Daniel K. Zismer, Ph.D.

Ph.D. (1982) University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Campus Major: Health Psychology (Concentration in Cardiovascular Health Behavior) Pre-doctoral Kellogg Fellow Minor: Health Services Management

B.A. (1975) Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota Majors: Psychology and Criminal Justice; Cum Laude

Fall 2009
6570: Topics: Health Care Administration

Spring 2010
6574: Managing Medical Practices as Components of Integrated Health Systems

Research Interests:

Dr. Zismer comes to the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health and the ISP program with a 25-year history on the provider side of health care delivery. Most recently he served on the Senior Leadership Team of Essentia Health; a multi state health system headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. The largest component of Essentia Health is SMDC, an integrated health system with $800 million in annual operating revenues. SMDC is an integrated health system with nearly 400 employed physicians across most clinical specialties. Essentia Health also includes operating assets, integrated delivery models and physician partnerships in North Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin. It owns an interest in a multi-state long-term care delivery system as well. Dr. Zismer assisted in the formation of Essentia while serving as Managing Principal of Dorsey Health Strategies, Dorsey and Whitney, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In addition to his operations experience, Dr. Zismer has led a sizable number of large-scale health systems and medical practice integrations as well as specialty-focused hospital/physician partnerships and joint venture formations.

He is a regular lecturer for the American College of Health Care Executives, Child Health Corporation and Voluntary Hospitals of America. He has served as visiting faculty for the Physician Leadership College, St. Thomas University. He maintains consulting and advisory relationships with Essentia Health as well as with several other large U.S. Health Systems. He has a special interest in executive and physician leadership education and development.

Dr. Zismer's health systems research interests focus principally on the operating economics and value creation of integrated health systems.

Recent Publications:

Zismer, D.K., Person, P.E., “Integrated Specialty Care: Pursuing a Convergent Path With Medical Staff,” Healthcare Executive, ACHE, Volume 21, Number 4, July/August 2006.

Zismer, D.K., Person, P.E., “The Future of Management Education and Training for Physician Leaders,” The Physician Executive, Volume 34, Issue 6, November/December 2008.

Zismer, D.K., McCullough, J., Person, P.E., Renier, C., Knutson, D., “Part 1: Integrated Healthcare Economics, Are Specialty Physician Services Reliable Predictors of Community Health System Financial Performance?” The Physician Executive, Volume 35, Issue 3, May/June 2009.

Zismer, D.K., McCullough, J., Person, P.E., “Part 2: Integrated Healthcare Economics: Understanding the Revenue Drivers in Fully Integrated Community Health Systems,” The Physician Executive, in press.

Zismer, D.K., Person, P.E., Aggarwal, R., “Finding the Economic Leverage in the Fully Integrated Health System,” Group Practice Journal, Volume 58, Number 5, May 2009.

Zismer, D.K., Person, P.E., “What Does the Future Hold for the Larger, Independent, Multispecialty Medical Group? Is a ‘Tipping Point’ on the Model’s Horizon?” Group Practice Journal, April 2007.

Zismer, D.K., Proeschel, S.J., “Understanding the Quality of the Earnings for Integrated Health Systems; Application of ‘Wall Street’ Methods to Community-Based Healthcare,” Health Care Financial Management, in press.

Zismer, D.K., “Integrated Health System Design: If You’re Heading There, It’s Best to Have a Map,” The Governance Institute, May 2009.

Professional Experience:

2007 to Present: Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, and Director, Executive Studies Program in Healthcare Management and Leadership, University of Minnesota

2006 to 2007: Executive Vice President Essentia Health and President, Essentia Health Services

2004-2006: Executive Vice President Essentia Health and Chief Administrative Officer, SMDC

2001-2004: Managing Director, Dorsey Health Strategies, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1999-2001: Senior Executive, Allina Cardiovascular Services

1997-1999: Principal and National Practice Leader for health systems consulting, Towers Perrin, Minneapolis, Minnesota (acquired Partners Consulting Group)

1986-1997: Co-founder, Director and CEO of Partners Consulting Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1982-1985: Assistant Executive Director, Health Services Research Center, Park Nicollet Medical Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Honors:

Rho Chi National Honor Society

Identified by Minnesota Physician as one of Minnesota’s 100 “Most Influential Health Care Leaders”; August 1993, 1982-1989

Contact

Mailing Address:
420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 729

Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone (Work): (612) 612-625-5148

Email: zisme006@umn.edu