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.

Recent news

See articles and videos featuring our patients and care team members, plus watch how Allina Health experts add context to health stories in local news reports.

Allina Health surgeons to scrub in for cases in state-of-the-art operating rooms

[Allina Health Newsroom, April 02, 2026] As the Allina Health Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus expansion nears completion, surgeons are getting a look at the operating rooms they helped design and will soon use to care for patients. 

“There has been surgeon involvement in decisions across the entire process,” said Jolene Singh, MD, OR medical director at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. “They’ve had input into everything from the floors to the walls to the way that the lights are mounted to the type of lights that we've purchased.”

When it opens in late August, the Richard M. Schulze Surgical and Critical Care Center will include 30 state-of-the-art surgical suites. The new space will give patients access to some of the most advanced surgical technologies available.

“They're unlike anything you're going to find anywhere else,” Dr. Singh said. “The safety, the technology that we have, the integration — it’s unparalleled.”

Features will include:

  • Spacious operating rooms that support larger, more integrated surgical teams.
  • Advanced robotic technology that allows for safer, more precise surgeries.
  • Uniform room layouts, which will streamline scheduling.
  • Specialized surfaces, designed to reduce infection risks.
  • Improved air filtration for greater patient and surgical team comfort and safety.
  • Video and livestream capabilities for consultations and education

The operating rooms are scheduled to open to patients in late August at the Richard M. Schulze Surgical and Critical Care Center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. 

 

woman hiking experiencing symptoms of seasonal allergies

Allina Health expert shines a light on women’s health in midlife

[WCCO-TV, November 03, 2025] Dr. Indy Lane, leader of Women’s Health at Allina Health, joins Let’s Talk Women founder Katie Hjelmstad Severt to discuss the health changes women experience in midlife in a WCCO-TV interview.
November 03, 2025
Pictured is a woman lying in bed with hands over her face. A digital clock reads 3:41 a.m.

Falling back: What the end of Daylight Saving Time means for you

[WCCO Radio, November 02, 2025] The clocks have changed—but has your body? Discover how the end of Daylight Saving Time affects more than just your schedule.
November 02, 2025
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Allina Health care team members honored for lifesaving service in time of crisis

[Allina Health Newsroom, October 28, 2025] Allina Health EMS team members received the Champlin Police Lifesaving Award for their heroic response during a critical emergency on June 14, 2025.
October 28, 2025
Cheryl Wright_ RN and Alma Lofquist_ volunteer WEB

Allina Health makes gifts of time really count for volunteers

[Allina Newsroom, October 28, 2025] Volunteers want their time to be meaningful, and Allina Health has care team members working behind the scenes to make that happen. In this video, meet Cheryl Wright, RN, a patient care manager, and learn how she helps volunteers feel like part of the team.
October 28, 2025
Pictured is a woman lying in bed with hands over her face. A digital clock reads 3:41 a.m.

How daylight saving impacts your sleep

[Fox 9 News, October 28, 2025] Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 2! That means you will be setting those clocks back an hour. Andrew Stiehm, MD, a sleep medicine physician with Allina Health, explains how the time change impacts your health.
October 28, 2025
lung treatment at mercy hospital in minnesota

Do not forget about your lungs

[WCCO-TV News, October 20, 2025] Jesse Miller, MD, a pulmonologist with Allina Health explains why smoke from fires hundreds of miles away causes so many problems for your lungs.
October 20, 2025
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“The best birthday present I never expected”: Jennifer’s stroke survival story at Allina Health Mercy Hospital

[Allina Newsroom, October 16, 2025] Just hours into her 52nd birthday, Jennifer of Coon Rapids woke up to a life-changing emergency — and a powerful reminder of how expert care can turn a crisis into a second chance.
October 16, 2025
female extending right arm to hold handle of mammogram machine

Addressing the fears: Allina Health oncologist discusses breast cancer screenings

[WCCO Radio, October 15, 2025] As a breast cancer survivor and oncologist with Allina Health Cancer Institute, Karen Hendershott, MD, talks about fears that may keep women from important breast cancer screenings.
October 15, 2025
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Allina Health Coon Rapids Clinic opens new pharmacy for added patient convenience

[Allina Health Newsroom, October 14, 2025] For Kris Heckmann, the opening of Allina Health’s new pharmacy in Coon Rapids (9055 Springbrook Dr) is more than just a shorter drive—it’s a meaningful improvement in everyday care.
October 14, 2025
Sunny and Rory

Allina Health nurse helps save a life on Eden Prairie pickleball court

[WCCO-TV News, October 06, 2025] A nurse with St. Francis Regional Medical Center jumped into action when a player collapse on a pickleball court in Eden Prairie.
October 06, 2025

News releases

When we’re making news, you can find details here. Read on to learn about the innovative ways we deliver expert care for people in Minnesota and western Wisconsin and celebrate inspiring milestones.

Allina Health Buffalo Hospital exterior surgery entrance.

Allina Health Buffalo Hospital expands its robotic surgical systems, bringing greater precision to many surgeries

Now patients can benefit from physicians trained on the da Vinci Xi system without having to travel to metro hospitals.
February 23, 2026
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New Ulm Medical Center names Carisa Buegler as new president

Allina Health is pleased to share that Carisa Buegler has been named the new president of New Ulm Medical Center.
February 12, 2026
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Media contacts

Our media team is staffed by former reporters and producers. Reach out for help connecting to subject matter experts for your time-sensitive questions.

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

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