James P. Evans, MD, PhD, is the Bryson Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Medicine at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He directs Adult and Cancer Genetics Services and is clinically active in both Medical Genetics and General Medicine. He is Editor in Chief of Genetics in Medicine, the official journal of The American College of Genetics and Genomics.
After obtaining his MD and PhD from the University of Kansas he served as Intern, Resident and then Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He subsequently trained in Medical Genetics at The University of Washington in Seattle. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Genetics and in Molecular Diagnostics.
Dr. Evans's research interests focus primarily on the applications of next generation genomic analytic technologies in Medicine and broad issues of how genetic information is used and perceived. He is principle investigator of an NIH funded study examining how genome-scale sequencing can best be used in clinical care of patients.
He has been extensively involved in policy issues both nationally and internationally. He was an advisor to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services on the subject of “Genetics, Health and Society” from 2004-2010 and has been actively involved both nationally and around the world in the education of high court judges about Genetics and scientific matters in general, as explored in the New York Times in July of 2008.
In 2010 Dr. Evans testified before the US Congress regarding the regulation of genetic testing and has advised the Government Accountability Office on the same subject. He addressed the US Presidential Commission on Bioethics regarding genetic testing and has participated in numerous briefings of members of the US Congress regarding matters related to Genetics. He participated as faculty and organizer of a United Nations Conference in Concepción, Chile regarding global access to advanced medical technology.
Dr. Evans lives in Durham with his wife; he enjoys reading, traveling and bicycle riding in his spare time, though not simultaneously.