Growing up as the brother to three doctors and the son of a family doctor, Jim developed a love of medicine early in life. He left his native Michigan after doing his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan and medical school at the Wayne State University to do his family practice residency at Scenic General Hospital from 1976-1979 in Modesto. He then joined fellow residency graduate, Tom Gray, to found Family Health Care in 1982. He was married earlier that year to Peggy. They live in Oakdale, their home since 1994. Daughter, Lexi, who attends USC and Andrew, a Johansen High School student, keep things busy around the homestead. The family recently planted almonds on their property, fulfilling a decades-long dream. Jim’s other interests out of the office include his garden, the theater, novels, the IFC movie channel and his passion for sports teams, especially the Michigan Wolverines, USC Trojans and Detroit’s Tigers, Lions, Pistons and Red Wings.