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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 , he will deliver the keynote speech at 91����’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 , and a leading employer of college graduates.

“Leadership is usually not what people think it is,” said Jones  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. 

The College of Public Health Degree Celebration will be held May 14 at 2 p.m. at Eagle Bank Arena.