SHELTON, WA – Known for his infectious smile and cheerful attitude, Dr. Darren Cuevas, DO, brings joy to his patients and co-workers at Mason Clinic-Primary Care. Cuevas also serves as Chief of Staff at Mason Health, and for the past year, he has served as a provider at Skokomish Health Clinic, signaling Mason Health’s committed partnership with the Skokomish Tribe. Dr. Cuevas’ dedication to patient care in rural Mason County is a major reason he has received the 2023 Health Care Champion Leadership in Rural Medicine Award from the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and the Thurston-Mason Medical Society. Cuevas was honored at a reception with other 2023 Health Care Champions, June 27, at Olympia Country & Golf Club in Thurston County.

“I work closely with Dr. Cuevas and rely on him a lot,” said Kelly North, Mason Clinic-Primary Care Manager, in a video praising Dr. Cuevas’ achievement. “We work together in partnership. He’s a big kid at heart but he’s also very thoughtful in his process. He’s always thinking of others before himself.”

Dr. Cuevas grew up in Canada and joined Mason Health in September 2018. He received his Doctorate of Osteopathic training at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and completed his Family Medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2022, Dr. Cuevas became certified in diving medicine by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society and can now follow up with patients about diving concerns and complete recreational physicals for dive medicine. He is on a referral list from the Diver Alert Network to treat patient with issues related to diving.

Dr. Cuevas also makes it a point to do house calls or visits to nursing homes when his patients are not able to come into Mason Clinic for an appointment.

“Everything I do is to make sure the patient is taken care of, and everything else stems from that,” he said. “One of the things as a rural clinic is sometimes the patient can’t really come to you. I go to them. Sometimes they are at nursing homes and because of medical ailments they can’t come to me, so I take the health care to them and make sure they’re doing OK.”

For the past year, Dr. Cuevas has served as one of the providers at the Skokomish Health Clinic on the Skokomish Reservation. As a provider there, he’s been able to help patients easily access additional services they might need through Mason Health.

“He’s been amazing especially for our patients and tribal members here,” said Dr. Aliya Wilson, MD, Medical Director of the Skokomish Health Center. “We love that he helps us integrate with Mason Health to help streamline our patients getting services there … (so) we can get them the services they need. He’s a person you would want to have in the clinic, he’s a person you would want your friends and family members to see.”

Dr. Cuevas lives in Hoodsport with his wife, Megan Cuevas, ARNP, a pediatric nurse practitioner in Olympia. Dr. Cuevas enjoys traveling with his wife, scuba diving and riding his motorcycle.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County, is celebrating 55 years of serving patients and the community this year. Mason Health is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of three Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Awards and a Greening the OR Environmental Excellence Award. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.