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Key Takeaways
- J. Stephen Jones, MD, FACS, president and CEO of Inova Health, is the George Mason College of Public Health 2026 Degree Celebration keynote speaker.
- Jones’s leadership has brought Inova national prominence and expanded care delivery across Northern Virginia.
- Inova Health is a key partner of the College of Public Health in research advancement and health care workforce development.
At the helm of Northern Virginia’s premier nonprofit health care system, J. Stephen Jones, MD, FACS, stands among the most consequential leaders in modern health care. As President and CEO of Inova Health, he will deliver the keynote speech at George Mason University’s College of Public Health 2026 Degree Celebration, offering insight shaped by executive leadership, clinical practice, and academic medicine.
A board-certified practicing urological surgeon and professor of surgery at the University of Virginia, Jones brings deep experience leading complex health systems. He offers perspective and encouragement for graduates seeking to become future healthcare leaders.
Under Jones’ leadership, Inova’s system has grown to nearly 500 locations, modernizing and expanding access to care across its five existing hospitals to include its new Oakville and Woodbridge health centers, two new hospital campuses underway in Alexandria and Franconia-Springfield, and over 30 Inova Cares sites for underserved populations.
That commitment to access and innovation extends directly to George Mason, where Jones shares his expertise with students as a long-time supporter of College of Public Health students. Inova is a critical partner for the college as a destination for practicum and clinical experiences, and a leading employer of college graduates.
“Leadership is usually not what people think it is,” said Jones when sharing his leadership insights during a guest lecture. “Leadership is about getting others to achieve something they wouldn't naturally do—or do as well—on their own.”
Jones earned his BS in Zoology at the University of Arkansas, MD at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and MBA at Case Western Reserve University. He completed his residency at Vanderbilt University. Learn more about J. Stephen Jones, MD, FACS.
The College of Public Health Degree Celebration will be held May 14 at 2 p.m. at Eagle Bank Arena. Learn more about the 2026 Spring Commencement.