When orthopedic surgeon Dr. Benjamin Gulli walked into Lakewood Health System nearly six years ago, he figured he’d stay for a year or two.
Instead, he found something he wasn’t expecting.
He found a place where medical providers collaborate, staff genuinely care about one another, and patients appreciate receiving high-quality orthopedic care close to home.
Now, as he prepares to retire this fall from his role with Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) and Lakewood Health System, Dr. Gulli leaves with an appreciation for the people who made those six years some of the most rewarding of his career.
To show his appreciation, Dr. Gulli surprised Lakewood staff with pizzas and salad from Tower Pizza this past week — a heartfelt thank you to the team he says made coming to Staples one of the highlights of his medical career.
“I thought I’d do this for a year or two,” Dr. Gulli said with a smile in between bites of pizza and staff stopping by to wish him well. “But I liked it so much up here that I just kept coming. Sometimes I wonder why I’m quitting. If I were 10 or 15 years younger, I’d stay longer.”
Growing up in San Francisco, Dr. Benjamin Gulli’s path eventually led him to Minnesota, where he completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Minnesota.
Fast forward to spending decades practicing orthopedic surgery in the Twin Cities, Dr. Gulli came to Lakewood looking for a slower pace after feeling burned out by the complexity of practicing in a large metro healthcare system. What he discovered in Staples reminded him why he became a physician in the first place.
“It was kind of like what practice was like when I first started. Everybody knows everybody. People work together. There’s collaboration. It feels personal.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Gulli specialized in treating a wide range of orthopedic conditions, including hip, knee and shoulder problems, arthritis, fractures and joint replacement surgery. His extensive training allowed him to care for many different orthopedic needs, something that proved especially valuable in a rural healthcare setting at Lakewood.
He credits the successful partnership between TCO and Lakewood with bringing comprehensive orthopedic care closer to home for patients throughout the region.
“We have a really good foundation here [in Staples]. There’s very little that we can’t handle. And when we do need a subspecialist, we know exactly where to send our patients,” he said.
What impressed Dr. Gulli most though wasn’t the technology or the facilities.
It was the people.
“The medical providers here are the best I’ve ever worked with — anywhere. In larger systems, people often refer patients to multiple specialists. Here, they take care of so much themselves, and they do an outstanding job.”
He was equally complimentary of Lakewood’s nursing staff, operating room team, therapists and support staff, many of whom helped build Lakewood’s joint replacement program from the ground up.
“Everyone cared. Everyone wanted to do a good job. That’s what makes this place special.”
He also praised Lakewood’s culture and leadership.
“Not everybody is perfect, but everybody cares. From the leadership all the way through the organization, you can tell people genuinely care about each other, about the patients and about doing what’s right.”
And for Dr. Gulli, the greatest reward has always been the patients.
“The patients are so appreciative up here. They want quality orthopedic care close to home. They don’t want to drive to St. Cloud or Fargo if they don’t have to. I really felt like I was doing something worthwhile.”
Gretta Trantina, Lakewood’s Operating Room and Sterile Processing Manager, said Dr. Gulli’s commitment to patients and Lakewood staff made a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to work beside him.
“What I will remember most is his commitment to putting his patients first. Even when his schedule was limited, he willingly added operating room days outside of his regular rotation so patients could receive the surgical care they needed sooner. His dedication to providing the very best care was always evident,” Trantina shared.
She said his influence reached far beyond the operating room, too.
“As a member of the operating room team, I would praise his exceptional surgical skills, his ability to lighten the atmosphere with his humor and stories, and his quiet yet effective way of encouraging everyone around him to perform at their very best,” Trantina said, adding, “His professionalism and commitment to excellence have left a lasting impact on our team, and he will be greatly missed.”
While retirement means stepping away from surgery, Dr. Gulli, 65, isn’t slowing down. He plans to spend more time traveling with his wife, visiting family, skiing, mountain biking, ballroom dancing and continuing his work as a ski instructor.
As he reflects on nearly four decades in orthopedic surgery, including helping build Twin Cities Orthopedics from its earliest years into one of the nation’s largest orthopedic groups, it’s the relationships at Lakewood that stand out most.
“What I’ll miss the most are the people — the staff and the patients. That’s what has made these six years so meaningful.”
Lakewood President & CEO Lisa Bjerga shared that Dr. Gulli was instrumental in building the TCO–Lakewood partnership and “the strong orthopedic program we have today.”
“We are grateful for the six years he cared for our patients and only wish he had found Lakewood earlier in his career! His impact on our patients, staff and organization will be lasting, and we wish him all the best in retirement,” Bjerga said.
Congratulations, Dr. Gulli, on your retirement, and thank you for making a lasting difference in the lives of so many!