Biography

Vincent Nelson, M.D., is vice president of Medical Affairs in the Office of Clinical Affairs (OCA) for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies. The BCBS System is the nation’s largest health insurer covering one in three Americans.

Dr. Nelson provides clinical leadership across multiples disciplines, including quality management, provider recognition, medical policy, innovations of service delivery and strategic market opportunities. He ensures that the OCA and BCBSA incorporate clinical guidance that aligns with market demand and positively impacts the quality of healthcare while maintaining BCBS System leadership with members, providers and stakeholders. Prior to BCBSA, Dr. Nelson was a senior medical director/market chief medical officer for the Central/West U.S. Region at United Healthcare, where he partnered with senior leadership teams to lead market level programs, integrate clinical functions and drive results for clinical affordability, quality and population health measures.

Previously, Dr. Nelson held the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, at the University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas. His interests and activities were in clinical care, teaching residents, and supporting department collaborations with industry sponsored pharmaceutical and medical device clinical trials. Before his careers in academia and industry, Dr. Nelson worked as a private practice clinician for 12½ years. He was a founding physician partner and board member of United States Anesthesia Partners (USAP).

Dr. Nelson obtained his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Stanford University. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Rice University, Jones School of Business, and a medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed his Clinical Residency and Fellowship training at Harvard Medical School, in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management, and Critical Care Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.