Dr. James Thompson is a Senior Consultant with The Hayes Group, specializing in organizational consulting and executive coaching, with a focus on healthcare leadership. Drawing on his extensive experience in both healthcare and academia, Jim works with senior leaders to enhance organizational effectiveness, guide strategic change, and foster leadership development.
Jim’s most recent role was as Interim President of the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), where he applied his national healthcare leadership experience to support Georgia Health Sciences University. Before joining MCG, he served as President and CEO of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) from 2002 to 2008. In this capacity, he represented the nation’s medical boards and became a prominent voice in healthcare policy. Dr. Thompson frequently lectured on issues such as health education policy, physician professionalism, and the role of regulatory authorities in maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.
Prior to his leadership role at FSMB, Jim was the Dean of the School of Medicine and University Vice President at Wake Forest University. His contributions to medical education and regulatory policy were recognized with multiple honors, including Special Recognition Awards from the Association of American Medical Colleges for his leadership in improving medical care through a focus on quality and safety. He also received Distinguished Alumni Awards from DePauw University and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, along with a Distinguished Service Award from FSMB.
Jim holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University, and completed his residency in otolaryngology at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. His background in both healthcare and academia uniquely equips him to coach and advise leaders striving to improve healthcare delivery and organizational performance.
