Dr. James Mendoza joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine as an Instructor in July, 2019.
Dr. Mendoza is a born and raised Virginian. He majored in Chemistry at the University of Virginia, then obtained a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences at Boston University before completing medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Mendoza finished Internal Medicine Residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA, just a few miles from his birthplace of Chesapeake.
He is the son of two first-generation immigrants from the Philippines, and one of only two physicians in his large family, the other being his older brother. Dr. Mendoza attributes where he is now to values learned from his parents—giving, humility, and hard work. During residency, he was recognized by medical students as an outstanding teacher and mentor and was granted the IMPACT award. He enjoyed caring for an indigent population at the free-clinic and managing moderate-to-severe chronic medical problems within financial and social constraints. Dr. Mendoza presented case reports at the American College of Physicians convention, both at the state and national level.
His interest in research began as an undergraduate, with publications in the field of Pulmonology regarding Nitric Oxide signaling pathways. His Master’s thesis, “The Cardiac Myocyte Specific Role of PKG-I Alpha in Cardiac Remodeling,” was presented at the American Heart Association national conference. In residency, he investigated the financial impact of substance abuse on patients enrolled in a medication assistance program.
Dr. Mendoza’s interests include Hospitalist medicine, medical student education, residency wellness, and ethics. He enjoys playing pick-up basketball, weightlifting, and spending time with loved ones while eating Filipino food.