James M. Hayes, M.D. Receives Physician Champion Award

James M. Hayes, MD, has received the first annual Roper St. Francis Foundation Physician Champion Award in recognition of “exceptional leadership and devoted service” to patients and the Lowcountry medical community.  Dr. Hayes retired this past summer after a long and accomplished career in medicine, one that spanned more than three decades.

A native of Charleston, Dr. Hayes was born into a family of healthcare providers.  His mother was a graduate of St. Francis School of Nursing, and his father was a pharmacist.  Dr. Hayes earned his medical degree in 1964 and spent the next few years in the military and receiving specialty training.

In 1970, he started his own practice.  His West Ashley office, known today as Associates in Internal Medicine, includes six partners:  David Apple, MD; Blue Currie, MD; Cary Hickman, MD; Christopher McLain, MD; Charles Smith, MD, and Billy Snyder, MD.

Throughout his medical career, Dr. Hayes has been an active member and also assumed leadership roles with the Medical Society of South Carolina, Charleston County Medical Society,  and both the state and national Society of Internal Medicine.  He is a fellow with the American College of Physicians and has served on the boards of Roper Hospital, Roper St. Francis Healthcare, and the Roper St. Francis Foundation.

According to fellow board member Johnny Jordan, “Jim has always been there for us, doing the right things for the right reasons.  I’m proud to call him my friend, colleague, and for many years up until his retirement, my doctor.”

To help ensure the future for not-for-profit, community hospitals in the Charleston area, Dr. Hayes was instrumental in bringing together Roper and Bon Secours St. Francis hospitals to form the Roper St. Francis Healthcare organization in 1998.  Roper Hospital was the first community hospital in the Carolinas; St. Francis was the state’s first Catholic hospital.  Together, they represent the only nonprofit, non-governmental healthcare system in the region.

“Even in retirement, Dr. Hayes continues to devote his time, energy and leadership to important projects that benefit patients and our local healthcare community,” said David Dunlap, President and Chief Executive Officer of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. 

Dr. Hayes currently serves as Chairman of the Foundation’s Physician Partners Committee, and helped create the Roper Xavier (Rx) Society, an annual giving society that was formed in 2005 to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation, the fundraising arm of Roper St. Francis Healthcare.   The Physician Champion Award was presented to Dr. Hayes at the Rx Society’s Inaugural Donor Appreciation Gala held on The Citadel’s parade grounds last month.

The Donor Appreciation Gala will be an annual event.  Currently, the Rx Society is accepting memberships for 2006.  For information on how to become a member, please call

843-720-1205.

Dr. Hayes resides on James Island with his wife, Barbara. They have three grown children, Jimmy, Amy, and Beth, and seven grandchildren.