Life lessons lead Kelly to medical career

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Dr. Michael Kelly is a doctor at Mayo Clinic in Kasson.

Michael Kelly’s story doesn’t begin in a lecture hall or a hospital. It begins with instability, uncertainty and learning how to survive.
Raised in Duluth alongside his two sisters, Kelly moved more than 15 times growing up, attending five different schools before graduating from Duluth East High School.
From a young age, he worked wherever he could, first for a neighbor, and later for a landscaping company that allowed him to help — despite being too young to officially be on payroll. He took pride in the work, running between piles of materials in the warehouse to make sure customers were taken care of quickly.
At 15, a court-appointed guardian discovered that Kelly had been living in a cold garage, storing food in a shoebox. He entered foster care soon after, though he was separated from his sisters. By 17, that placement ended, and he found himself without stable housing again. He relied on friends, couch-surfing, while continuing to show up for school each day.
School became more than just a place to learn: It was a safe and consistent environment. Kelly said he could not afford to play sports, but he stayed involved in clubs, often arriving early and staying late simply to have somewhere to be.
He worked hard academically, not only to build a future, but also to earn recognition he wasn’t receiving elsewhere. College had never really felt like an option, but with encouragement from counselors and teachers, he applied.
Kelly was accepted to multiple colleges — with scholarships — and chose Saint John’s University, drawn by both the opportunity and its alignment with his faith.
Even in college, things were not always straightforward. When dorms closed during breaks, Kelly often had to figure out where he would stay. He handled those moments quietly and kept moving forward.
During his time at Saint John’s, he studied neuroscience, becoming the first person to graduate with a degree in neuroscience from the university. He spent several months in China working on tuberculosis research and traveled to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic on service trips, working with underserved communities.
Closer to home, he volunteered regularly in hospitals, supporting patients, staff and fellow volunteers. Some of the people he met during that time still reach out to him today.
Recognizing how difficult it can be to navigate college without family guidance, Kelly helped start — and lead — a first-generation student organization to support others in similar situations. He graduated magna cum laude in 2020. Because of COVID, there was no ceremony, and his diploma arrived by mail, but the accomplishment carried significant meaning.
After graduation, he spent a year working in cancer research before applying to medical school. He was accepted to 12 programs, but ultimately chose the University of Minnesota Medical School.
While there, he continued to stay connected to the experiences that shaped him. He served on multiple foster care advisory boards and remained involved in advocacy for youth in similar situations. He also founded a nonprofit organization that connects professional students with at-risk youth, providing mentorship, education and basic resources. His goal has always been to create the support systems for others that he did not have growing up.
Kelly often shares a message that reflects his own journey: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
In May 2025, he earned his medical degree, this time walking across the stage. Just prior to graduation, however, came Match Day, a defining moment for medical students across the country. When Kelly opened his envelope, he learned he had matched at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, his top choice.
Now a family medicine resident for three years, he is training in a field that reflects his values. He enjoys building long-term relationships with patients and caring for individuals and families across all stages of life. As part of his training, he spends significant time at the Kasson Clinic, often arriving early to review patient histories and prepare for the day. The hours can be long: he will average 80 hours each week, but he approaches the work with purpose.
Outside of medicine, Kelly’s life is grounded in relationships. He met his wife, Nicole, before their freshman year of college on a Boundary Waters trip when she was a student at the College of St Benedict.
Their first interaction was memorable. Her group appeared to be lost on the water, and she was holding the map upside down. They connected later, cliff jumping together followed by stories around the campfire, and their relationship grew from there.
Several years later, Kelly brought Nicole back to the same area and proposed on Horseshoe Island. They were married in 2022, and Nicole is now pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, with a focus on cardiovascular health.
When he has time, Kelly enjoys being outdoors, fishing, hunting and camping. The couple have visited several national parks, but the Boundary Waters remains one of his favorite places, tied to many important moments in his life. The pair also enjoys traveling and spending time together when their schedules allow. Their goldendoodle, Luna, is an important part of their family, too.
In recent years, Kelly has also begun reconnecting with his family, working to rebuild relationships over time.
Looking ahead, he hopes to practice in a rural community, where he can build lasting relationships with patients and possibly open his own clinic. He and Nicole have also talked about spending time working abroad in underserved areas, though they plan to remain rooted in Minnesota.
Michael Kelly’s path to medicine has been anything but typical. His experiences have shaped the way he approaches his work and the people he serves. For him, medicine is not just a career, but a way to give back and to provide the kind of support and care that can change someone’s trajectory.

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Dr. Michael Kelly, a doctor at Mayo Clinic in Kasson met his wife Nicole while on a Boundary Waters trip. The couple posed for a photo at the Boundary Waters many years later.