St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System

St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System is a comprehensive health system with 415 physicians that serves Northern Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. SMDC based out of Duluth, Minnesota and is composed of the Duluth Clinic, St. Mary's Medical Center, Miller-Dwan Medical Center, St. Mary's Hospital of Superior, Wisconsin and various other affiliates located around northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

SMDC is the largest employer in the region, with over 6,600 employees. SMDC is a not-for-profit organization, and in 2006, the total revenue for SMDC Health System was $743,242,000.

St. Mary's Medical Center is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers (certified by the American College of Surgeons) in the state of Minnesota, the others being St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota and St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. SMMC has also been named a Top 100 Heart Hospital for eight years in a row, and has recently been named a Top 100 Orthopedic Hospital by Solucient. SMMC is also one of the few, and the only in the region, who performs robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci robot.

The Duluth Clinic is also one of the nation's leading cancer centers. After opening the new cancer center in the state-of-the-art First Street Building, DC Cancer Center now rivals the nation's top cancer centers. The DC is also on of the few, and the only in the region, who can claim ownership of the revolutionary Cyberknife.

History
The SMDC Health System was launched on January 1, 1997, through an integration of the Duluth Clinic and St. Mary’s Medical Center. The unique combination of a large, Catholic medical center and a not-for-profit, secular multi-specialty physician practice was unique for its day — but the successful integration is now a model for similar efforts in other areas of the U.S.

Today, SMDC’s four hospitals and 17 clinics serve a rural region larger than the state of Delaware. Our 7,000 physicians and employees handle more than 400,000 patient visits each year. SMDC is the region’s largest provider of medical services, and is the exclusive provider in specialties ranging from Neurointerventional Radiology to Neonatal Intensive Care.

SMDC’s success has roots going back more than a century. It began on February 2, 1888, when the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica founded St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. Combined with Duluth’s growth as a port city, the establishment of St. Mary’s Hospital drew growing numbers of physicians to the region. In 1915, five of these physicians established the Duluth Clinic, one of the country’s first multi-specialty practice groups. Several of the founding physicians were already practicing at St. Mary’s Hospital, and became the hospital’s first section heads.

In 1934, Duluth Clinic physicians also began practicing at the newly-founded Miller Memorial Hospital, a “free and public hospital” built through a generous donation from Andreas M. Miller. In 2001, Miller-Dwan became part of SMDC Health System, further establishing SMDC as the region’s largest healthcare provider.

Today, SMDC continues to invest in the technology and talent that allows us to deliver on our promise of providing our patients world-class care close to home. In addition to actively recruiting talented physicians, nurses, and other medical staff, SMDC invests in leading-edge technology — from surgical systems like the CyberKnife and the robotic-assisted da Vinci to advanced electronic medical records — that help us meet our goal of delivering care that is patient-centered, safe, effective, efficient, timely, and equitable.

Mission, Vision and Values
The mission, vision and values of SMDC Health System reflect the heritage and continuing partnership of the Health Care Ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary’s Medical Center and the physicians of the Duluth Clinic.

Mission

SMDC Health System brings the soul and science of healing to the people we serve.

Vision

SMDC Health System will be the best place to work and the best place to receive care.

Values

Respect

We regard all persons with dignity and respect.

Innovation and Excellence

We are committed to innovation and excellence in medical care, education and research.

Teamwork

Our strength is in our people, working together.

Stewardship

We wisely and responsibly manage all resources.

Website
SMDC Home Page

Miller-Dwan Home Page

Duluth, MN Main Page

Superior, WI Home Page