Dr James Pan practices ophthalmology with special clinical interests in cornea and external eye diseases, cataract surgery and comprehensive ophthalmology. In addition, he serves as Clinical Senior Lecturer at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.

Dr Pan completed his undergraduate medical training at the Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore in 1995 and was placed on the Dean's List as one of the top students. He went on to be trained in Ophthalmology in Singapore before undergoing specialty fellowship training in Cornea, External Eye Diseases and Refractive Surgery at Royal Perth Hospital, Lions Eye Institute and Fremantle Hospital, Western Australia in 2005.

As a corneal specialist, Dr Pan established the cornea subspecialty service at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Alexandra Hospital (currently situated at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital) in 2006. The following year, he performed the first corneal transplant in the hospital.

As a strong believer in primary eye care, Dr Pan is involved in the training of optometrists to manage patients with stable eye conditions in optometrist-led eye clinics.

Dr Pan previously served as a member of Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) For Health Resource Panel. Currently, Dr Pan is an appointed member of Singapore Medical Council's Complaints Panel since June 2022.

Dr Pan was awarded the Courage Star Award in 2003, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Ethicon Foundation Travel Grant Award in 2004, and the Pfizer Research Prize from the NHG Eye Institute in 2008.

Outside of work, Dr Pan is actively helping marginalized communities. He volunteers at Mount Alvernia Hospital Outreach Clinic to bring medical care to migrant workers. He is also pro-bono visiting eye consultant at Assisi Hospice. Dr Pan is also involved in overseas medical missions to regional countries such as Cambodia and Indonesia.