Raymond C. James, RN, MSCR

Clinical Care

Raymond James, RN, MSCR, is a clinical research nurse specialist in the Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder’s Center at Boston University Medical Campus. As a nurse since 2009, he has been involved in the care of patients with Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and other movement disorders including Essential Tremor, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Degeneration, and Multiple System Atrophy.

Research

Ray has worked in the Movement Disorder field of Neurology since 2005, assisting and managing over 40 clinical trials. He is a member of the Parkinson’s Study Group (PSG) and Huntington’s Study Group (HSG), both organizations work to collaborate on a variety of important observational and interventional research studies. Ray is part of the PSG Coordinator Task Force planning quarterly and annual educational programs for fellow PSG coordinators, and also a mentor in the Coordinator Visiting Mentorship Program (CVMP) which focuses on direct intensive trainings of coordinators newly beginning careers in the Parkinson’s space. Additionally, Ray is a lead coordinator and Steering Committee member of the biomarker study, Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), an international multicenter observational study supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Ray is a leader in the PPMI Coordinator Council and Mentorship Program hosting quarterly meetings for over 100 coordinators and advising individual coordinators and researchers on the conduct of this clinical study.

Ray has been an author on many articles on Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. His research interests include understanding racial disparities in Parkinson’s care and research, as well as studies that focus on evaluating new therapies in Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases.

Community Outreach & Teaching

Ray has worked closely with the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) as a support group leader on the North Shore of Boston. He has participated in over 50 presentations and webinars to professional and lay groups. He regularly speaks to support groups and educates healthcare professionals about PD and HD. He has been an instructor for the Parkinson Foundation Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program at BUMC. He is also a faculty member of the Parkinson Foundation online nursing course. Ray is also faculty for the ECHO-HD Project, a webinar-based program working to educate healthcare professionals on Huntington’s disease. He has attended and presented at the biannual New England Regional Parkinson Disease Symposium for patients and families over the last 5 years and has presented for the APDA PRESS Program for newly diagnosed individuals.

Professional Affiliations

Ray is a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.