Jim graduated from the Medical College of Ohio School of Radiologic Technoloy in 1972 and went on to receive his baccalaureate degree from the University of San Francisco in 1985. He continued with graduate studies in education at the University of California - Berkeley and received his California Teaching Credential in 1989. He served as a faculty and clinical instructor at Foothill College from 1987 - 1993. In 2002, was hired as a senior project manager at the Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences and was charged with developing and implementing the didactic curriculum for a new 18 month DMS program and to serve as an in-house advisor as the program moved toward accreditation. In 2005, the program received full JRCDMS/CAHEEP accreditation following a very successful site visit. The materials found in the ProSono Library evolved and were developed out of the framework used in creating the KPSAHS curriculum. While he retired from the classroom in 1995, Jim remains active in academic sonography as a member the the editorial board of the Journal of Diagnsotic Medical Sonography and in developing new eductional pieces for publication in the ProSono Library and as an advisor for yet another generation of aspiring sonographers.

In addition to the materials found in the ProSono Library, Jim has published extensively on obstetric and vascular sonography with over 20 citations in his bibliography. He has authored 2 books: Physical Principles of General and Vascular Sonography and OB/GYN Sonography Review. In the works is an extenively illustrated manual: A Visual Learner's Guide to OB/Gyn Sonography due out in 2009.

From 1987 - 2001, Jim was active in the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. He served on the faculty at all the Annual Meetings and many regional specialty seminars during this period. In 1990 he began a six-year association with the SDMS Educational Foundation serving a term as the second President and four years as Treasurer. Around the same time, Jim was appointed by the SDMS President to serve as first Chairperson of the now defunct Sonography Coalition. He was charged with openning a dialogue and pursuing mutual interests with the other ultrasound technical organizations. Over the years, he has chaired and served on a numerber of SDMS committees and panels. In 1997 the SDMS honored Jim by elevating him to Fellow Status.