SHELTON, WA – Mason Health is proud to welcome Michael Swenson, RN, BSN, as the new Interim Director of Emergency Services at Mason General Hospital. With 29 years of experience in emergency care, including leadership in Level I to Level III trauma centers, Swenson brings to Mason Health a wealth of expertise in operational strategy, clinical excellence and departmental transformation. He is enthusiastic about his role as a mentor and developing the next leaders at an organization; this aligns with his passion for emergency medicine.

Swenson at one point considered becoming a doctor or certified anesthesiologist, but while working various hospital jobs during his undergraduate career, he felt drawn to Emergency Departments. 

“I love the mystery and the pace — it is not a job where you are sitting there, watching the clock,” Swenson said. “Other areas of the hospital felt too predictable. I like to fix things and help people.”

After graduating from Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree, Swenson pursued his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the same university. He worked as a registered nurse in California, Maine, Oklahoma and Washington, before embarking on his leadership journey, first as Director of Emergency Services at Evergreen Health in Kirkland, Washington. 

Swenson has spent the last four years in interim leadership roles, helping hospitals across the country improve efficiency, reduce costs and build strong foundations for long-term success. His achievements include:

• Reducing Left Without Treatment (LWOT) rates by 77 percent and Left Without Being Seen (LWOB) rates by 90 percent at Trios Health in Kennewick, Washington
• Developing and implementing ED Surge Plans, ED Council Structures and strategic plans at multiple facilities
• Maintaining nursing resources with 0 percent nursing turnover during his interim leadership at Wayne Healthcare in Greenville, Ohio, and Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Arkansas
• Expanding Rapid Medical Evaluation (RME) capacity to improve patient flow and reduce bottlenecks at various hospitals, including Mercy Medical Center in Merced, California
• Capturing lost revenue through improved documentation, onboarding tools and triage flow measurement systems at multiple hospitals

Swenson was drawn to Mason Health by the opportunity for a year-long contract, allowing him to focus on short- and medium-term goals, succession planning, and enhancing a strong departmental culture and leadership stability. He sees a lot of tremendous leadership promise already within Mason General Hospital’s Emergency Department. 

“A good leader works if you have a good foundation,” Swenson said. “I can help put that foundation in place for the next leader.”

Christina Chavez, ED Manager, celebrated 20 years with Mason Health this year, and stepped into the managerial role in 2023, after serving as a front-line nurse during her tenure. 

“Christina Chavez has done an outstanding job leading our Emergency Department team over the past two years, building on her deep experience as a frontline ED nurse,” said Chief Nursing Officer Melissa Strong. “Her understanding of both clinical care and team dynamics has been invaluable. We’re excited to welcome Michael Swenson as our interim Emergency Department Director — his decades of leadership and fresh perspective will be a great complement to Christina’s strengths. Together, we believe their collaboration will enhance our department and ultimately lead to an even better experience for our patients.”

Originally from Oklahoma City, Swenson is an avid scuba diver with his wife, often exploring cave dives. He also enjoys hiking and downhill skiing.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County 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. The Board of Hospital District Commissioners are Don Welander, President, Darrin Moody, Secretary, and Lori Brady, Trustee. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards, the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award and the 2025 Emerald Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masonhealth.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.

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