Allina Health Newsroom

This is where we share helpful health information, news about our hospitals and clinics and media reports featuring Allina Health team members as subject matter experts. You can also access our latest news releases and media contacts.

Baby Satiago helps Midwest Fetal Care Center highlight its 100th in utero fetoscopic spina bifida surgery

[KSTP TV, September 18, 2024] Three-month-old Santiago Portillo had his first surgery while he was still in his mother’s womb. It was the 100th surgery of its kind for the doctors at Midwest Fetal Care Center, a collaboration between Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota.

An ultrasound at 18 weeks gestation showed Santiago had spina bifida, a condition affecting the spine. Santiago had no skin covering his lower back, which would have left his spine, nerves, muscles and bones exposed. Doctors told Santiago’s family the skin would likely never grow to cover that area, and they needed to operate on him while he was still in his mother’s uterus to close that area of his back and give him the best chance for success after birth. Seven weeks later, doctors prepared to perform the operation.

Watch KSTP-TV’s story to follow the journey.


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[CCX Media, August 30, 2024]   The Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Rolling Twins just won the International Wheelchair Softball World Series. Now, the world champs say their next challenge has already started.
August 30, 2024
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[KSTP-TV News, August 28, 2024]   The Minnesota State Fair is one of the highlights of the year for many people, and organizers didn’t want to leave out the littlest Minnesotans. So, they brought the spirit of the fair to the NICU at The Mother Baby Center at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
August 28, 2024
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[WCCO-TV, August 26, 2024]   Every year, there is someone out there questioning if you can be “healthy” at the Minnesota State Fair. WCCO-TV invited Allina Health family physician Josh Scheck, MD to help answer that question.
August 26, 2024
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[KEYC-TV, August 22, 2024]   Allina Health New Ulm Medical Center awarded scholarships totaling $175,000 to 35 area college students, thanks to the Allina Health Foundation. KEYC-TV helped highlight some of the scholarship recipients on its morning newscast.
August 22, 2024
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[WCCO Radio, August 20, 2024]   Allison Golnik, MD, MPH an integrative pediatrician with Allina Health’s Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, was on WCCO Radio to talk about baby-led weaning.
August 20, 2024
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  KARE 11 spoke to Allina Health pharmacy director Mckaya Kastner, who explained the types of drugs that come become cheaper in 2026 due to price negotiations.
August 15, 2024
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[Fox 9 News, August 15, 2024]   Menopause is something every woman can expect to experience, yet it’s a topic that’s usually not discussed. Allina Health's vice president of women's health, Indy Lane, MD, sat down for an interview with Fox 9 News to help change that.
August 15, 2024
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[KARE11 News, August 13, 2024]   Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy tore his meniscus during a preseason game. Allina Health orthopedic surgeon Ryan Fader, MD explains what a meniscus is and how long it takes to recover from a surgery to repair it.
August 13, 2024
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[Allina Health Newsroom, August 12, 2024]   Guided by Allina Health leadership and fueled by generous philanthropic support, a new era of care is underway at the Center for Mental Health & Addiction at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus in Fridley.
August 12, 2024
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Allina Health news media contacts

Jennifer Steingas
Manager Public and Media Relations
jennifer.steingas@allina.com
Voice/Text: 612-388-1895

Erika Rasmussen
Communications Consultant Senior
erika.rasmussen@allina.com
Voice/text: 708-214-8464