James Kempema, M.D., FACEP

James Kempema is a affiliate faculty for the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care. He serves as the EMS director and a core faculty member of the Dell Medical School’s Emergency Medicine Residency. After finishing his undergraduate degree in exercise science at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kempema earned a Master of Science in exercise physiology at the University of Arizona. He earned a medical degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and was the chief resident for the Arizona Health Sciences Emergency Medicine Residency.

He relocated to Austin in 1999 and has since been an attending physician in emergency medicine for the University Medical Center Brackenridge and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Interest in emergency medical services led him to his current positions as the medical director for Travis County STAR Flight and an associate medical director for the Austin/Travis County EMS System. In addition to being a fellow with the American College of Emergency Physicians, he is an active member of the Air Medical Physicians Association and the National Association of EMS Physicians.

His academic interests are prehospital medicine including EMS, aeromedical, tactical, and rescue, airway management, sepsis and mobile medical software.Interests outside of medicine include mountain biking, boating, and hiking with his wife and three children.