Biography

Arthur Garson, Jr. M.D., M.P.H.

Arthur Garson, Jr., is the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University of Virginia and the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Health Science and Public Policy. He is responsible for the planning and operations of the University’s 10 schools, as well as academic planning. He co-chairs the Commission on the Future of the University. In 2002, Dr. Garson was appointed Vice President and Dean of the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine. During his tenure as dean, he led health-system wide strategic and operational planning; as well, the School of Medicine started a Master of Public Health program, the Academy of Distinguished Educators, the Center on Health Care Disparities, the Patient Education Institute, the Medical Education Research Institute, and the Virginia Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (a joint effort among several schools).

Dr. Garson graduated (Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude) from Princeton University in 1970 and received his M.D. (Alpha Omega Alpha) from Duke University in 1974, remaining at Duke for Pediatric residency. He completed his Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, becoming Chief of Pediatric Cardiology. In 1992, he received a Master’s degree In Public Health from the University of Texas Houston. He has served as Duke’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, and professor in the Sanford Institute of Public Policy. He returned to Baylor and was the Senior Vice President and Dean for Academic Operations as well as Vice President of Texas Children’s Hospital, before coming to the University. Dr. Garson has authored or edited over 400 publications including 8 books.

In 1999-2000, Dr. Garson served as President of the American College of Cardiology.

In addition, he has served on the White House panel on Health Policy; and as Chair of the American College of Cardiology’s task force on the uninsured., He has served on the Institute of Medicine Task Force on rapid improvements in the healthcare system, and the Commonwealth Fund Task Force on health insurance and the uninsured.

He was appointed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Thompson to chair the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in 2003.

In 2004, he was appointed to chair the Healthcare Programs subcommittee of the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Insurance and the Uninsured. He currently serves on the Governor of Virginia’s Health Reform Commission, chairs the Workforce Subcommittee and is a special consultant on access and the uninsured.

Dr. Garson helped to originate and draft a bill that has recently been introduced into both houses of the US Congress, the "Health Partnership Act" (S. 325 and H.R. 5606), which fund grants to states for innovations to improve coverage for the uninsured, quality, and efficiency.

He continues to consult on pediatric cardiology patients, especially those with arrhythmias and fainting. He teaches the introductory MPH health policy course, "Myths and Realities of American Healthcare." His book "Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality," was published in April, 2007.

Dr. Garson and his wife, Suzan, have two daughters.