After more than 35 years of providing care to patients in the Albert Lea and New Richland areas, Dewayne Birkhofer, M.D. in family medicine, is retiring on May 27.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin thanks Birkhofer for his years of service to all patients and wishes him well in his future endeavors, according to a press release. To honor Birkhofer, a public retirement reception will be from 4 to 6 p.m. next Wednesday at City Hall, 203 Broadway Ave. N. in New Richland.