Dawn Ellison, MD
Dr. Dawn Ellison has dedicated her medical career to emergency medicine, providing critical care to patients in their most urgent times of need. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1990, she has over three decades of experience in the field.
Beyond the emergency room, Dr. Ellison is a passionate advocate for healthcare transformation. As the President and Founder of Influencing Healthcare, LLC, established in 2008, she leverages her leadership and clinical experience to foster collaborative healthcare cultures through coaching, workshops, and retreats. Her approach centers on communication, compassion, community, and connection.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ellison played a pivotal role in promoting well-being among healthcare professionals. Serving as the leader of engagement and well-being in a large healthcare organization, she collaborated to create accessible resources to support her colleagues during these challenging times. She also conducted retreats focused on post-traumatic growth, relationship building, and decision-making for healthcare units recovering from the pandemic.
Dr. Ellison is an ABEM-certified Emergency Medicine physician, a Certified Stress Management and Resilience Trainer, a Certified Professional Coach, and a Mental Fitness Coach. She is also a global steward of the Art of Hosting, utilizing these skills to create inclusive spaces for robust conversations.
Her advocacy work extends to the Minnesota Medical Association, where she served on a physician well-being task force that guided legislative changes in Minnesota, was a champion for Communication and Optimal Resolutions (CANDOR) which resulted in legislative wins for patient safety and physician well-being and lobbied the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice to revise their attestations to remove stigma involved with mental health treatment.
Dr. Ellison's multifaceted career reflects her unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery and fostering well-being among both patients and healthcare professionals.