Tucked across 37 acres along Diamond Lake in Dayton, Minnesota, Magnus Veterans Foundation feels intentionally different from a traditional medical facility. Surrounded by nature, the campus is designed as a place where veterans and their families can find care, connection and a community that understands the many dimensions of life after military service.
For founder and president Shawn M. Alderman, MD, MBA, FAAFP, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army, the approach is rooted in firsthand experience. During his military career, Alderman saw the benefits of a whole-person health and performance model used within the special operations community. When he retired after 31 years of service, he wanted to bring a similar philosophy to veterans and their families.
Magnus Veterans Foundation was established in 2019, with patient care beginning a few years later. Starting with about 50 patients in 2022, the nonprofit now serves more than 1,500 members, with continued growth underway.
At the center of Magnus are five performance pillars: medical, physical, psychological, spiritual and social. Instead of viewing each concern in isolation, the foundation considers how every part of a person's well-being connects. Medical providers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, nutrition professionals, mental health professionals, social workers and chaplains collaborate to help members work toward goals that are personal to them.
Those goals can look remarkably different from one person to the next.
“It can be something as hardcore as a young veteran who wants to run her first ultramarathon, or it can be a World War II veteran who just wants to be able to climb the steps and sleep in the same bed as his wife,” Alderman says.
That individualized approach is paired with another important ingredient: community. Magnus encourages members to look out for one another, while volunteers help create connections between veterans, families and the broader community. Approximately 150 to 200 regular volunteers support the organization, helping make the campus feel less like an institution and more like a place to belong.
Family members are part of that circle, too. Eligible family members can receive care through Magnus, reflecting Alderman's belief that military service affects entire families, not only the person wearing the uniform.
“Every one of us that serves, especially those of us who have deployed, know that our families serve just as hard as we do,” he says.
The setting itself carries a meaningful story. The 37-acre estate was donated by Alderman's aunt, Suzanne Rawlings, and uncle, Vince Egan, a Vietnam-era veteran who created Sesame Street Live. The main residence has since been transformed into a clinic while the natural beauty of the property has been preserved.
Today, Magnus provides its services without billing members or insurance companies. Care is funded through donations, and the organization works alongside the VA rather than replacing it, with referrals moving in both directions. Magnus also partners with other veteran organizations when members need specialized resources beyond its scope.
With an expansion of its clinical space and Human Performance Center underway, Magnus is preparing to eventually serve 5,000 or more members. Yet its larger vision extends far beyond Dayton: Alderman hopes communities elsewhere can one day create their own versions of the model.
For those curious about Magnus, Alderman offers a simple invitation: “Come and see. Come and feel.” The foundation welcomes visitors for campus tours on the first Tuesday of each month – a chance to experience firsthand the community Magnus is building around those who have served.
16861 N Diamond Lake Rd., Dayton | 763-427-7832
Are you a veteran? Are you someone who wants to get involved with a local veteran non profit? Get involved at Magnus by visiting magnusveteransfoundation.org.