returned to academia, securing a BSc (Honors) in Biochemistry and Genetics from Dalhousie University in 1997. He then attained an Epidemiology Certification from Dalhousie University in 2002, entered medical school there in 2000, and graduated with his MD in 2004. His internship was completed at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, focusing on Emergency and Family Medicine.

He holds several notable licenses and certifications, including MCC (Licensure of Medical Council of Canada), a commissioned rank as Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy, CCFP (Canadian College of Family Physicians), and a promotion to Lieutenant (N) in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Honors and Awards

Throughout Dr. James McInnis's career, he has received numerous accolades, including the Prince Edward Island Top Medical Student Scholarship, the Burke Certificate for Promise in Family Medicine, participation as a Research Assistant on Prolia’s effects on Osteoporosis, a Special Citation for Meritorious Service in the Canadian Armed Forces, a CME Research Presentation titled “Physicians in the Military,” and an Honorable Discharge from active military service.

Academic Experience

His academic roles have included Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Laboratory Studies at Dalhousie University, Senior Post Graduate Clinical Instructor at McMaster University, and Senior Professor and Evaluator at the Canadian Forces School of Physician Assistants in CFB Borden, Ontario.

Serving His Country

His service as a Lieutenant (N) in the Canadian Armed Forces spanned nine years, and he continues to serve as a Class B reservist. His roles include serving as a military officer for deployed soldiers, a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) member during Operation PLATEAU, a consultant in bio-terrorism medicine, and a liaison for the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Medical Association.

Clinical Experience and Medical Practice

He worked as an Emergency Physician at McMaster University Hospital before taking on the role of Director of Care at the Wasaga/Angus Community Health Center – Family Practice.

In 2010, he committed to the Canadian Armed Forces by joining their medical division as a Class B reservist.

Volunteer Work

Volunteerism has been a constant in his life, starting in medical school when he assisted at the Barrington Street Shelter in Halifax, conducting medical exams for people experiencing homelessness. This continued with work in shelters in Hamilton and Toronto, including contributions to an attached STD clinic.

A Family Man, A Man of Faith

He is a devoted father to his three daughters (ages 24, 19, and 9) and son (age 22), thoroughly involved in their lives and extracurricular activities. He has coached hockey, assisted with figure skating, and volunteered with his daughter’s dance troop.

As a practicing Christian, Dr. James McInnis actively participates in weekly services at Mapleview Christian Church alongside his children.

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