HealthPartners Institute creates one of largest medical research
and education centers in the region

Institute combines HealthPartners, Park Nicollet education and research

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The boards of directors for HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research and Park Nicollet Institute have approved combining the two institutes to create a single education and research organization named HealthPartners Institute. The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2016 – three years after HealthPartners and Park Nicollet combined.

The new HealthPartners Institute will be one of the largest medical research and education centers in the region and will include:

• About 310 full-time employees
• 170 full-time residents
• 300+ clinical educators/faculty
• 200+ clinician and staff researchers
• 450+ active research studies
• 250 additional studies through the Metro Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium

"Combining our institutes takes us to the next level by fueling cutting-edge research and education," said Steve Connelly, MD, President, HealthPartners Institute and Co-Executive Medical Director, HealthPartners. "Our nationally-recognized programs and the hundreds of studies our teams are working on are helping to transform health care for those we serve here in Minnesota and across the nation."

Part of national research networks

HealthPartners Institute conducts health research in collaboration with investigators across the nation. Combining two successful research groups creates a center with vast and varied areas of research including neurosciences, critical care, dental and oral health, maternal and child health, chronic disease, cancer, clinical research, health economics, mental health, Struthers Parkinson Center and Park Nicollet International Diabetes Center. In addition, it participates in nine national research networks including the Health Care Systems Research Network, the Vaccine Safety Datalink, the Cancer Research Network and the Mental Health Research Network.

Medical education

HealthPartners Institute’s Office of Health Professional Education supports the educational and administrative activities of the residents, fellows, medical students, nurse practitioners and physician assistant trainees who rotate through Regions Hospital, Methodist Hospital and HealthPartners and Park Nicollet clinics. Each year, more than 500 residents and 1200 students receive training at Regions Hospital, while an additional 240 trainees receive training at Methodist Hospital and Park Nicollet clinics.

This combination also brings the strengths of an accredited Continuing Medical Education program to health professionals across the regions while it provides an infrastructure to support HealthPartners clinical quality and patient experience goals.