Founder of the Olmsted Medical Center dead at 92
(THE MED CITY BEAT) - Dr. Hal Wente, the founder of the Olmsted Medical Center, died this weekend at the age of 92.
"Dr. Wente has been an inspiration to all of us as caregivers at Olmsted Medical Center over the years," said Olmsted Medical Center CEO Tim Weir, in a statement released Monday morning to the Med City Beat.
“We at OMC are saddened to hear of Dr. Wente’s passing, but we celebrate with his family his many contributions in providing personalized, convenient, quality healthcare in southeast Minnesota and his life-long dedication to serving others.”
Wente opened his first clinic in downtown Rochester in July 1949. Since then, OMC has grown to more than 1,000 health care professionals at 18 locations in southeast Minnesota.
"Dr. Wente set an extraordinary example for all of us," said Kathryn Lombardo, president of the Olmsted Medical Center. "He believed that the patient comes first, and he was very proud of OMC's progress over the years."
Further information regarding Dr. Wente’s passing, including a formal obituary and any related memorial arrangements, will be provided in the coming days.
Each year, OMC sees 250,000 patients, performs 3,000 major surgical operations and delivers nearly 1,000 babies, according to the organization's website.
Advertisement
(Cover graphic: Olmsted Medical Center)
