Fran Mason, MD

Medical Director, Oncology, Sports Medicine

Dr. Mason has lived in Boulder since 2000.  She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Thereafter, she had 6 years of postgraduate training including specialty fellowship in hematology and oncology and chief residency in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.  Her academic positions have included professorships at Penn Medical School and the University of Colorado.  She is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.

Dr. Fran, as she prefers to be called, has extensive knowledge in the area of integrative oncology care. She is affectionately referred to as the "wellness oncologist" by her patients. She listens to her patients and their concerns. She is well versed on the most up to date conventional and integrative treatments for cancer. As a hematologist, she evaluates lab work carefully and optimizes treatment plans to improve overall health. She develops exercise plans for her cancer patients and is often referred to by other oncologist for this care. She has authored books on the subject and is considered the expert in exercise prescription for cancer survivors.

Fran Mason, MD brings a unique perspective to the care of athletes. She promotes health during training and helps support metabolic, muscular and immune components of recovery. She believes that optimal performance requires the right mix of hard training and meticulous attention to the unique physiological needs of each individual.

Dr. Mason has lectured and written widely in  many aspects of sports medicine and is a nationally recognized expert in fitness and exercise, particularly as it relates to cancer survivorship. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and is on the clinical advisory board of the American Medical Athletic Association. She has served as a medical expert for Runners World, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and was the medical writer for Active Cities USA. She lectures widely. She is a competitive runner who has finished many events, including over 25 marathons and ultramarathons.

Dr. Mason works with athletes at all levels- recreational, competitive, elite and Olympian. Some of the areas for which she has particular interest include:
1) Iron deficiency and athlete’s anemia
2) Immune system evaluation and support
3) Fatigue
4) Overtraining
5) Recovery issues including electrolyte balance
6) Optimizing neuromuscular performance
7) Nutrition/hydration

Dr. Fran integrates her care into the athlete’s support and coaching networks. As a medical physician she has built a relatively unique collaborative working relationship with her naturopathic colleagues at NatureMed.  This gives her additional depth in her comprehensive and holistic approach to athletes.