Dr. James B. Becker earned an R.B.A. from Marshall University in 1987 and an M.D. from the Marshall University School of Medicine in 1993. He is Vice Dean for Government Affairs, Health Care Policy and External Affairs at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall and Medical Director of the Bureau for Medical Services at the WV DHHR. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine where he maintains a family medicine practice and teaches. After completing his residency in family practice, he did a one-year fellowship in primary care occupational medicine. He is a Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Prior to his medical school training, Dr. Becker worked for 15 years as a research and clinical toxicologist. He has devoted a significant part of his clinical activities to addiction medicine and clinical toxicology. Dr. Becker was the Medical Director for the WV Workers’ Compensation Commission from 2003 until 2007 and was part of the team leading the workers’ compensation reform effort that arose from Senate Bill 2013. After the privatization of WV Workers’ Compensation, Dr. Becker remained Medical Director at the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, where he oversaw management of the workers’ compensation legacy claims and participated in implementation of changes related to the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Becker was recognized as a WV Family Physician of the Year in 2013.
Dr. Becker’s April 23, 2022, Drinko Symposium keynote address: “A Glimmer of Hope: Substance Abuse Disorder in the Primary Care Setting”
WV Research – Marshall Names New Drinko Fellow on Silver Anniversary of Academy