James A. "Charlie" Mahoney (1957/1958 – April 27, 2020) was an American pulmonologist and internist. He was head of the intensive care unit and a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

James A. Mahoney was born in either 1957 or 1958 to Leila and Oscar Mahoney. His father was a member of the United States Air Force. Mahoney was raised in military housing in Bermuda and the South Shore in Nassau County, New York. He had 4 siblings.^[1] As a child, a family friend nicknamed him Charlie.^[2] He began working with his older brother at the age of 8. They worked at a laundromat, German delicatessen, and a lunch counter.^[3] Mahoney was the captain of the football team at Roosevelt High School.^[1]

Mahoney completed a B.S. at C.W. Post in 1981 while working in patient transport at the Long Beach Medical Center.^[4][1] In 1986, he earned an M.D. at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at his alma mater and served as chief resident from 1989 to 1990.^[1] He completed a pulmonary and critical care fellowship in 1993.^[1]

Mahoney began working at the University Hospital of Brooklyn and Kings County Hospital Center in 1982.^[2] In 1993, Mahoney became a clinical assistant professor of medicine and head of the intensive care unit at the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.^[3][4]

His clinical interests included pulmonary diseases including sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchoscopy.^[4]

The COVID-19 pandemic in New York changed Mahoney's plan to retire in January 2020. He treated COVID-19 patients at Downstate and the Kings County Hospital Center.^[1] His workplace did not provide sufficient personal protective equipment.^[3]

During his graduate studies, Mahoney met Lisa Johnson, a graphic designer, while he was traveling through California. They married in 1987 and had three children.^[1] The family resided in Baldwin where Mahoney served as a football and baseball coach.^[5] The Mahoneys divorced in 2004.^[1]

Mahoney resided in Freeport, New York. He was in a long-term relationship with Dawn Havens at the time of his death. Mahoney died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) on April 27, 2020, at the NYU Langone Medical Center.^[1]