Susan Nelsen, MS

Ambassadors, Individual Ambassador, Midwest

Minnesota
Representing: Patients

Susan Nelsen most recently worked at a health plan as a Quality Improvement Project Manager. In 2010, while eight months pregnant with her fourth daughter, Nelsen had a grand mal seizure that led to a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. She completed 12 cycles of chemotherapy in 2011 and then underwent radiation and chemotherapy last fall after another tumor appeared. She is happy to have four beautiful and healthy daughters, a loving husband, and a supportive network of family and friends. Nelsen volunteers with the Minnesota Cancer Alliance, the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement Patient Advisory Council, and the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Patient and Family Engagement Advisory Council. She also volunteers with the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). Nelsen volunteered to be a PCORI merit reviewer and completed everything but the in-person review because her cancer returned right before she was able to finish the review. She is passionate about keeping patients and caregivers at the center of health care. She received an MS in counseling. 

Interest Areas:

  • PCORI’s Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options Funding Priority 
  • PCORI’s Improving Healthcare Systems Funding Priority 
  • PCORI’s Communication and Dissemination Research Funding Priority    
  • PCORI’s Addressing Disparities Funding Priority   
  • PCORI’s Accelerating PCOR and Methodological Research Funding Priority 
  • Health and healthcare outcomes of racial and ethnic minority groups   
  • Health and health care outcomes of low-income groups   
  • Health and health care outcomes of women  
  • Health and health care outcomes of older adults (age 65 and older)  
  • Health and health care outcomes of residents of rural areas 
  • Health and health care outcomes of individuals with special healthcare needs, including individuals with disabilities   
  • Health and health care outcomes of individuals with multiple chronic diseases  
  • Health and health care outcomes of individuals with rare diseases
  • Health and health care outcomes of individuals whose genetic make-up affects their medical outcomes  
  • Health and health care outcomes of individuals  with low health literacy/numeracy and limited English proficiency       
  • Health and health care outcomes of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) persons