[4] He returned to the East Coast in 1944 and earned his master's of public health from Johns Hopkins University in 1945.
[5] In 1956, he returned to New York City and became a deputy commissioner of health in charge of program planning, research, and evaluation activities.
[4] As First Deputy Commissioner, he was the chief planner and policy advisor as well as the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's coordinator of all operating and service programs.
[4] As Commissioner, James helped fluoridate the city's water supply, opened health clinics, and worked hard on reaching out to the community.
[7][8] James suffered a stroke in 1971, and died of a heart attack at the Good Samaritan Hospital on March 19, 1972.