Dr. Jim Tucker, M.D., is a board-certified child psychiatrist and directs research into children's reports of past-life memories at the University of Virginia, Division of Personality Studies. He attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in psychology in 1982, followed by a Medical Degree four years later. He then received training in general psychiatry and child psychiatry at the University of Virginia, and began a successful private practice in psychiatry.
Five years later, he came across a newspaper ad stating that the Division of Personality Studies was beginning a new study of near-death experiences. In 1999, he began working half-time at the division, focusing on the children's cases, and a year later, gave up his private practice completely to work at the university. He has now published a number of articles in scientific journals, and he has also spoken before both scientific and general audiences and made several television appearances. Dr. Tucker is Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Medicine at the University of Virginia Health System, and in addition to conducting research, he serves as medical director of the Child & Family Psychiatry Clinic.