Dr Thing qualified as a General Practitioner in 2010, before undertaking 4 years of specialist registrar training to become a Sport and Exercise Medicine Consultant in 2014.

He trained at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre – Headley Court, the Institute of Sport Exercise & Health (ISEH) and Barts Health.   James also worked as a Sport and Exercise Medicine doctor at the London Olympics in 2012.

Dr Thing is the British Athletics Event Lead Doctor, coordinating medical care for the Anniversary Games and Diamond League events.  He also works for Harlequins Rugby as their pitch side doctor and as a player tournament doctor for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Dr Thing also undertakes a weekly NHS musculoskeletal ultrasound/radiology list at the Royal London Hospital (Barts Health).