Meet Dr. James Campbell

September 9, 2021
Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

Meet James Campbell, MD


The ArMA Member Spotlight this month is Dr. James Campbell. Dr. Campbell is a member of ArMA's 50 Year Club and practiced psychiatry in Glendale. He attended medical school at St. Louis University's School of Medicine.


Learn more about Dr. Campbell below!

What inspires you?

When I was five or six years old, I decided to become a doctor who worked with the mind. My maternal grandfather was a metaphysician, and I grew up listening to stories about his skills in treating illnesses. I was not certain whether I had his skills, but I thought I could learn some of them if I went into medicine. I did not learn the word psychiatrist until many years later.

What was the most memorable patient or event in your career?

Patients are memorable for many different reasons. I wrote a book — Rapid Relief from Emotional Distress — that essentially talks about all the things I learned from my patients. I like sharing these stories with other patients. One time, a man came into my office with a history of “raging every day" of his life that he could recall. He had been diagnosed by another psychiatrist with bipolar disorder and wanted a second opinion. The assessment revealed nothing supporting a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Over time, he was taught how to get rid of anger. When I saw him a month later (not on any medicine) he had not experienced a single episode of anger.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watch movies, spending time around horses, and traveling.

How did you meet your spouse?

Sharon runs my office. We have been together for nearly 50 years. She is the heart of my business.

What place would you most like to visit?

I would most like to visit Belize.

If you weren't a physician, what would you be up to right now?

I would likely be an osteopath or veterinarian.

How would you like people to remember you?

As the man that taught them how to not have psychological pain and keep their power.

What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?

"Stay the course."

What is the one accomplishment you’re most proud of?

I am proud of the fifty years of uninterrupted service I gave to my patients despite having some medical challenges.

What do you like best about living in Arizona?

I like the people I have served and the setting in which I have worked.

What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?

Most of my service to organizations has been in the field of psychiatry. I was president at one time or another of most of the psychiatric organizations, and I was privileged to serve as a delegate and alternate delegate to the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association for a number of years.

Why is ArMA important to you and your colleagues?

For me, it was a link to the field of medicine as a whole.

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .