Park Nicollet president announces retirement

Abelson led organization through combination with HealthPartners

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Sept. 24, 2014 — HealthPartners today announced that David Abelson, MD, senior executive vice president, HealthPartners and president of Park Nicollet Health Services, will retire at the end of 2014. Abelson is the former president of CEO of Park Nicollet, who in late 2012 led the care system through a combination with HealthPartners.

“In the two years since we announced the combination, we’ve continued to perform at a very high level, and we’ve developed new relationships and successful partnerships in our care group and other parts of the organization,” Abelson said. “We will continue to drive for quality and top-notch results and focus on compassionate care for every patient and member – always with a spirit of collaboration and innovation.”

“Thanks to David’s visionary approach, and leadership to improve health and care, to make it more affordable and to improve the experience of care for our patients, members and families, our organization is better and stronger today,” said Mary Brainerd, president and CEO, HealthPartners.

Abelson became CEO and president of the Park Nicollet on Jan. 1, 2010. He first joined the system in 1983, and took on executive duties in 1998. During his tenure, Park Nicollet, which includes Methodist Hospital, continued to expand and grow and now includes 20 primary care clinics, seven urgent care centers and 11 pharmacies. Most recently, the organization announced plans for an expanded multi-specialty center in Maple Grove.

HealthPartners as a combined organization now includes more than 1,700 physicians, seven hospitals, 55 primary care clinics, 22 urgent care locations and numerous specialty practices in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. HealthPartners Clinic, Park Nicollet Clinic, Stillwater Medical Group and Physicians Neck & Back Clinic are all part of HealthPartners. In addition, HealthPartners Dental Group has more than 60 dentists and 22 dental clinics.

Brian Rank, MD, Steve Connelly, MD, and Nance McClure, chief operating officer of the care group, will together lead the combined organization’s medical groups, Methodist Hospital and TRIA Orthopaedic Center. Dr. Connelly, a long-time Park Nicollet physician who helped lead the combined organization’s initial integration efforts, will serve as president and chief medical officer of Park Nicollet in addition to his role as president of the HealthPartners Institute of Education and Research.