PHYSICIAN PROFILE
David Park Mason, MD
Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation
for Baylor Scott & White Health
octor Mason is chief of Thoracic surgical skill and quality medical care my patients’ stories of courage and love,
Surgery and Lung Transplantation every day. which often move me to tears. I share
and holder of the Candy
many hugs with my patients. I frequently
DeBartolo Endowed Chair in Thoracic If you had to describe Baylor Scott & White say to myself, “I hope I can be that strong
Surgery for Baylor Scott & White Health. in three words, what words would you use? if I am ever faced with something so
He has broad experience in all aspects of
Caring. Quality. Teamwork.
difficult.” I continuously marvel at the
thoracic surgery. A pioneer in minimally
power of the human spirit. This is what
invasive surgical techniques, Dr. Mason is a If you had one extra hour in your day, how
recognized expert in lung transplantation would you spend it?
and the treatment of locally advanced
Are there any other occupations, other than
I would spend it just hanging out
lung cancer, esophageal cancer and with my wife and children. My oldest son,
benign esophageal diseases. James, is almost 13; I have twins, Madeline
Before joining Baylor Scott & White
puts perspective into my life.
your current one, you’d like to try?
Perhaps being a teacher—I love
and Olivia, who are 11; and a 9-year-old teaching the art and science of surgery.
in 2014, Dr. Mason was on the surgical son, Jonathan. We would just talk, laugh, Medicine is a continuous learning process
staff at Johns Hopkins University and the maybe play a game together. Perhaps and always humbling. You have never
Cleveland Clinic. my wife, Judith, and I would even get a seen it all and you never know everything,
moment to ourselves! but experience certainly makes a huge
What do you think is the most important
thing you can share about Baylor Scott &
difference. I would like to pass my
What inspires you?
White Health?
experience on to others.
People who make the most of their
talents and persevere against adversity What is something people might be
This is true for every member of our inspire me. In my field, the diseases that surprised to know about you?
thoracic team, which couples that patients face are terrifying and often commitment to patients with great lethal. I am privileged to be able to share in
We deeply care about our patients.
I grew up a city boy in Boston,
but I love country music!
Dr. Charles Roberts with two of the 35 illustrations by renowned medical illustrator Leon Schlossberg that will
soon be on display at the new Aortic Center of Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital - Dallas.
Both Drs. Roberts now the walls of the Aortic Center, aneurysm or dissection
work on the Dallas campus of to be located on the first floor may be good educational
Baylor Scott & White Health of Baylor Heart and Vascular resources for patients and
in cardiovascular specialties. Hospital – Dallas. families who visit the Aortic
Dr. Charles Roberts recently
“I recently went through
brought 35 of the illustrations several crates of these original
of aortic conditions to the illustrations and realized that, in
Baylor campus. These addition to being beautiful art,
illustrations will soon be many of the ones depicting
prominently displayed on aortic conditions such as
Center,” Dr. Roberts says.
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / FALL 2019