Raymond Christensen, M.D., Named Grand Master of State Masons

Raymond Christensen, M.D., Assistant Dean for Rural Health, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus, has been elected the Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota. The Freemasons, an international organization with roots dating back to the middle ages, are known for educational initiatives and service to the communities in which they have lodges.  Minnesota Masonic Charities provides matching funds grants principally in support of general public welfare in the widest sense, especially for the elderly and young people. Areas of support are broadly based and include social services, health care, medical research, and education.  The Masonic Cancer Center Fund, Inc. works with the University of Minnesota, as it has since 1955, to pursue cancer research and treatment, including the latest effort, the Partners for Life fund-raising campaign to build a new cancer clinic, to be called the Masonic Cancer Center, on the University's East Bank campus in Minneapolis.

The Grand Lodge of Minnesota is a 154-year-old fraternal organization with more than 16,000 members in Minnesota and part of the world-wide Masonic fraternity. There are more than 1.5 million Masons in the United States. Dr. Christensen has been an active Mason since 1982.