James Colbert

James Colbert, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, affiliated with the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine. He previously served on the faculty of the University of Colorado before joining UT Southwestern in 2025.

Dr. Colbert earned a bachelor's degree in biology and psychology from the University of Iowa, followed by his medical degree. He completed internal medicine residency and an infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Colorado, and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both internal medicine and infectious diseases.

His research explores how aging-associated changes in the gut microbiome influence sepsis pathophysiology, focusing on microbial genetic diversity, host-microbe interactions, and explainable AI applications to uncover mechanisms of immunosuppression and organ injury. His publications span topics including pulmonary endothelial glycocalyx reconstitution, sepsis outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease, sex-related differences in post-stroke infections, and microcirculatory dysfunction in sepsis.

Dr. Colbert is an active member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, contributing to clinical research and advancing understanding of critical care medicine.