Dr. Scott Rysdahl, left, and Dr. Roger Lindholm stand together at New Ulm Medical Center. Both physicians have served the community for more than 35 years, building long-term practices shaped by continuity, medical education and patient relationships. Photo by Kathy Green

NEW ULM – New Ulm Medical Center is recognizing two of its longest�’serving physicians, Dr. Roger Lindholm and Dr. Scott Rysdahl, each of whom has practiced in New Ulm for more than 35 years.

Both physicians came to New Ulm early in their careers and built long-term practices shaped by continuity, medical education and community relationships.

Dr. Lindholm grew up in Minnesota and completed his medical training with an interest in family medicine and obstetrics. 

Before arriving in New Ulm in 1990, he and his wife spent four months at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya during a meningitis epidemic. 

He said the experience reinforced his commitment to primary care and serving communities where long-term relationships are central to the work. He said his motivation has remained steady throughout his career. 

“As a physician my role is to promote and nurture well�’being for my patients. I couldn’t ask for a better job description,” he said. “It’s a gift to have known many of my patients for over 3 decades.”

Lindholm practiced obstetrics until 2020 and taught third�’year medical students for nearly 30 years through the University of Minnesota’s Rural Physician Associate Program. 

“For about 3 decades I taught 3rd�’year medical students,” he said. “Since ‘go live’ in September of 2005, I have been developing tools for physician quality and efficiency within our electronic medical record.” 

His ability to speak Spanish has shaped his patient panel. 

“I speak Spanish, so I have a high percentage of Latino patients and families within my practice,” he said.

He said recent months have been especially difficult for many of those patients. 

“They are not ‘dangerous criminals,’ but quality people who love their families and want to work without government interference,” he said. “They are resilient, strengthened by the deep love and generosity in their hearts.”

Lindholm said confidentiality prevents him from sharing specific stories, but he said the emotional impact of long-term care is significant. 

“I cherish the times my patients persevered through significant emotional and/or physical challenges, coming through on the other side to a renewed sense of well�’being,” he said. “Through those experiences I was honored to be trusted and to share in their journeys.”

He credits early mentors for shaping the culture he values. 

“When I joined the group in 1991 I looked to Dan Groebner and Marc Burkhart to be my mentors,” he said. “It seems over time their humility, curiosity and ‘good for all’ aspirations became the personality of the group.” 

Lindholm said the teamwork at NUMC is one of the things he is most proud of. 

“When physicians visit, they want to become part of this healthy culture of teamwork,” he said. “I don’t know of a higher quality medical facility in a town this size nationwide.” 

His advice to younger physicians reflects the values he has practiced. 

“Aspire for humility and curiosity,” he said. “Humility makes you teachable. Curiosity about someone’s symptoms leads to a more accurate diagnosis, and curiosity about someone’s experience builds deeper empathy.”

Dr. Rysdahl grew up in Clarkfield, Minnesota. He learned about New Ulm through Dr. Ken Dirlam, who encouraged him to consider practicing in the community. 

He and his family moved to New Ulm more than 35 years ago. He said the town’s sense of connection was clear from the beginning. He recalled a storm that brought down a tree in a neighbor’s yard. 

“Within minutes, neighbors came with chainsaws and helped clean it up,” he said. 

He said that early experience reflected the kind of community he would come to serve as a physician.

One of his strongest memories from his early years at NUMC is the birth of his daughter, Kaye. 

“We had over 20 hospital staff looking into the nursery clapping,” he said. “Then I went to the clinic and all the nurses began clapping.” 

He said patients often asked about his daughter before he could ask about their health. 

“The people at the clinic and hospital are like family, as are the patients I have had the opportunity to serve.” 

Rysdahl said the older physicians who were practicing when he arrived set a standard he tried to follow. 

“The older doctors treated their patients as friends, not numbers,” he said. “It was a standard I have tried to continue.”

He has also taught family practice residents and said he hopes they carry forward the values of rural medicine. 

“I hope I have been able to inspire them to take every opportunity to treat patients like family,” he said. Rysdahl said he has been impressed with the new generation of providers joining NUMC. 

“They are good,” he said. “Our group of providers really support each other. We get a chance to help others through tough times and rejoice with them during the good times.”

When asked about retirement, he said the decision is not simple. 

Both physicians came to New Ulm early in their careers and stayed because of the relationships they formed with patients, colleagues and the wider community. 

Their careers have included teaching, adapting to major changes in medical technology and supporting patients through personal and community challenges. 

After more than 35 years each at New Ulm Medical Center, both physicians said the relationships they formed have been the defining part of their work.

“People ask when I am going to retire, and I honestly don’t know,” Rysdahl said. “It is hard to leave ‘family’ behind.”