Mayo Clinic Has a Long History
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| In 1920, Dr. Will Mayo, one of the founders of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, embarked on a journey through
South America, visiting Peru, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. According to the Mayo brothers' biographer, Dr. Will wrote
lengthy reports of his travels, praising the work of his Latin American colleagues and inviting other American physicians to visit
other countries. Whenever other physicians showed skepticism, Dr. Will would exhort them to make the trip on their own and
"learn some humility."
This attitude carries through to today's educational and mission programs at Mayo Clinic's three sites in Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minn., and Scottsdale, Arizona. Today, not only are more people from other countries visiting Mayo Clinic; but more physicians are taking time to exchange information with colleagues far away and to visit under-served areas during short medical missions. Mayo Clinic supports these activities and has provided channels to help its staff have a more active role in lending a helping hand wherever there are special needs. For example, many practicing physicians at Mayo Clinic participate in educational seminars as far as Chile and China. Many residents take advantage of a program aimed at helping others while enhancing their medical experience. The idea for the Mayo Foundation International Health Program was born after Furman McDonald, M.D., now a resident at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., participated in a medical outreach program in 1997 through the Hoffman Fund while attending Mayo Medical School. With the help of Ronnier Aviles, M.D. and Melissa Meredith, M.D., both residents at Mayo Clinic at the time. The idea took off, and the program is now co-sponsored by the Mayo Fellows Association and Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. There are two aspects to the mission of Mayo Foundation International Health Program: to serve the under-served in other countries, and to obtain an educational experience that cannot be obtained in the United States. Mayo Clinic residents can apply for scholarships as individuals or as part of a self-determined group. The program gives residents an opportunity to use what they have been learning to help those in need. Residents use vacation time and elective time to participate. Funds are provided through the Fellows Benefit Fund. The amount recipients are awarded is based on expenses for the trip, such as travel costs, medical supplies and insurance. Scholarship recipients have chosen a variety of of places to serve, including Haiti, China, Mexico and Brazil. With 25 percent of the training physicians at Mayo Clinic coming from other countries, it is natural that the organization wants to give something back. The key is to offer help where it is needed, while doing it in a way that respects and enhances Mayo Clinic's long standing friendships throughout the world. Jacksonville Medicine / January, 2002What's New
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