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Past Future Sumit Bhagra, M.D. takes over Austin and Albert Lea Mayo sites with an eye on learning from the past and preparing for the future entrance and adding an entire new wing. That opened in 2012. The latest work on the hospital wrapped up all aspects in 2021. Bhagra explained that all of this work has been able to improve the site in three priIt’s been an exciting time for Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Austin over the past demary areas: people, plant and processes. cade — filled with remodels, additions and growth. Mayo has now established a tighter alignment with the Mayo Clinic in RochesSumit Bhagra, M.D. has been there for all of it and during that time has assumed ter, improving best practices and heightening medical science across the board. the position of site lead physician for both Austin and Albert Lea sites. Bhagra took Obviously, the site has been expanded to accommodate more and when it comes over the position from Dr. Mark Ciota in August of 2021. to people, both the Austin and Albert Lea sites combined has added close to 40 It is literally a world away from where he started his medical career. providers. Bhagra started his career in India before taking the opportunity to train in internal “The people, the plant and the processes are functioning at a much higher level medicine and endocrinology with Mayo Clinic in Rochester. today than they were four, five years ago,” Bhagra said. “We were doing a great job “I’ve always been interested in metabolic health, sort of healthy living and becomat the time and at the time I think were delivering care as best as a ing a diabetes expert, as well as other hormonal disorders, seemed semi-independent hospital can, but truly getting this to be an integratlike a natural fit for me,” Bhagra said. ed medical system has helped us function at a much higher level.” But it wasn’t necessarily the path Bhagra thought he would be Bhagra expects these changes to have far-reaching implications as taking. It was an opportunity that came along at the right time that well. couldn’t be turned down. “I have some great things envisioned in the future, say over the next “They say life is lived forward and understood backwards,” Bhagra eight to 10 years and Austin and Albert Lea Mayo Clinic Health Systems said. “I took the opportunity and as I look back it all makes sense. Did is going to be in a much better spot in 2030 thanks to investments we I envision myself working in Austin or being a community provider in made in technology and the forward thinking things we’ve already Minnesota? Did I know the state I would be living in? I did not. At the done,” Bhagra said. time the opportunity was available and you grab the opportunity and While Bhagra has seen some truly monumental advances in both cityou run with it and find yourself in a place that when you look back it ies, there’s no way to talk about the last 10-15 years without mentionall makes sense. It does for me today.” ing the elephant in the room. Bhagra completed his training in 2009 and chose to stay in the COVID-19, the pandemic that’s been dominating lives for the past area. two years, has placed extremely high levels of pressure on hospitals “The Mayo Clinic Health System was a good fit for me because my Dr. Sumit Bhagra across the nation. Mayo Clinic is no different. heart really lies in community practice,” he said. “I’ve been here for During this time, the hospital system has had to deal with staffing the last 12 years or so practicing.” shortages and capacity issues as it battles the pandemic even at the In 2015, Bhagra took on the medical director role at both the Auslocal level. tin and Albert Lea sites and that led into the lead physician role that blends the posiAt the same time, Bhagra said the hospital has been able to pivot in a lot of ways. tions of CEO and medical director. “Sometimes adversity brings out the best of us and obviously COVID is a reality He’s been at that job for six months. we’ve dealt with,” he said. “But the way in which we’ve collaborated … for example The amount of change Bhagra has seen during this time in southeastern Minnesota our primary care physicians, who see patients in the clinic, have been helping out in has been staggering. Austin’s site has been defined by growth that broadens the lothe hospital because there was a need. They’ve been putting in their best efforts poscation’s capabilities. It’s built additions including the Family Birthing Unit, remodeled sible, despite all of the adversity they’ve faced.” surgical and enhanced other areas. At the same time, there have been advances coming out of the pandemic. Mayo The site has explored and installed revolutionary technologies and has been a mahas expanded its telemedicine capabilities during the pandemic, which has improved jor part of centralizing collaboration among the health system sites, as well as Mayo overall how the hospital is meeting patients where they are. Clinic in general. It’s a shift Bhagra expects to continue into the future, even if the future is a difficult And all of that has taken part in a relatively slim time frame. The first mammoth adthing to read. dition expanded the hospital on the northwest edge of the site, remodeling the front By Eric Johnson
“They say life is lived forward and understood backwards. I took the opportunity and as I look back it all makes sense.”
38 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022
