The Dallas County Medical Society (DCMS) is pleased to nominate a dedicated leader, Mark A. Casanova, MD, for election as Alternate Delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Dr. Casanova has a long history as a palliative care physician, ethics consultant, and patient care advocate. He serves as chair of the Supportive and Palliative Care and the Institutional Ethics Committee at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He also maintains a component of his general clinical internal medicine practice.
Dr. Casanova received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and a residency in internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas A&M University. He holds a clinical associate faculty position with the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and leads the Baylor University Medical Center HEAL III curriculum (Humanities, Ethics, Altruism and Leadership). He founded and chairs the Supportive and Palliative Care Service team at Baylor University, for which the American Hospital Association recognized Dr. Casanova and his team with a Circle of Life Citation of Honor in 2007.
Dr. Casanova was president (2020) and chair of the Board (2021) of DCMS. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Casanova has served on the Dallas County COVID-19 Public Health Subcommittee and the TMA COVID-19 Taskforce. Additionally, his leadership contributed to the formation of the North Texas County Medical Society Coalition, an organization that provides public-facing COVID-19 information and expertise to the residents of North Texas. Dr. Casanova’s involvement in DCMS includes co-chairing the DCMS Delegation to TMA, serving on the Community Emergency Response Committee, the North Texas Alliance for Clinician Resilience, and co-chair of the North Texas Mass Critical Care Task Force. As an active member of TMA, Dr. Casanova serves on the TMA Council on Health Service Organizations and previously chaired the TMA Council on Constitutional Bylaws.
Beyond educating medical students, he is also intimately involved in the education of both residents and fellows in areas of palliative medicine and clinical ethics. Dr. Casanova’s greatest joy, beyond his devotion to medicine, is being a husband and father to two of the most remarkable ladies in the world.
Personal Statement: “I seek to serve as an AMA Alternate Delegate in order to protect and advance the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship. I have dedicated myself the past several years to expanding my health policy influence in North Texas and across the entire state, and believe I am ready to represent Texas at the level of the AMA. In upholding the principles of medical and clinical ethics as unwavering guideposts, I would like to share my devotion for living well while struggling with illness, ensuring a sustainable profession for the future, and the importance of educating our next generation of physicians. These attributes, along with my knowledge base and skill set surrounding professional society constitution and bylaws, provides a well-balanced asset for the Texas AMA delegation.”
Profile
Specialty: Palliative Medicine
Medical School and Post Graduate Education (with years): The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Doctor of Medicine, 1996-2000, Baylor University Medical Center, Internship in internal medicine, 2000-01
Residency Program: Baylor University Medical Center, Residency in Internal Medicine, 2001-03
Board Certification(s):
- American Board of Internal Medicine
- American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Primary Residence (City, State): Dallas, Texas
Practice Type/Employment Status: Direct Patient Care: large group practice (over 20 members), 80%; Academic, 15%; Public Health, 5%
Primary Employer and Employment Location (city, state): Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Do you expect to maintain your current employment status and location through your term in office? Yes
Does your current employment situation require you to work outside of Texas? No
Including the past five years, list all other organizations from which you have received payment, reimbursement, or financial consideration for consulting, advisory, or leadership responsibilities exceeding $1,000 per year in excess of actual expenses. None
Have you been convicted of a felony or is your medical license restricted? No
TMA Positions Held:
- Council on Health Service Organizations, Member
- Council on Health Service Organizations, Chair
- Council on Constitutional Bylaws, Member
- Council on Constitutional Bylaws, Chair
TMA Elections 2021 Main Page