James Simons, MD
Program Director
I am a board-certified family medicine physician with subspecialty training in addiction medicine and currently serve as program director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Lehigh Valley Health Network. I also practice primary care in northeastern Pennsylvania, where I enjoy caring for patients across the lifespan while integrating evidence-based addiction treatment into everyday practice. I completed my family medicine residency at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education before pursuing fellowship training in addiction medicine at Geisinger Marworth.
My clinical interests focus on expanding access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, particularly in rural and underserved communities. I am passionate about integrating addiction medicine into primary care and developing innovative models of care that improve access to treatment and reduce barriers for patients.
As fellowship program director, I have the privilege of training the next generation of addiction medicine physicians. I enjoy developing educational initiatives and mentoring fellows as they build the knowledge and skills needed to provide compassionate, evidence-based care. My academic interests include opioid and alcohol use disorder treatment, screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT), telemedicine, and advancing health equity through addiction medicine education and clinical innovation.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy weightlifting and fitness, playing the piano and ukulele, composing music, traveling, and cheering on the Eagles. Go Birds!