The Midwest is home to Mayo Clinic, a world-renowned private American academic medical center that serves as a global leader in integrated healthcare, education, and research. The institution originated in 1864 with the private medical practice of William Worrall Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota. The practice was significantly expanded by his sons, Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie Mayo, who eventually transformed it into a group practice. A pivotal moment in the clinic’s history occurred in 1919, when the brothers and their wives donated the assets of the medical practice to convert it into a not-for-profit organization, a move that solidified its mission to provide high-quality care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Today, Mayo Clinic is recognized as a premier destination for complex medical cases, maintaining a reputation for “destination medicine” and tertiary care. It operates major campuses in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. The institution employs over 7,300 physicians and scientists, supported by more than 66,000 allied health and administrative staff. Its academic arm, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, is consistently ranked among the top-tier medical schools in the United States, providing a robust foundation for the next generation of medical professionals while fueling the clinic’s extensive research enterprise.
The clinic has contributed numerous revolutionary developments to the field of modern medicine. In the early 20th century, it pioneered the multi-specialty group practice model and the integrated medical record system, which fundamentally changed how physicians share patient information. Its history of innovation includes establishing the first hospital-based blood bank in 1935 and helping develop the anti-G suit and high-altitude oxygen masks for World War II pilots. Furthermore, Mayo Clinic researchers have been at the forefront of life-saving discoveries, including the development of cortisone (for which they received a Nobel Prize), the first FDA-approved hip replacement in the U.S., and advanced rapid DNA tests for anthrax. More recently, the clinic has integrated generative AI to optimize health content and has led pioneering studies in regenerative medicine and robotic-assisted surgery.
More Than Research#
The history and the research are impressive, but what stands out to me is closer to home. A few of my coworkers have received life-changing treatment at Mayo Clinic. When a local doctor runs out of answers, Mayo is often the place people get sent next, and many come home with a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or a surgery that wasn’t available anywhere nearby. That kind of care tends to ripple out. A coworker getting well means a family that doesn’t have to watch someone suffer and a team that gets a friend back.
A few practical things to know if you or someone you love is considering Mayo:
- You may not need a referral. Mayo Clinic accepts appointment requests directly from patients for many conditions, though your insurance plan may have its own rules, so check first.
- Rochester is built around the clinic. Hotels, restaurants, and skyways connect directly to the campus, which helps patients who are there for days or weeks of appointments.
- There’s care closer to home, too. The Mayo Clinic Health System runs hospitals and clinics in communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
- Bring someone with you. Long visits with lots of tests are easier with a second set of ears to take notes.
It’s a point of pride that one of the best medical centers in the world started as a small-town family practice in southern Minnesota.
