James Henry Tolley, M.D., MAT

Dr. Tolley is a native of Charleston, SC, a graduate of Clemson University and received his Master’s Degree from The Citadel. He received his MD degree from The Medical University of South Carolina in 1985. Dr. Tolley completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

After completing his residency in 1988, he was invited to be an attending physician in the Emergency Department at the Medical College of Georgia as Assistant Professor of Surgery.

Due to his mother’s illness, he returned to Charleston in 1989 and began working as an independent contractor ED attending at Charleston Memorial Hospital, while also volunteering to teach at the College of Medicine.

In 1993, he became a full-time faculty member at MUSC and initially oversaw after-hours staffing of the ACCESS CENTER, which later became the Emergency Department in 1995. From 1996 to 2008, he served as the Medical Director of the Charleston Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.

He continued as a full-time ED attending until June 2016 and served on many committees at MUSC. He is deeply involved in community outreach, mentoring medical students, and supporting underrepresented minority students.

He has a keen interest in the history of hospital care for the local African American community and spoke at dedications of the Cannon Street Hospital and Nursing School and the 1969 Hospital Strike historical markers.

Dr. Tolley is a past president of the Charleston County Medical Society and currently serves on its Executive Board. He also serves on the board of directors for the Waring Historical Library and participates in MUSC committees including Admissions and Diversity & Inclusion.

In retirement, now with Emeritus status, he continues to mentor students and promote careers in healthcare. He is passionate about the history of medicine in Charleston and looks forward to further work with the Waring Historical Library.