Ivo Davis Nelson

Ivo Davis Nelson was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, mentor, entrepreneur, author, and one of the foundational architects of the modern healthcare information technology industry. Throughout his life, Ivo left an extraordinary impact not only on healthcare and business, but on the countless people fortunate enough to know, learn from, and be loved by him.

Born in Waco, Texas, to Ivo Amazon Nelson, Jr. and Dolores Davis Nelson, Ivo was the middle child lovingly sandwiched between his two sisters, Laura and Emily, who called him Dave. From an early age, he possessed the adventurous spirit, independence, humor, and curiosity that would define so much of his life.

In high school he made pizza, drove the neighborhood ice cream truck and taught himself to play the guitar. After high school, Ivo worked with MHMR in Waco, then as a handyman in the Texas Hill Country before spending several years being what he often described as "footloose and fancy free," traveling west and working construction jobs along the way. Eventually, he returned home to attend Baylor University, where he earned his business degree. To earn money while in school, he taught Active Listening classes to parents at a city social services organization. Drawn to Baylor's entrepreneurial program, he discovered a passion for innovation, leadership, and business-building that would shape the course of his life. Years later, he would return to Baylor not only as a successful entrepreneur, but also as a mentor and teacher to future business leaders.

Ivo began his career and family in Dallas. He later moved to Houston, where he met the love of his life, Sally, who was the CFO at Texas Children's Hospital. Together they managed a work/life balance, centered on family, laughter, resilience, generosity, and love. They raised three wonderful children, Erik, Ashley and Azi, who remained the center of Ivo's world throughout his life.

Professionally, Ivo helped shape the evolution of healthcare technology and consulting over a career spanning more than five decades. He was respected not only for his pioneering business accomplishments, but for the integrity, optimism, humility, and humanity with which he led.

Ivo began his healthcare technology career with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in the early 1970s before joining Perot Systems, where he helped launch the Healthcare division and grew it into a $50 million business within three years. In 1992, he founded Insource Management Group (IMG), later renamed Healthlink, building it into one of the world's leading healthcare information systems consulting firms. Following IBM's acquisition of Healthlink in 2005, Ivo went on to lead IBM's Global Healthcare Provider business, helping to shape healthcare strategy and innovation efforts around the world.

In 2009, Ivo co-founded Encore Health Resources, which quickly became one of the most respected advisory and consulting firms in healthcare IT. Under his leadership, Encore was recognized as one of Modern Healthcare's "Best Places to Work in Healthcare." Through Encore and later ventures including Next Wave Health and Next Wave Connect, he continued investing in emerging companies, mentoring entrepreneurs, and championing innovation across the healthcare ecosystem.

Beyond his business accomplishments, Ivo dedicated his life to advancing the healthcare leadership community itself. He was a passionate supporter, mentor, and trusted voice within the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and the broader digital health ecosystem. He served on influential boards and advisory groups throughout his career and played an important role in strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, technology leaders, and industry innovators.

Colleagues across the industry knew him as someone who opened doors for others, invested deeply in relationships, and genuinely believed leadership was about lifting people up. He challenged people to think bigger, dream further, and refuse to settle for comfort or complacency.

Ivo was also the author of The 10 Principles of a Love-Based Culture, a passion project that reflected the philosophy he lived every day: that people come first, relationships matter most, and businesses thrive when built on trust, compassion, and purpose. His words, "We've got a lot of love to do," became more than a closing line; they became a reflection of the way he lived his life.

His contributions earned some of the healthcare technology industry's highest honors, including the CHIME Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the HIMSS Leadership Award, recognition as one of the HIMSS "50 in 50" most influential contributors in healthcare IT history, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Houston and Gulf Coast Region, the John E. Gall, Jr. CIO Lifetime Achievement Award (CHIME), and the inaugural John P. Glaser Health Informatics Innovator Award.

Yet of all the titles Ivo held throughout his life, his favorite was "Bebo," the name lovingly given to him by his grandchildren, Aiden, Dolores, and Calvin Hodges, along with the many great-nieces and great-nephews who filled his life with joy.

For the last 15 years, Sunset Lake in Huntsville, Texas, affectionately known by family and friends as "The Compound", became his true happy place. There, surrounded by family and friends, Ivo created the kind of home that reflected who he was at his core: welcoming, joyful, thoughtful, loud, loving, and full of life. Whether telling stories, mentoring the next generation, traveling, golfing, cooking best ribs or salmon, or simply gathering people together, he never stopped investing in the people around him. Even in retirement, Ivo never truly slowed down.

To many, however, Ivo's greatest legacy was not the companies he built or the accolades he received, but the people he inspired and the family he loved so deeply.

Ivo is survived by his beloved wife, Sally Ingalls Nelson; daughters Ashley Nelson Hodges and her husband Ryan, and Azi Nelson; sisters Laura Caperton and her husband Tom, and Emily Evans; sister-in-law Rosie Ingalls and her husband Gary; grandchildren Aiden, Dolores, and Calvin Hodges; his much loved dog and singing partner, Happy and countless nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, colleagues, mentees, and loved ones whose lives were forever changed by his wisdom, generosity, humor, and heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivo A. Nelson ("Gramps") and Dolores Nelson ("HooHoo"); his beloved son, Ivo Erik Nelson; his brother-in-law, Butch Evans and his three Labradors Duke, DJ and Hunter.

Ivo Nelson leaves behind a profound and lasting imprint on healthcare, business, leadership, family, and friendship. But those who knew him best will remember something even greater than his accomplishments: the way he made people feel seen, challenged, encouraged, supported, and loved.

As he so often reminded others: "We've got a lot of love to do."