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Dr. James Ley was born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia. After high school, he studied at Pillsbury College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, Greek, and Pastoral Studies. In 1983, Dr. Ley received a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Biology at West Chester University. He continued his education at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center, where he earned his M.D. degree in 1987. Dr. Ley returned to Philadelphia for his Internal Medicine residency at Pennsylvania Hospital, followed by an Infectious Disease Fellowship, completed in 1992, at The University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Highlights of his medical education included training electives in Kenya and Uganda, which provided experience in both tropical medicine and mission’s work. His interest in missions also led him to provide general medical care for residents at a faith-based drug rehab center in Philadelphia.

Dr. Ley came to the Delmarva area in 1992, establishing medical practice at Union Hospital in Elkton, Christiana Hospital, Wilmington Hospital, and Saint Francis Hospital. Now in his 25th year of practice, Dr. Ley is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and maintains certification in Infectious Diseases by The American Board of Internal Medicine. Additionally, he is credentialed by Healogics Wound Care for wound care treatment. Since 1999, he has been a wound care physician; previously at Christiana Care and currently at The Union Hospital Would Care Center. Dr. Ley has also served as Chair of Medicine at Union Hospital, and in 2014, he was honored with the Physician of the Year award, by the Union Hospital medical staff. Since 1992, he has treated tuberculosis patients, as chest clinic physician for the Cecil County Health Department.

Dr. Ley is married and has two children. When he is not working, he enjoys fishing, hiking, volunteer work at his church, playing the piano, organ, accordion, and singing.
Dr. Wesley Emmons practiced internal medicine for 4 years before completing an Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda MD. After serving a 1 year stint as a co-instructor at the US Navy’s Tropical Medicine School in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he did a 6 year tour as the Infectious Diseases and HIV Division Head at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth VA. During his 13 years as a Naval physician, he lived in Puerto Rico and Cairo Egypt, and did tours of duty in Brazil and the Dominican Republic; his overseas experience allowed him to qualify and pass the ASTMH’s Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler’s Health.He is a Fellow of the ACP and has published 20 manuscripts, written over 7 chapters, and edited numerous articles and 10 chapters for eMedicine and 4 other medical journals. He has written Board questions for the ABIM’s Infectious Disease exam, the ASTMH’s Certificate of Knowledge exam, and the MKSAP. He was voted “Teacher of the Year” 3 times in his career, has been selected as a Delaware “Top Doc” over 5 different times, and is widely sought after for his informative and entertaining lectures. In 2004 he was selected for Christiana Care’s Maxwell Award for compassionate patient care. He has been back in Delaware since 2001 where he enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Hobbies include SCUBA diving and going to the gym; the youngest participant to complete the New York Marathon in 1973, he once ran 100 miles in 23 hours (at the time a US record for a 21 year old); on another occasion, he did 1,111 situps. He is also known throughout the hospital for his colorful outfits, specifically “Wacky Pants Wednesday” and “Hawaiian Shirt Friday”.
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Additional Resources

Diseases Specific Information

COVID-19

COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease 2019, a newly identified cause of human illness first identified near the end of 2019. Get up to date information on the illness, including symptoms to watch for, how to protect yourself, updated statistics, and much more. Click on the following to link to specific pages for COVID-19 from the CDC, Delaware Department of Public Health, and Maryland Department of Public Health.

Click on the following to get updates from local healthcare facilities: ChristianaCare, ChristianaCare/Union Hospital, and Saint Francis Healthcare.

MRSA

MRSA stands for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria can cause a spectrum of illness, from simple localized skin infections or abscesses, to deep infections involving bones or heart valves. It can also be found as a colonizer on skin.Obtain additional information through the following links: MRSA CDC, and MRSA SHEA.

ZIKA

This emerging virus has rapidly expanded its territory and impact on humans in recent years. Its importance includes its impact on pregnancy and the fetus. Get up to date information by clicking on the following: ZIKA CDC.

Travel Advice

The CDC has a wealth of information for those traveling abroad, including how to prepare, what vaccinations you may need, etc. Here you can find more information: CDC's Travel Advice

HIV

The care of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) has been transformed. This infection has gone from a once untreatable condition, to a condition which can be well controlled with current medications. Learn more about HIV through the following: HIV CDC.

Clostridium difficile

This bacteria is one cause of infectious diarrhea, and those with recent antibiotic use can be at risk. Learn more through the following websites: CDC, and SHEA.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Clostridium Difficile

For those who have difficulty with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection and have relapses despite the use oral antibiotic treatment, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), can be option for treatment. Learn more through the American Gastroenterological Association: FMT.

VRE

VRE stands for Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus. This bacteria can cause of spectrum of illness, from simple urinary tract infections, to deep infections involving bones or heart valves. It can also be found as a colonizer in the body, without causing any actual infection. Learn more through the following websites: VRE CDC, and VRE SHEA.

LYME

Lyme disease is caused by the organism Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection with this organism can lead to a variety of clinical symptoms, from simple rash to infection of the joints or nervous system. More information can be gained through the following websites: IDSA, and CDC

Links for Further Learning

- Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA)
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Society of Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA)
- Up To Date
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