As Minnesota Oncology celebrates 30 years of exceptional care, we are sharing the inspiring stories of those who helped shape our legacy. Among these pioneers is Dr. Philip Dien, a founding member whose career has been integral to our growth and success.

In 1988, an ambitious Dr. Dien joined Dr. Mark Sborov at his practice in Edina. A few years later, this Minneapolis-based oncology group merged with two St. Paul practices to create Minnesota Oncology Hematology, PA (MOHPA), which later became Minnesota Oncology. Dr. Dien became one of the first members of the newly formed oncology practice, playing a pivotal role in its evolution.

A dozen years into his journey, Dr. Dien had the opportunity to spearhead the creation of the Minnesota Oncology Burnsville Clinic. During his time at the Burnsville clinic, he saw it grow from a single physician to a thriving clinic with four oncologists and two nurse practitioners by the time he retired in 2019.

Dr. Dien's leadership extended beyond patient care. He served in various key roles while at Minnesota Oncology, including serving as a Board of Directors member, site medical director, and finance director. “I thoroughly enjoyed my career at Minnesota Oncology, especially my relationships with professional colleagues and staff,” he said.

Strategic collaborations were instrumental in shaping Minnesota Oncology's path. Dr. Dien credits the merger of the three oncology groups, coupled with the partnership with the Physician Reliance Network (now The US Oncology Network), as fortifying the practice’s standing in Minnesota's dynamic healthcare landscape.  

“Both of these collaborations were done for strategic reasons – to strengthen our position in the rapidly changing healthcare market in Minnesota. Our group’s size and broad coverage across the Twin Cities allowed us to stay independent and navigate with payers and compete with hospital systems,” said Dr. Dien. “Our partnership with The US Oncology Network also aided our expansion into radiation therapy and other subspecialties,” he added.

The field of oncology has undergone significant changes, and Dr. Dien has witnessed them firsthand. “Oncology has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, mainly because of the rapid pace of breakthroughs in new treatments, including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and other biologicals,” said Dr. Dien. “In my first decade of practice, new drug approvals were mostly chemotherapy drugs and occurred very infrequently. Now cancer drug approvals seem to come continuously, many leading to impressive outcomes for hard-to-treat diseases. There is no question that the prognosis of patients with many types of cancer is dramatically better than it was even 10 years ago.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Dien is optimistic about Minnesota Oncology’s future. “There will always be new challenges, but I believe the growth and diversification of the business and the excellence of the people in the organization will allow it to remain independent and capable of overcoming future obstacles,” he said.

As we honor our past and embrace the future, the legacy of Dr. Philip Dien and his contributions continue to inspire us on our journey of healing and innovation.