Jean Spencer Felton was born in Oakland, CA, April 27, 1911. He received his education at Stanford University (A.B. 1931, M.D. 1935). Following an internship and residency in surgery, at the Mt. Zion and Dante Hospitals in San Francisco (1935-38), he was a practicing physician and surgeon there (1936-40).

During his career he held a number of positions in the field of occupational medicine, including Medical Director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1946-53); and professor, Dept. Medicine and Dept. Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Oklahoma (1953-58). This was followed by a position on the faculty of the School of Medicine in the Dept. of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (1958-68). He later held posts as Director of Occupational Health Services, Co. of Los Angeles (1968-74) Chief, Occupational Health Services, Naval Regional Medical Center, Long Beach (1974-78). He became emeritus professor of community medicine, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, (1983-88), and clinical professor of community medicine, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 1975-88.

Dr. Felton was a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Public Health Association (fellow), American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Occupational Medicine Association (fellow), American Academy of Occupational Medicine (fellow), National Rehabilitation Assoc, and Sigma XI. His research interests: occupational health methods and practices; mental health in industry; job performances of the physically impaired, history of occupational medicine, resulted in myriad publications.