Greener pastures ahead Longtime GRHS surgeon to retire at year’s end

John Bergseng, DO, FACOS, has a medical degree and 34 years of experience as a physician, but he still has a lot to learn. For example, he has no idea how to relax.

On a typical day, he rises at 4:30 or 5am (about the same time as the chickens on his hobby farm) to head for the GRHS campus in Glencoe. There, he works full-time weekdays seeing patients in the clinic, performing surgical procedures and, until very recently, managing the GRHS medical staff as vice president of medical affairs for GRHS. On weekends, he might spend another eight hours or so doing administrative work in his office and visiting patients who are in the hospital.

Indeed, Dr. Bergseng is known as much for his dedication and long hours as he is for his clinical skills and compassion. He’ll finally have time to kick back when he retires at the end of December.

“I’m looking forward to taking things down a notch or two or ten,” he says with a smile.

Bouncing around

Dr. Bergseng grew up in Edina. He earned his undergraduate degree – and played basketball – at Arizona State University. Next came a chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, and a medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines University.

Young Dr. Bergseng first came to Glencoe in 1982 to practice family medicine and obstetrics with Clark Truesdale, MD. Deciding he wanted to pursue further training, Dr. Bergseng moved to Denver in 1983 and then back to Des Moines for residencies in family medicine and general surgery. “I finally settled on general surgery because it’s challenging and presents something new every day,” he says.

Putting down roots in Glencoe

Working with Dr. Truesdale sparked Dr. Bergseng’s interest in returning to Glencoe someday. Among the most vivid memories of his long career is delivering Glencoe’s New Year’s baby in 1983.

Glencoe is also where Dr. Bergseng met his wife, Pat, who was a nurse at GRHS in the 1980s. Another GRHS employee at that time attempted to set the pair up by calling Dr. Bergseng, who was back in Iowa completing his residency. “I wanted nothing to do with a blind date,” Dr. Bergseng recalls, “but I was interested in meeting Pat.”

Retirement Open House

4 - 7 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 29 Glencoe City Center, 1107 – 11th St. East Cake and other refreshments will be served. Share a memory or wish Dr. Bergseng well in retirement by adding a note and your name to his online guestbook. Visit grhsonline.org anytime before Dec. 31.

Dr. Bergseng returned to Glencoe as a general surgeon in 1988 and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, the Bergsengs have been married 26 years and have two children: Ryan, who attends the University of Minnesota and flies for the Minnesota Army National Guard, and Marissa, who attends South Dakota State University.

Grateful to colleagues and patients

Reflecting on his long career, Dr. Bergseng feels blessed to have worked with the GRHS medical staff, senior management team, and president and CEO Jon Braband. “The community should be confident of GRHS’ quality and personal care,” he says.

But it’s Dr. Bergseng’s many patients who’ve made a lasting impact. “He’s had the privilege of knowing and caring for entire families,” says Pat. “He was always humble, always listened to his patients and always made time for them.”

The pasture beckons

Pat says she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and, by the way, she could use another pair of hands to help with chores. At last count, their “household” included two horses, two dogs, two chickens, a rabbit and six barn cats. “I don’t ride the horses,” Dr. Bergseng clarifies. “I just serve as their water boy.”

A 12-year-old terrier mix named Megan Liz is Dr. Bergseng’s other constant companion. “Walking the dog is my best avocation along with feeding the birds and deer,” he says. His other interests include hiking, playing piano, traveling and teaching adult Sunday school.

In retirement, the Bergsengs will stay active with their church and community, travel with family and friends, and perhaps undertake medical volunteer work.

“I’m open to maybe teaching at a college or medical school as well,” Dr. Bergseng says. “And Pat is working on a formidable ‘honey-do’ list.”