Susan K. Nelson is the executive vice president and chief financial officer for MedStar Health. In this role, she is responsible for systemwide finances for the $7.7 billion not-for-profit healthcare delivery system including financial reporting, financial planning, revenue cycle, capital management, bond financing, investment activities, performance improvement, analytics, and business development.
She joined MedStar Health in 2005 as the vice president of Financial Operations bringing with her 15 years of experience in accounting and auditing. Since joining MedStar Health, she has held progressively responsible positions in Finance. Prior to joining MedStar Health, she served as senior manager of Assurance and Advisory Business Services for Ernst & Young, LLP where she managed assurance services and client relationships for not-for-profit healthcare systems.
Nelson holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a major in accounting from The Ohio State University. A certified public accountant, Nelson is also a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Additionally, as part of the MedStar Executive Development Institute, she received a certificate in leadership from Georgetown University, and completed the MedStar Accelerated Leadership Program receiving a certification from The Wharton School Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Currently, Nelson serves on the boards for Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients (CRISP), Maryland’s statewide health information exchange, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association, which equips its more than 100,000 members to navigate a complex healthcare landscape. She previously served as the chairman of the board of directors for the American Red Cross Blood Services Board of the Central Ohio Region.