Dr. James W. Custis, Jr has taken an untraditional path to become the physician and leader behind Iatria General Medicine. Growing up in a household with a dedicated nurse mother, Dr. Custis learned the profound impact healthcare professionals can have on a community. His work in the military and in the ICU shaped his understanding of service and care.

After high school, Dr. Custis spent a year traveling with the international group Up With People, which continues to hold a special place in his life. Returning to St. Augustine, Florida, he held various jobs—everything from a nightclub DJ to a show announcer at Marineland. However, witnessing a mentor suffer a heart attack and almost lose his life sparked Dr. Custis's return to his original passion: medicine.

Dr. Custis earned his AA at community college, followed by a BA in Neurobiology from the prestigious New College of Florida. He then completed his MD at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in 2001. After a year in a Surgery Internship and four years of residency at UAB, he began delivering healthcare to vulnerable patients across Alabama, working in rural communities from Russellville to Atmore, and many more in between.

His dedication to rural healthcare is reflected in his broad-reaching experience in communities like Enterprise, Opp, and Brewton. It was in Valley, Alabama, where he met his future wife, Krissy.

Since 2020, Dr. Custis has worked as part of the St. Vincent’s healthcare system, primarily at UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair and UAB St. Vincent’s Blount. With Krissy’s support, he now brings his 24 years of experience in healthcare to Iatria General Medicine, beginning his mission to bring high-quality care to the Birmingham area.