One of the Greats, Fred “Fritz” Drill, Has Died at Age 92

Frederick E. Drill, M.D., for 29 years clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Minnesota, president/chairman of the board of The Foundation for Healthcare Evaluation, president/chairman of the board of the Hennepin County Medical Society, founding member of MMIC, a medical professional liability company and its underwriting chairman for 11 years, has died—2 days shy of his 93rd birthday.

Dr. Drill earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1956 and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in 1961.

Once his training was finished, he set up his own practice in orthopedic surgery. He was affiliated primarily with Fairview Southdale and Methodist hospitals. He practiced clinically until 1990.

Dr. Drill taught and mentored generations of orthopedic surgeons. He was a clinical professor of orthopedics at the University of Minnesota for 29 years. “His commitment to training and mentoring young orthopedic surgeons is still positively impacting orthopedic care in Minnesota and beyond,” his family wrote.

He wanted to improve healthcare for Minnesotans and to that end he took on multiple leadership roles including, as mentioned above, president/chairman of the board of The Foundation for Healthcare Evaluation, president/chairman of the board of the Hennepin County Medical Society, founding member of MMIC, a medical professional liability company and its Underwriting Chairman for 11 years.

He also helped physicians who had substance use disorders through Physicians Serving Physicians, now called Physician Wellness Collaborative and housed at Twin Cities Medical Society.

Drill was born on May 19, 1930. He was the oldest of three children born to Violet and Herman E. “Tiny” Drill, M.D. He graduated from Blake School in 1948, and then Harvard University in 1952.

He loved sports and competed all through school. Later he also enjoyed tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and golf as well as hunting and fishing with friends.

Called “Fritz” by those close to him, Drill was married to his wife, Cori, for almost 73 years. They courted for six years before they married in 1952. They had four children together: Scott, Sarah, Laurie, and Nancy.

After retiring, he and Cori spent much of their time in Rio Verde, Arizona, where they enjoyed golf, traveling, and spending time with their friends.

Besides his wife and children, he is survived by 8 grandchildren: Adam, Angela, Sarah, Madeleine, Daniel, Lucia, Corrine, and Joseph, and 12 great-grandchildren: Colette, Evelyn, Barrett, Eleanor, Alden, Jack, Liam, Louna, Zoie Joy, Wyatt, Isabel, and Jacob. He is also survived by his brother David and sister Hermie.