A longtime local medical fixture is hanging up the stethoscope.

After 30 years of providing health care to area residents, Michael Gregg, M.D., family medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Grand Meadow, is retiring on Friday, March 29. Dr. Gregg will be honored at a retirement open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at the Grand Meadow Community Center.

“Dr. Gregg has provided outstanding service to many families throughout the Grand Meadow area,” says Brenda Heimer, regional nurse manager at Mayo Clinic Health System — Albert Lea and Austin. “We are so grateful for all Dr. Gregg has accomplished over his 30 years as a physician and as part of our care team at Mayo Clinic Health System — Albert Lea and Austin. We hope everyone will come out and support Dr. Gregg during his retirement open house.”

After assessing how to best care for the Grand Meadow area following Dr. Gregg’s retirement, hospital officials decided to close Grand Meadow Clinic effective Friday, March 29. Mayo Clinic Health System officials say the decision was not made lightly and several factors influenced the move, including an inability to recruit a replacement physician and the availability of health care facilities within a few miles of Grand Meadow.

“We know this will change where patients receive their care, but are confident they will receive the same high level of care at one of our nearby locations,” says Tammy Kritzer, vice president of operations. “There are several options for continued care through Mayo Clinic Health System in Southern Minnesota in Albert Lea and Austin, and at one of our regional locations in Adams, Alden, Blooming Prairie, Kiester, LeRoy, New Richland and Wells, Minnesota or in Lake Mills, Iowa, where patient medical records are available at any location through the new Electronic Medical Record (EMR.)”