Salvation Army ‘Good Sam’ Medical and Dental Clinic in Rochester Celebrates Three Decades of Service

Thirty-one years ago, three Mayo Clinic physicians reached out to The Salvation Army in Rochester, Minn., about the possibility of starting a medical clinic for patients without health insurance. What started out as an after-hours clinic with only a few volunteer doctors has grown into a decades-long partnership between Mayo Clinic and The Salvation Army known as the Good Samaritan Health Clinic. 

“The ‘Good Sam’ provides an opportunity for medical specialists in fields ranging from cardiology to pediatrics to provide healthcare to people who would otherwise be unable to afford any kind of care,” said Captain Michael D. Hanton, leader of the Rochester Salvation Army. “We’re talking about some of the best physicians in the world volunteering their time to provide world-class care completely free of charge to patients who are ineligible for health insurance.”

In addition to specialty medical clinics, the Good Sam has three dental clinic chairs used to provide tooth extractions and treatment for tooth pain. Where the medical clinic treats chronic medical conditions, the dental clinic keeps patients out of local emergency rooms and gets them out of pain as quickly as possible. Twenty-seven dental professionals from private offices across the county volunteer their time to provide this service.

“If you think about the financial cost of a tooth extraction in a private dental office, you suddenly realize how generous these dentists are with every tooth they volunteer to extract,” said Captain Hanton.

Nearly 4,000 medical and dental patients come through the clinic every year, and each of them can access their prescriptions at the Good Sam pharmacy because all pharmaceuticals prescribed by a Good Sam doctor are donated by Mayo Clinic.

“The Good Samaritan Health Clinic is truly making healthcare accessible in Rochester,” said Captain Hanton.

Red Kettle Match

The presence of the Good Sam has played a crucial role in the establishment of an annual Mayo Clinic Red Kettle Match. In 2025, Mayo Clinic committed to a $50,000 match of any dollars contributed to the Red Kettles on the day of the National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge.

“Because of this match, we raised over $84,000 in one kettle, on one day,” said Captain Hanton.

This amount was enough to win the Rochester Salvation Army the $1.5 Million+ category of the National Commander’s Red Kettle Challenge, and earned them a visit from The Salvation Army’s National Commander, Commissioner Merle Heatwole.

“We couldn’t think of a better time to have the Commissioner visit than during the gala we host in support of the Good Sam,” said Captain Hanton. “Not only is this the biggest single event of our year, it’s the perfect opportunity to share the full gratitude of The Salvation Army with hundreds of the people who make it possible for us to operate our clinic.”

The event is called “Stand with the Sam.” The name of the event ties the Red Kettle stands that community members see all over town at Christmastime with the work of the Good Sam.

“Our team has really been on a mission this year,” said Captain Hanton. “When people see a Red Kettle in Rochester, we want them to associate those kettles with the people those kettles support. When you see a kettle, we want you to see a person.”

With a successful turnout of over 300 people, the Rochester Salvation Army believes this event has helped them take substantially sized steps toward this goal.

Before and during the event, Commissioner Heatwole had the opportunity to meet several doctors and staff members who run the clinic every day.

“This clinic is a real testament to what community partnerships can do,” said Commissioner Heatwole. “This program speaks to the importance of The Salvation Army paying close attention to the needs of the unique communities we serve and joining hands with our neighbors in order to meet them. I am so pleased I got the chance to thank the people who are truly responsible for making all of this good work possible.”

For more information about The Salvation Army Good Samaritan Health Clinic in Rochester, please call 507-288-3663 or visit RochesterSA.org.