WinnMed General Surgery Specialty Expands

DECORAH -- WinnMed is pleased to welcome Erik Brink, D.O., FACOS, FACS to the medical practice. Dr. Brink is a board-certified general surgeon who will provide full-time surgical and clinical care in Decorah beginning June 2025. He joins Caroline Schwickerath, D.O., FACOS, CWSP who has practiced in Decorah since 2016. Dr. Brink received his undergraduate degree from Warner Pacific College in Portland, OR and his osteopathic medicine degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, MO. He completed his general surgery internship and residency through Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in York, PA. As a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve and member of the Medical Corps, Dr. Brink provided surgical care and leadership in multiple locations throughout the world for over 16 years before recently settling in Mason City, Iowa. He and his wife, Kari, have three young adult sons and they have moved to Decorah to settle into their new phase of life. Dr. Brink says, "My journey in caring for people is really more of a calling than a profession. It began in elementary school with a classmate having a seizure and the panic which ensued by teachers and classmates. Somehow, as an eight-year-old boy, I knew to protect his head and hold him until help arrived. That has been the summation of my career in medicine." He adds, "I have spent sixteen years as a Navy surgeon, performing surgery on aircraft carriers, overseas in Japan and Italy, and in Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq. My military experience honed my skills in the art of lifesaving surgery and trauma, as well as laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. Through my experiences, I have learned flexibility and dexterity, routinely thinking 'outside the box.'" General surgeons perform consultation and surgery for a broad range of medical conditions and body systems. When possible, surgeons use minimally invasive surgery (sometimes called laparoscopic surgery). For patients, minimally invasive surgery means less trauma to the body, less blood loss, smaller surgical scars, and less need for pain medication. Patients leave the hospital sooner after minimally invasive surgery and return to normal activities sooner than with conventional open surgery. Dr. Brink says, "My wife and I are looking forward to putting down 'roots' in Decorah. We were so impressed with the hospital, community, culture, and the welcome we have been shown. I plan to bring my experiences and skills to give back to the northeast Iowa community. I am honored that I have been chosen for this position and I will humbly join you in your journey to better health."