Dr. James Guckian is Executive Director of The University of Texas Medical Branch-Austin Outreach. In this position, he focuses on expanding medical education and biomedical research in Austin.

From September 2001 to November 2003, Dr. Guckian was Acting Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for The University of Texas System. Prior to this he served as Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Executive Associate for Health Policy and Planning in The University of Texas System Administration in Austin.  Before his positions in Austin, Dr. Guckian  served as Vice President for Medical Professional Affairs  and  as Chairman ad Interim of the Department of Medicine  at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He was elected as a Master of the American College of Physicians in 2000.

Dr. Guckian received his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, graduating with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He received his M.D. from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, also graduating with highest honors and Alpha Omega Alpha. He received his internal medicine and infectious diseases training at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.