Staff photo by Clay Schuldt New Ulm Medical Center physicans Dr. Joan Krikava and Dr. Mario DeSouza are the guests of honor at a dual retirement party at Turner Hall. DeSouza retired at the end of Sept and Krikava retires Nov. 21. The two both worked at NUMC for over 30 years

NEW ULM — New Ulm Medical Center celebrated the retirements of two longtime physicians, Dr. Mario DeSouza and Dr. Joan Krikava, with a celebration at Turner Hall Thursday.

DeSouza retired from NUMC at the end of September after 31 years. Krikava will retire on Nov. 21 after 30 years at NUMC.

The celebration gave friends, family, co-workers and patients a chance to congratulate DeSouza and Krikava on over three decades of practicing medicine.

Krikava’s first week working at NUMC was October 1991, days before the infamous Halloween blizzard. It was a unique way to get introduced to the community.

Krikava said from the beginning of her time at NUMC, she hoped to stay a long time.

“I am not a person who looks for greener pastures,” she said. Her preferred approach is to make her current place greener. “That’s exactly what happened in New Ulm.”

Krikava came to love NUMC and the town.

Krikava planned to retire over a year ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her plans. She felt it was wrong to leave NUMC during a health emergency.

“It is a trait a lot of doctors have,” she said. “If there is a need, we will help.”

Krikava was especially involved in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. She was the third person from NUMC to receive the vaccine in December 2020. She got her booster shot the moment it was available.

“I got it right away because I am a healthcare worker over 65,” she said. “I was eligible.”

Through Nov. 21 is her last official day, Krikava will remain available for a casual call. In the case of an emergency, she is willing to help.

Krikava said won’t have to start having fun in retirement, she was already having fun. Her first trip post-retirement is Disney World.

Krikava remains a member of NUMC’s, Oak Hills board and volunteers with the Girl Scouts.

DeSouza officially retired at the end of September. He said he always enjoyed practicing medicine, but it had become time to do something different.

“I really enjoy my patients,” he said.

DeSouza served as an orthopedic surgeon at NUMC. Recently, he had to go through his own rotator cuff repair. He assured everyone, he did not do the repair himself. DeSouza said NUMC has three orthopedic surgeons and said they were all great physicians.

DeSouza said there were a few times in his career where he was the only orthopedic surgeon in New Ulm.

“When I started, the physician group in New Ulm had 25 physicians and now we have 40,” he said.

The growth at NUMC was a pleasant surprise for DeSouza. He saw new specialty physicians come to NUMC he never expected. NUMC draws in more patients and DeSouza believes the level of care is growing with it.

DeSouza said in his 31 years he witnessed many advancements in medicine. He said, today, a patient having a total joint repair could go home the next day. When he started, that patient would be there a week. Even rotator cuff repair is an outpatient procedure.

DeSouza has been officially retired for six weeks. He said it feels great but still reaches for his pager every morning. It is a hard habit to break.

DeSouza said he has set aside many projects over the years and now that he is retired, his wife expects him to complete them. He also gets to take part in the little things, like cooking, housework and gardening.