James Beckerman, M.D., is passionate about making play accessible to everyone – especially people with heart disease. As a cardiologist and medical director of Basecamp Cardiac Prevention and Wellness at the Providence Heart Institute in Portland, Ore., he collaborates with community members to foster a more active environment, creating programs like Play Smart Youth Heart Screenings, which has provided nearly 20,000 free screenings to children, and Heart to Start, a free multi-state community exercise program that trains people to give back to their community as they improve their own health.

James served as chair of the Oregon Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, and is the team cardiologist for the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer team. He serves on the Leadership Council on Sports and Exercise for the American College of Cardiology, the Clinical Advisory Board of WebMD Health Services, and the Board of Directors of the Ironheart Foundation. He is the author of two books, The Flex Diet (2011) and Heart to Start (2015), which inspire lifestyle change through motivational coaching and evidence-based strategy.

James graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School and completed his internal medicine and cardiology training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Stanford University. He is a proud husband and father of two sons. He is also a huge fan of their teddy bear dog, eating pizza, and teaching yoga.

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