The American Health Council is proud to recognize Carol Mason, MD as “Best in Medicine” for her outstanding contributions to the medical field. Dr. Mason maintains an active schedule as she serves as the Louis R. Cabiran professor and acting chief of the Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), medical director of respiratory therapy and staff physician at University Medical Center at New Orleans, staff physician at Ochsner Medical Center and St. Theresa Specialty Hospital, both in Kenner, La., and medical director of respiratory therapy program at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. While Dr. Mason has spent over six years in her roles, she has over 36 years of experience in the healthcare field expanding her skills and knowledge in pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Dr. Mason’s path toward earning her current roles began after she graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1982. She completed an internal medicine internship from the Charity Hospital at New Orleans — now LSU Hospital — that same year. The following year, she finished an internal medicine residency at the same institution, and by 1989, she completed a pulmonary medicine clinical fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. Remaining faithful to the institution that provided her with an extensive medical education, Dr. Mason worked her way toward becoming the Louis R. Cabiran professor and acting chief of the Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at LSUHSC, among her many roles.

Among her various duties, Dr. Mason oversees section operations and clinical pulmonary care. As the vice chair in the Department of Medicine, she supports academics for staff, promotions and advancement, while also serving as a basic research investigator. She examines the role of alcohol consumption on pulmonary tuberculosis in a murine model, researches various topics pertaining to pulmonary infections and mechanisms of pulmonary host defense against infections, and tobacco abuse-related illnesses. During the course of her research, she is proud to have secured a number of National Institutes of Health grants as well as publish numerous articles.

Dr. Mason is a member of several professional associations, including the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Chest Physicians, the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, the Louisiana Thoracic Society, the LSUHSC School of Medicine Committee of Professional Conduct and the LSUHSC School of Medicine Appointments and Promotions Committee. With a successful career at hand, she attributes her achievements to having a strong support system at LSUHSC. She plans to continue her success by researching further topics within the infectious disease field while continuing to grow in her current line of work.