Swedish radiologist found a home in Alexandria.
It was a swimming scholarship that first brought Dr. Mats Lars Ingemar Liden from Sweden to America. The University of North Dakota swim team needed a strong breaststroke swimmer, and thanks to a coach’s connections, they found one halfway around the world.
“I came for the free ride to America,” Dr. Liden laughs. “I had no idea I’d end up staying here for good.”
Two years into his studies, he met his future wife, Heidi. He completed his medical degree at UND, then finished his residency in Nebraska before the couple decided to settle in Alexandria—where Heidi had family. “I was lucky to find an opening with Rayus (then Center for Diagnostic Imaging) in Alexandria,” he says. “I was still in residency, so I tailored my training for general radiology. It’s been a perfect fit—I’ve always loved anatomy, and radiology lets me work across a wide range of needs, diagnosing patients through precise imaging.”
For Dr. Liden, the blend of technology and community makes Alomere Health special. “We have all the latest imaging tools, but we’re still small enough that I know every provider and specialist in town. If I have a question about a patient, I can pick up the phone and talk directly to their doctor—that’s just not possible in a metro health system.
With Alexandria’s population growing and Alomere serving an even larger region, the radiology department is ready to welcome another teammate. “We could use one or more radiologists,” Dr. Liden admits. “It would free up time, reduce on-call demands, and let us keep pace with the needs of the community.”
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Liden enjoys family game nights, working out in the gym, summers on the lake, and the occasional DIY project in the garage—where you might hear a Swedish phrase or two if the tools aren’t cooperating.
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