Midwest Radiology History

Midwest Radiology was formed in 2019 from the combination of professional radiology practices of St. Paul Radiology and Suburban Radiologic Consultants, organizations with histories and accomplishments that extend back nearly 100 years.

Midwest Radiology is among the largest independent radiology services providers in the nation, with more than 160 subspecialty physicians providing radiology services to more than 75 hospitals and clinics throughout the Midwest, and operating 10 outpatient imaging centers in the Twin Cities under the St. Paul Radiology and Suburban Imaging brands.

Effective April 1, 2021, the Outpatient Imaging Centers of St. Paul Radiology and Suburban Radiologic Consultants merged to form Midwest Radiology Outpatient Imaging. Midwest Radiology Outpatient Imaging, together with Suburban Imaging and Maplewood Imaging, now offers a network of 9 convenient locations throughout the Twin Cities area.

St. Paul Radiology History

Suburban Radiologic Consultants History

1930s: Dr. Gjert Kelby started Suburban Radiologic Consultants at Fairview Hospital.

1950s: Reading x-rays for Fairview and Glenwood Hills. Practice included 2 more radiologists, including Dr. Wilson Godfrey.

1960s: Asked to provide coverage for Fairview Southdale, Unity and Mercy Hospitals. Consisted of 14 radiologists and completely independent from the hospitals. Established the name Suburban Radiologic Consultants (SRC) and opened an office next to Southdale Hospital. SRC was one of the largest radiology practices in the country, providing services at five hospitals and a private office.

1970s: Growth was steady – grew to 18 radiologists.

1980s: Asked to provide coverage at Fairview Ridges in Burnsville, and Midway Hospital and Divine Redeemer in St. Paul. Fairview and St. Mary’s Hospitals merged into Riverside Medical Center and St. Mary’s radiologists became part of SRC. SRC divided into two divisions to better manage the practice:

• SRC North covered Mercy and Unity Hospitals (Allina)
• SRC South covered Fairview Hospitals
• Grew to over 40 radiologists providing coverage at eight hospitals and several clinics and offices.
• 1985-89: NETCARE—a collaboration between Fairview, North Memorial and Health Central with SRC and MRA
• Brought the first 1.5 T mobile magnet in the country to Fairview Southdale, Riverside, North Memorial and Unity
• First MR scanner in Minnesota outside of Mayo
• Allowed for shared technology until each hospital could support their own fixed magnet
• Brain child of Drs. William Chandler, Kent Molde and Ron DeCesare from SRC
• First year most interpretations were by Drs. Gustafson and Molde from South and Drs. Houston and Begich from North

1990s: Riverside merged with Fairview University, leading SRC to provide services at the University in conjunction with the University faculty. Imaging centers opened in Burnsville and Coon Rapids. The practice grew to 43 radiologists providing coverage at six area hospitals and several private imaging centers and clinics.

2000s: Opened outpatient imaging centers in Maple Grove, Southdale (Edina) and Blaine. The practice continued to grow and maintained a reputation of being one of the most stable radiology practices in the country.

2014: Opened outpatient imaging center in Northwest Coon Rapids, offering advanced imaging capabilities including a 3T MRI scanner and SPECT/CT.

2017-2018: Opened outpatient imaging centers in Fridley and a 2nd in Blaine - Blaine South. Added breast tomosynthesis (3D) services including 3D mammography and 3D breast biopsies at Blaine, Burnsville and The Breast Center of Suburban Imaging.

Today: SRC consists of more than 60 radiologists and over 300 employees. The practice provides radiology services to 16 hospitals and more than 200 clinics.