David Nickelson

David Nickelson is a director in BRG’s AI & Decision Intelligence practice, where he advises healthcare organizations on artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, governance program design, and responsible AI deployment. He brings over twenty years of experience architecting and delivering AI transformation, governance frameworks, and advisory services for Fortune 500 health systems, national payers, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Nickelson holds a PsyD, JD, and IAPP AI Governance Professional (AIGP) certification and operates at the intersection of technology, law, and human behavior. His combination of behavioral science, law and regulation, and deep technical domain and delivery expertise is the foundation of his differentiated strategy, adoption, and governance approaches.

Dr. Nickelson develops and delivers AI governance strategies that manage algorithmic risk, satisfy emerging regulatory requirements (EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, CMS clinical AI guidance), and leverage behavioral science to drive adoption, absorption, and value delivery at scale.

His representative engagements include:

• Developing and delivering AI-enabled “digital front door” strategy for a large regional health system, aligning clinical, information technology, and consumer experience leadership around a shared AI governance and deployment roadmap.
• Led development and delivery of regulated medical device software, patient and provider mobile applications, and AI-enabled BYOD management strategy for Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer.
• Developed and delivered AI and machine learning strategic recommendations to a global pharmaceutical manufacturer on voice recognition, intellectual property, and algorithmic risk, prompting general counsel to pursue new patent protections and AI governance policy.