James Carlson is a health care executive, policy leader, and business strategist with more than 35 years of experience spanning health care finance, public policy, industry leadership, governance, and business development. He is a co-founder and director of Incite Strategic Partners, where he brings deep industry expertise and longstanding relationships with senior living and post-acute care providers, national and state associations, and industry partners.
Carlson also serves as a director of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), a public research university and health system with an annual operating budget exceeding $5 billion. He chairs the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and serves as a member of the OHSU Health System Board.
At the national level, Carlson serves as Strategic Advisor on Health Care Finance to the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing the nation’s long-term and post-acute care provider community. He previously served on the AHCA Board of Governors and as President of the American Society of Health Care Association Executives.
For more than two decades, Carlson served as President and CEO of the Oregon Health Care Association, where he led the organization’s public policy, advocacy, reimbursement, and industry initiatives before retiring from the position in 2020.
Carlson’s additional governance experience includes service on the boards of Avamere, Arete Senior Living, and EnviralTech. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon.
