In his role, Berthelsen said he was the “overall leader” of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, representing 420 physicians in the healthcare system, which he said was his favorite aspect of the job.
Dr. Spencer Berthelsen[/caption]“We have a very active representative form of governance that meets every week,” he said. “Because of that the lead physician is able to speak for all of us with one voice.”
Berthelsen, 65, was born in Minneapolis and his family moved to Houston when he was 4 years old. He graduated from Rice University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, before completing his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, according to a statement from Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.
With the recommendation of a family friend, he started his work with the healthcare system in 1980 at the clinic’s former Quail Valley location in Missouri City. He continued to practice medicine at the Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center in Sugar Land.
Berthelsen said he will miss interacting with patients, especially those whom he has treated for many years.
“These patients that I’ve had for the last several decades are patients that are particularly attached to me and I’m attached to them,” he said, calling retirement a “bittersweet experience.”
But Berthelsen said he wanted to take advantage of what he called the “golden decade” between 65 and 75 years old. He also plans to offer his expertise as a special advisor to the clinic board when needed.
Dr. Tony Lin[/caption]Dr. Tony Lin, chairman of the board of managers, will succeed Berthelsen. Lin has been with the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic for about 24 years. Lin said he was sad to see his predecessor go but that the clinic is in good shape because of him.
“That bond will still be there and we’ll be able to access his knowledge and experience any time,” Lin said.
During Berthelsen's tenure, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic was named the country’s first accountable care organization by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. It invested $20 million in an electronic medical records system, and another $250 million in new or remodeled clinics, according to the statement. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has 21 locations in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Katy, Houston, Pearland, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Pasadena and Shenandoah.
Berthelsen said he and his colleagues have high hopes for the future of Kelsey-Seybold.
“I’m very proud of what’s happened over the last 20 years or so,” he said. “We’re very optimistic about the future of medicine and what we’ll be able to do for patients.”
