Dr. Michael Claussen grew up in Benson and has strong family roots in the community. He first pursued an engineering career, receiving a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He worked as an engineer for several years before his passion for helping others led him to shift his career to medicine. Dr. Claussen returned to UMD for medical school, drawn by its focus on rural and primary care.
Dr. Claussen’s approach to medicine is patient-centered, where he listens to his patient’s concerns, learns their medical history, and explains their condition and options. Together with his patients, he creates care plans that align with their individual goals.
His medical interests include preventative care, managing chronic conditions, cardiovascular medicine within primary care, and geriatric care. He also recognizes the importance of mental health and the role that medical management has in supporting it.
Similar to his hometown, Dr. Claussen has long-standing ties to Lake Minnewaska. His grandparents and then parents have had a cabin on the lake where he’s spent countless hours over the years.
Joining Glacial Ridge Health System in October 2024, he is thrilled to be part of a community that has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. During medical school, he spent nearly nine months with GRHS doctors as part of a rural health education program, which solidified his desire to practice medicine in the area.
Dr. Claussen appreciates the challenges and rewards of rural healthcare. After his internship and residency in Boise, Idaho, he provided rural family medicine in a nearby community for three years. When the opportunity arose to return to the Glenwood area, he chose to join GRHS because of the personal care and strong patient relationships he witnessed during his time here. He was also drawn to GRHS because it remains an independent health system dedicated to offering a broad spectrum of care to the community.
Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Claussen enjoys spending time outdoors, especially on the lake, and relaxing with his wife and their dogs.
