Mayo Clinic: Revolutionizing Medicine and Patient Care
Frontiers in Education
Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education1989. Mayoclinic.org.
In 1915, the Mayo Brothers created the Mayo Foundation for Education and Research in partnership with the University of Minnesota. Controversy developed among university medical staff and the newly formed Mayo Foundation. University doctors questioned whether the clinic was avaricious.
Dr. William Mayo responded to University Board of Directors stating clinic goals
encouraging the new relationship.
"We never take notes, no house has been mortgaged to pay a bill (here). We never sue, and thirty percent of our patients are charity cases."
William James Mayo addressing University of Minnesota Directors, 1917.
The Mayo Brothers. Getty Images
Mayo doctors and nurses were encouraged to pursue their specialized interests. The Mayo brothers believed communication among staff, especially doctors, was crucial. Doctors were prompted to share ideas and medical advancements.
"The object of all health education is to change the conduct of individual men, women, and children by teaching them to care for their bodies well ...."
Charles Mayo, 1928.
Dr. Mayo initially sought help from the convent for nursing care. The sisters’ assistance evolved into a nursing school where administration of medicine and care monitoring were taught.
This nursing education continues today.
Edith Grahm First Professionally Trained Nurse Circa 1900. Getty Images.
Francisican Sisters Before Surgery Circa 1897. Wiki Commons.
"It is a great thing to make scientific discoveries of rare value, but it is even greater to be willing to share these discoveries and to encourage other workers in the same field of scientific research."
William Mayo 1935.
In 1989 Mayo Clinic created the Mayo Graduate School of Medical Education continuing the belief of specialists sharing knowledge with other physicians.
Graduate School of Medicine. Wikimedia Commons
“The safest thing for a patient is to be in the hands of a man engaged in teaching medicine. To be a teacher of medicine, the doctor must always be a student.” Charles Mayo