Imelda Dacones, MD

Imelda Dacones, MD, is the president of the Washington Optum Care market with oversight of The Everett Clinic, The Polyclinic and the Optum Care Network of Washington. 

As a nationally recognized leader in driving value-based care innovation, Dr. Dacones is a long-time advocate of the Quadruple Aim. She also practiced as a primary care doctor and hospital-based internist for more than 22 years.

Dr. Dacones has been recognized many times as a doctor and leader. In 2020, she was named one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Leaders. In 2019, she received Portland Business Journal’s Health Care Leadership Award.

Prior to this role, Dr. Dacones served as president and chief executive officer of Northwest Permanente (NWP) and chair of the National Permanente Executive Committee.

In these roles, she had remarkable success in modernizing business functions, growing the KPNW footprint, improving margins, driving innovation, and fostering clinician and team member engagement. 

Dr. Dacones received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Chicago, where she also completed her internship and residency training in internal medicine.