From 1980 to 2016 David Lee Elson served as chief or co-chief of the Medical Oncology section, Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine.
SIOUX FALLS, SD, July 18, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Dave Lee Elson, MD, FACP with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Elson celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in the field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Prior to his retirement, Dr. Elson enjoyed a successful career in Medical Oncology and higher education. From 1980 to 2016 he served as chief or co-chief of the Medical Oncology section, Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. He established the first medical oncology clinic at the R. C. Johnson VA Medical Center, Sioux Falls, and provided professional consultation services from 1980 to 1994. He helped establish the accredited cancer programs at Sioux Valley Hospital (now Sanford USD Medical Center) and McKennan Hospital (now Avera McKennan University Health Center), serving on both hospitals' cancer committees, participating in tumor board conferences, and serving for several years as the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Liaison Associate for Sioux Valley Hospital. He was active in clinical cancer research, and served on the combined institutional review board. He was active in developing outreach medical oncology clinics, to serve elderly and rural patients living distant from Sioux Falls. For more than 30 years, he staffed clinics in Worthington, Luverne, and Pipestone, MN and Brookings, SD, and for shorter durations in Hendricks and Ivanhoe, MN, Watertown, SD, and Rock Valley and Sioux Center, Iowa. He and his oncology nurse associate of 35 years, Linda Harding RN, OCN, traveled over 250,000 miles in serving outreach sites. Later in his career he served as a regional medical information officer for Avera McKennan, assisting in the development and implementation of an electronic medical record system. He also served as the first Medical Oncology Clinical Director in establishing the Avera Health System Cancer Service Line. He currently serves on the Avera McKennan Foundation Board of Directors.
In addition to clinical services, Dr. Elson was dedicated to medical education. At the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, he was Assistant Professor (Internal Medicine) from 1980-1986, Associate Professor from 1986-2013, and Professor from 2013-2016, at which point he was appointed Professor Emeritus. For twenty years, he coordinated a four-week elective rotation for senior medical students, the Internal Medicine Board Supplement Course. He served on numerous faculty committees, including two terms on the Faculty Council. He organized and helped present monthly classes for residents and students regarding various Medical Oncology topics. He especially enjoyed serving intermittently as attending physician on the VA Internal Medicine inpatient ward rotations, and supervising residents and students on Medical Oncology elective rotations.
Dr. Elson attended Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, graduating cum laude with a B. A. in biology and chemistry.
In 1975, he was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Univ. of Iowa. He subsequently completed internal medicine residency training and a medical oncology fellowship, graduating in 1980 from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. He is grateful for the mentorship he received there from Drs. Robert Livingston, Charles Coltman and Daniel D. Von Hoff. He was a V. W. and Cornelia R. Scarborough Foundation fellow, sponsored by the Texas division, American Cancer Society.
Dr. Elson was active in professional organizations, and is a lifetime member of the South Dakota State Medical Association. He participated for several years on the Commission for Scientific Medicine. He was also very active with the South Dakota Chapter, American College of Physicians. He participated on multiple chapter committees and in many annual meeting programs. He served as Governor of the South Dakota Chapter from 2004 to 2008. He was honored to receive the ACP Laureate Award in 2010, and to be elected to the South Dakota Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.
Civically, Dr. Elson was active with the American Cancer Society, serving as president of the South Dakota Division from 1985 to 1987, and from 1994 to 1995. For several years he chaired the Professional Education committee. He was honored as an ACS "Champion Against Cancer" recipient.
Dr. Elson was born October 31, 1950 in Leon, Iowa to mother Nancy Ann Elson, and father Charles Lee Elson. In 1975 he married Julie Ann, and they are the proud parents of Dr. Andrew Charles Elson, and Michael David Elson. They have two grandsons, Charlie and Leo, and a new granddaughter, Adelie Marie. Dr. Elson enjoys attending the Downtown Rotary Club as a song leader, participating in Saint Mary Parish choirs, and with the Christmas at the (St. Joseph) Cathedral chorus. He also enjoys activities such as biking, boating, pickleball, and traveling. He is most grateful for 44 wonderful years with Julie.
In recognition of outstanding contributions his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Dr. Elson has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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