James Mason, President Emeritus: Dr. Mason has served as President and CEO of Avalon Health Care. He joined its Board of Directors in 2004. In September of 2007, Dr. Mason stepped down as full-time President to President Emeritus and agreed to spend one quarter of his time on special projects. He brings unparalleled professional experience and integrity to the company. Before coming to Avalon, Dr. Mason was head of the United States Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He served as Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services from 1989-1993. He was also a U.S. Representative to the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.
Dr. Mason's comprehensive understanding of health care delivery and policy enables him to work effectively with government representatives, regulatory bodies, medical professionals, and patients and their families. His innovations and research have helped improve the health and health care of Americans for more than forty years.
Dr. Mason's regional leadership is one of the many strengths he brings to Avalon. He was the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health from 1979-1983, overseeing all aspects of program and services for administration and health care financing. He was associate professor and chair of the Division of Community Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Utah College of Medicine from 1978-1979. He was Chief of Infectious Diseases at LDS Hospital from 1968-1969.
Dr. Mason received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah in 1954 and 1958. He received M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. degrees from Harvard University in 1963 and 1967. He served an internship in medicine at John Hopkins University and was a resident in Internal Medicine at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital at Harvard Medical School. He is certified in General Preventive Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine.
