David J. Abelson, MD

David Abelson, MD is President of Park Nicollet HealthPartners Care Group.

Dr. Abelson is a regional and national advocate for health care reform issues, including payment reform that encourages improved outcomes and makes health care more affordable. Under Dr. Abelson’s leadership as CEO, Park Nicollet achieved 100% of its PGP quality measures for three consecutive years. Under Abelson’s leadership, Park Nicollet also became a founding participant in the nation’s first pay-for-performance Medicare shared savings program, the Physician Group Demonstration Project (PGP). 

Dr. Abelson began his Park Nicollet career in 1983 as a practicing internist and has served in numerous leadership positions, including Chief Clinical Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer, where he led the initiative that made Park Nicollet the first health care system in the Twin Cities with a fully integrated digital medical record in July 2004.

Before joining Park Nicollet, Dr. Abelson practiced internal medicine in Minneapolis from 1979 to 1983.

Dr. Abelson received his BA from the University of Minnesota in 1972 and his MD from the University of Minnesota in 1976. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota in 1979.

Dr. Abelson has co-authored two books: “Take Charge of Your Health” (1995), and “Managed Care and the Treatment of Chronic Illness” (2001).