JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Heal the sick, advance the science, share the knowledge.
“THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PATIENT
IS THE ONLY INTEREST TO BE CONSIDERED.”
F
or more than a century, Mayo Clinic has been
recognized as one of the world’s premier
Since the beginning, Mayo Clinic’s pursuit of
excellence in patient care has been supported by a
medical centers. Evolved from the medical practice
commitment to research and education: Research to
founded in 1859 in Rochester, Minnesota, by
assure access to the latest, most effective diagnostic
William Worrall Mayo, and led to renown by his
methods and medical treatments; and education
physician-sons William J. and Charles, Mayo Clinic
to promote objective analysis, prepare future
today is distinguished for its excellence in patient
generations of physicians and share knowledge
care, medical research and education.
and research discoveries with others.
Central to the Mayo Clinic mission — to provide
A non-profit organization, Mayo Clinic invests
the best care to every patient every day — is a
all excess revenues in patient care, research and
precept of its founders, “The best interest of the
education. Information about the clinic staff,
patient is the only interest to be considered.”
revenues, clinical, education and research programs
Today, nearly 3,000 physicians and scientists at
three Mayo Clinic sites — in Rochester, Jacksonville,
Florida, and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona — treat
is available at www.mayoclinic.org and in the
most recent annual report.
While facts and figures help define and measure
more than half a million people each year. No matter
Mayo Clinic, it is the culture — and the people
the location, patients benefit from the Mayo Clinic
who bring it to life — that make Mayo a special
Model of Care. This model brings together integrated
place not only to receive, but also to give, care.
teams of physicians representing various medical
specialties to determine diagnosis and treatment.
Patients at each location have access to the extensive
medical resources available across all of Mayo Clinic.
We hope the insights in the following pages, offered by our physicians about what it means to
practice medicine under the Mayo Clinic Model of Care, will provide a helpful starting point from
which to consider Mayo Clinic in your career planning. Beyond these pages, we look forward
to providing additional information and perspectives through future communication with you.
Many Paths Lead to
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Will Yours?
YOU HAVE A GOAL IN MIND. You know what motivates you. You know what you
need to be happy and fulfilled. You may be at a crossroads and need a change.
Before you make the next career turn, ask yourself: Why did I choose medicine
as a career? And where can I practice medicine in the manner I envisioned?
F
or Dr. Ken DeVault, Dr. Mary O’Connor, Dr. Gerardo Colon-Otero and many
other physicians, Mayo Clinic was the answer. Each had distinctly different
practice goals, career aspirations and lifestyle choices in mind. What they found
was a unique culture that is distinctive in American medicine.
Mayo affords physicians professional experiences and equips them with
resources and opportunities that are unparalleled anywhere in the world. But what
makes Mayo different from other institutions is the culture in which people not
only begin, but build their careers.
At its essence, it’s about an attitude that expects the best in its people. Standards
are high here — and you are equipped to excel. While students contribute to an
atmosphere of inquiry, physicians who are committed to career development
and self-improvement thrive here. This infuses Mayo with a palpable energy
and excitement.
You are never an island at Mayo. You are automatically a member of a team
and function as a team member on a daily basis. Teammates are eager to share
knowledge and are interested in helping you succeed.
There is a climate of respect. Whether co-workers serve patients directly or
not, they work with someone who does, and that makes everyone important to
fulfilling Mayo’s mission: the needs of the patient come first.
Even though Mayo is often referred to as a gold standard in medicine, it
strives to improve and constantly seeks to change for the better. Mayo Clinic
looks to its physicians to effect positive change that strengthens care for patients.
If your interest is in practicing medicine with this priority, keep following the
signs that point to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
“There’s no where else IN THE WORLD
that I could do patient care this way.
My colleagues share the same CORE VALUES
number one
reason I’m here.” Gerardo Colon-Otero, M.D.
AND GOALS. It’s the
Top Ten Reasons Why Physicians Make
Mayo Clinic Their Career Destination
1. The people. Challenging patient cases
and inspiring colleagues bring and keep
physicians here.
2. Priorities. Patients are the priority.
No matter the question, the answer
is always what’s best for the patient.
3. Resources. Access to colleagues.
Sophisticated technology. Integrated
systems. Ongoing education.
4. Opportunities. Develop your skills.
Conduct research. Mentor others.
5. The culture. Collegial,
professional, progressive.
6. Change. You can make a difference
through physician leaders, committee
involvements, quality improvement work.
7. Financial stability. Translates into
peace of mind.
8. The place. Clean, bright, pleasant.
Beautiful art and architecture.
9. The choices. Excellent employer
benefits, programs, and services. A great
community in which to work and live.
10. Pride. Staff are proud to say
they work for Mayo Clinic.
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2
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville:
Everything You Want in Your Career – All in One Place
CONSIDERING THE SETTINGS in which to practice medicine, Mayo Clinic is
exceptional on many counts. Just as patients find everything they need here,
you can too.
M
ayo Clinic Jacksonville has many unique attributes.
More than 50 medical and surgical specialties and
subspecialties, ranging from ophthalmology and neurology
to urology and orthopedics, are represented among its staff.
Specialty programs include cancer treatment, organ transplantation, heart surgery and neurosciences. Virtually any
medical or surgical specialty is easily accessed via the colleagues and integrated systems of Mayo Clinic Rochester and
Mayo Clinic Scottsdale/Phoenix.
There is a palpable sense of promise and excitement on
this campus. In its 20-year history, more than 500,000 patients
from 50 states and 131 countries have passed through the
doors of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. A combination of missionmindedness, team culture, and high standards are potent
unifying elements for this growing staff and campus.
Important qualities undergird what has been described as
Mayo’s “experiment in cooperative individualism”: an ideal
of service rather than personal profit; a primary concern
for each patient; and every staff member’s interest in the
professional progress of all staff members.
Everything about Mayo Clinic contributes to your capacity
to focus on patients and cultivate your career interests.
MAYO CLINIC JACKSONVILLE PERSONNEL
Staff physicians and medical scientists
Residents, fellows and
temporary professionals
354
“At Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, we have
INVESTED $1 billion in our
campus over TWO DECADES,
during some of the
times in medicine.”
toughest
Stephen Lange, M.D.
AN ENVIRONMENT OF SUPPORT AND GROWTH:
Integrated systems, including an electronic medical
record, make patient care information accessible,
ensure accuracy and speed delivery of care. Systems
and processes enable patients to have multiple medical
evaluations and diagnostic tests on the same day or
be scheduled for next-day surgery or other procedures.
A hospital, with 214 beds and 16 operating rooms,
creates a fully-integrated medical campus with
inpatient and outpatient services under one roof.
274
Colleagues at Mayo Clinic Rochester and Mayo Clinic
Scottsdale/Phoenix are available to you for consultation.
Administrative and allied health personnel
(clinic and hospital)
4,140
TOTAL
4,768
Opportunities to teach and conduct research provide
for further pursuit of professional interests.
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is an academic medical center
and includes programs in each of the five schools of
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Research focuses on the neurosciences, cancer and
other areas.
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A Living Mission Guides Care
“THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENT come first” is more than a primary value here. It’s a
living mission. Physicians at Mayo Clinic live, breathe and work by this philosophy
every day. They do so in an environment that supports excellent patient care.
S
tephen Lange, M.D., has cared for
thousands of patients during his 21
years as a gastroenterologist at Mayo
Clinic Jacksonville. As a resident, he had
experience in a university setting, as well
as at Mayo Clinic Rochester, where he was
a fellow. When Mayo decided to expand
to Florida, Dr. Lange set his sights on
helping start the practice here. Now looking back over two decades, he notes that
while the physical campus has changed
substantially, the model upon which
patient care is delivered has not.
While Dr. Lange spends his time in
patient care and administrative duties,
the most fulfilling days are spent caring
for patients based on a Model of Care
that is focused on what benefits patients
first and foremost.
“I tell my patients that I can be a better
doctor at Mayo Clinic than anywhere
else. That’s possible because of the
Mayo Clinic Model of Care.”
Jack Leventhal, M.D.
PATIENT CARE
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville (per year)
Unique patients*:
91,941
Outpatient visits:
421,077
and deserve nothing but the best care.
For many of them, we become the center
of their lives. To help them is an incredibly
rewarding privilege.”
Dr. George Bartley, an oculoplastic
surgeon, points out that putting the patient
first is a core value that is distinctively
Mayo. “Organizations that are for-profit
must make sure the needs of the shareholders come first,” says Dr. Bartley.
“For us to have the core value of putting
the needs of the patient first is a blessing.
This core mission isn’t something we
have to revisit every year. Here, we have
carved it in stone.”
THE MAYO CLINIC MODEL OF CARE
It is not unusual that a patient coming to Mayo Clinic in search
of a diagnosis or treatment has already been seen by one or more
doctors at other medical centers. Nor is it unusual that the patient
is amazed at how quickly Mayo physicians arrive at an answer.
The Mayo Clinic Model of Care makes the difference. Care is provided by
integrated teams of compassionate, multidisciplinary physicians, scientists
and allied health professionals all focused on the needs of the patient.
The Model of Care:
Brings together top specialists in a multidisciplinary practice environment
Fosters a culture committed to teamwork — and that places team success
ahead of individual success
Hospital admissions:
11,137
Encourages an atmosphere of mutual respect
Provides extensive resources and numerous support personnel,
Surgical cases:
11,164
Features common systems, including salaried compensation for physicians,
*Individuals counted once annually
4
“So much is continually changing
in health care,” he says, “but the Mayo
Clinic Model of Care is a constant in that
sea of change. We could focus on high
margin activities or other ways of doing
things, but we always come back to the
stability of this model. In fact, over time,
my support of the Mayo Model of Care
has only grown stronger.”
Dr. Gerardo Colon-Otero, a hematologist/oncologist, says there are advantages
to practicing in an institution where
everyone’s main priority is the needs
of the patient. “Excellent cancer care is
entirely dependent on a team of dedicated
experts,” says Dr. Colon-Otero. “Patients
with cancer are entirely dependent on us
all available to physicians as they focus on patient needs, and
that encourage the use of only tests or procedures deemed best for the
patient without consideration of personal financial gain
5
Teamwork: The Hallmark
of Patient Care
TEAMWORK AT MAYO transcends time, geographic distance, and professional
ego. It integrates expertise across disciplines and among all three Mayo sites.
D
r. Jack Leventhal, a pulmonologist at
Mayo for nearly 20 years, was in an
academic practice prior to coming here.
That experience clarified for him the
importance of teamwork.
“I was in an academic, private practice which tried to be team oriented, but
it didn’t feel like it,” says Dr. Leventhal.
“Money was the mantra. What Mayo
has is contemporaneous collegiality so
that we can tap into cross-disciplinary
expertise and it’s all patient focused.
It’s not about seeing more patients so
we can make more money. It’s because
of teamwork that you’re not distracted
and you can focus on your patients.”
In any given day, teamwork will
take different forms. A team may be
two individuals or more than two dozen.
Dr. Christopher Hughes is responsible
for leading one of the top five liver
transplant programs in the nation. The
approximately 240 transplants that are
performed each year at Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville require a team of about 25
specialists, in addition to organ transport
coordinators, desk staff and schedulers.
“Transplant really exemplifies the
teamwork model,” says Dr. Hughes.
“I rely on and trust the hepatologists,
nephrologists, and critical care transplant
physicians. When we do rounds, we
round as a team, which is different than
university settings where the medical and
surgical staffs don’t interact. Teamwork
allows people with expertise to focus,
and to collaborate with colleagues who
are the best at what they do. Our team
members are brilliant and they love
what they do.”
The routine nature of consulting is
why Mayo physicians are referred to as
consultants. “I collaborate every day
with colleagues among the three Mayo
sites,” says Dr. Ken Devault, a gastroenterologist. “If I don’t have the answers,
I can just pick up the phone and ask the
person who wrote a chapter in a book
about the condition. Teamwork really
makes this a supportive environment.
In private practice, or any small practice,
if you go away for a week or you get
sick, other practitioners may take your
patients. Here, we cover for each other.
It’s part of being a team.”
DR. GEORGE BARTLEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
EXPLAINS HOW TEAMWORK FUNCTIONS WITHIN
AN INTEGRATED PRACTICE.
“As one Mayo Clinic, we have access to all subspecialties,
even those not represented in Jacksonville. Within the
whole Mayo system, there’s probably someone who
knows the answer to just about any question. It’s great
to have that backup and it gives you the freedom to
become more specialized in certain areas.”
“THE SUM-TOTAL OF MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IS NOW SO GREAT AND WIDE-SPREADING THAT IT
WOULD BE FUTILE FOR ONE MAN TO ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE, OR FOR ANY ONE MAN TO ASSUME
THAT HE HAS, EVEN A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ANY LARGE PART OF THE WHOLE.
THE VERY NECESSITIES OF THE CASE ARE DRIVING PRACTITIONERS INTO COOPERATION.”
William J. Mayo, M.D., 1910
6
TEAMWORK
INTEGRATES THE
EXPERTISE
of physicians across
many disciplines and
from across all three
Mayo Clinic sites to
provide high-quality
patient care.
All Eyes on the Top Priority
DR. JACK LEVENTHAL SAYS, “It’s sacrosanct that we spend the time with
patients that they need. This differentiates Mayo Clinic.” To ensure that patients
are the first priority, Mayo offers physicians the support and services to make
that a reality in their work lives.
T
he challenges of health care economics and constricting time with patients
pose a professional and personal dilemma
for physicians who are motivated to
provide high quality, compassionate care.
Mayo Clinic’s Model of Care serves as
the standard for time with patients.
Mayo maintains systems that diminish
or remove many of the distractions found
in other models of medical practice and
provides tools to enhance efficiency and
effectiveness. This includes everything
from scheduling appointments and tests,
to recordkeeping, to expediting communication between colleagues and among
all three campuses.
Dr. Colon-Otero uses the resources
available to him to care for patients. “I
consulted with a patient who had driven
five hours to get here,” he says. “She was
a general medical patient and I was seeing
her in an opening in my schedule, this
is how integrated practice works.”
8
“ Weekly video conferenced meetings have
YIELDED consistent
strategies for
clinical management of patients, and
opportunities to ENGAGE STAFF in
collaborative
research projects and ongoing
education at all Mayo sites.” Edith Perez, M.D.
“She needed a neurosurgery consult
and those appointments were scheduled
out for weeks. I called a secretary and a
nurse and we were able to move that
appointment up to the next day. We were
able to get her symptoms addressed in
two days. That’s the level of teamwork
here — everyone tries to meet the needs
of the patient.”
The electronic medical record centralizes and standardizes patient information
in an accessible way, expediting the
coordination of many patient services.
As physicians consult with colleagues
in Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz., and
Rochester, Minn., the medical record
can be referenced by all. Satellite video
conferencing makes possible real-time
communication with colleagues for
one-on-one consultations or larger
group meetings.
Another crucial element of Mayo
Clinic is that physicians are salaried. This
compensation model enables physicians
to focus on care of patients without
consideration of numbers of procedures
or tests ordered.
“The salaried environment is great,”
says Dr. Leventhal. “It enables career
diversity that is very motivating. In the
outside world, you grind away. Here,
you have choices that help to strengthen
the quality of care we provide patients —
our top priority.”
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10
Pursuing the Ideal of Service
AFTER A FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Dr. Floyd
Willis returned to his home state of Georgia to go into a solo private practice.
When Mayo Clinic Jacksonville called in 1992, he was ready for a change and
the chance to expand his reach beyond one community.
D
r. Willis established a thriving solo
practice in a Georgia community of
10,000, and he has the shingle to prove
it. “It was very busy and rewarding,” he
says. “But the business aspects of it were
tough. The opportunity to be involved
in patient care, along with teaching and
research at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville was
what brought me here.”
Mayo has offered him just the right
mix of research, teaching and patient care,
which includes outpatient care and minor
surgical procedures for patients ranging
in age from newborn to 99-year-olds.
“What’s great is that many of my patients
I’ve known for more than a decade, and
now they bring their kids to see me.”
Although Dr. Willis focuses most of
his attention on local community needs,
his work ultimately has the potential to
reach far beyond. In 1997, he helped
establish an indigent care clinic at the
heart of Jacksonville. This work dovetailed perfectly with his research, which
is devoted to investigating Alzheimer’s
disease in populations that are generally
under-represented in research studies.
“There basically has not been normative data for normal memory in healthy
African-Americans in the South,” notes
Dr. Willis. “But disease data are impacted
by culture, race and walks of life.”
Partnering with Mayo’s Alzheimer’s
Disease Research Center, Dr. Willis
collaborated with a neuropsychologist
to develop a study to assess normal
memory and cognition in older
African-Americans.
“We have ACCESS
to colleagues from
MULTIPLE disciplines
and to services that are
QUICK and EFFICIENT.
I’m PROUD of the
comprehensiveness
of this group practice.”
Even as a family practitioner, Dr. Willis
is unique in that he also cares for international patients from Belgium, South Africa
and elsewhere. “I see them when they’re
here and they occasionally call me,” says
Dr. Willis. “Mayo Clinic is fortunate to have
an International Medicine and Services
section that includes physicians who are
from all walks of life and cultures who
will help care for international patients.”
This commitment to diversity among
staff and patient services is a part of
the Mayo culture. Dr. William J. Mayo
addressed this important component
of Mayo’s culture when he spoke of the
“pursuit of the ideal of service,” which
respects the dignity and individual
needs of all.
“In today’s society, all institutions have
to be as functional as possible in a global
market,” says Dr. Willis. “Our services
must constantly evolve to make certain
we can help meet the needs of people
from our increasingly ‘flat’ earth. Mayo
has the infrastructure to do that.”
In his office, Dr. Willis displays a
plaque with a quote from Martin Luther
King that reads, “Everyone has the power
for greatness, not for fame, but for greatness, because greatness is determined by
service.” Dr. Willis has found that this
personal philosophy fits perfectly with
Mayo’s ideal of service.
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12
Why the Model of Care Matters
DURING A CLERKSHIP IN HEMATOLOGY at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Gerardo Colon-Otero
observed as one of his mentors sat down on the edge of a bed and held the hand
of a patient with cancer. It was a pivotal moment that reinforced the qualities he
wanted to develop in himself as a physician, teacher and researcher.
AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. COLON-OTERO
What brought you to Mayo Clinic?
I grew up in Puerto Rico and my sister and I were the first
in our family to go to college. I did accelerated school work
to enter medical school at age 19. It was during my fourth
year in medical school that I did a six-week elective clerkship
at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I then did my residency and
fellowship at Mayo. Then, I spent to years at an academic
medical center in Virginia
What was the difference between that setting
and Mayo Clinic?
It was a different system than Mayo; the main interest was
research, not patient care. Our Model of Care means that
patients come first. It means we do everything we can to
accommodate patient needs and to help one another provide
the best care possible. I am frequently paged by colleagues
who are looking for another opinion about treatment for
complex cases. Teamwork is an essential component of what
we do. It is essential in subspecialization. It is promoted
here to the utmost.
How has Mayo encouraged your interests beyond patient care?
At age 30, I had the opportunity to become the chair of the
Department of Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic
being built in Jacksonville. One important thing is that there
are leadership terms of service. I had a five-year break from
being department chair, and now I’m back at it. As physician
leaders we work in partnership with administrators. We
couldn’t do our work without them. I’m also on the clinic’s
Executive Board, and chair our Diversity Committee.
What continues to challenge you?
Staying up to date in my specialty is a challenge. I run a
national course for a fellows research competition. And I
bring Rochester and Arizona colleagues here to teach.
This keeps up my own career interest.
What is the focus of your research?
I’m investigating cancer care discrepancies and have written
two protocols that we are implementing. I’m also working
with a consortium of National Cancer Institute organizations
to write protocols that will involve clinical trials of new
chemotherapy agents. We are also developing a Phase 1
clinical trials program here for testing cancer treatments and
are sending colleagues to Mayo Clinic Rochester to help write
new clinical trials. This will help build our research capacity
as part of one Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.
How important is a diverse workforce to Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville?
Our patient population is diverse. And, our city is diverse:
28 percent African American, about 14 percent Hispanic, and
growing. As a reflection of that, our employee base includes
several staff members from Burma, Paraguay, Puerto Rico,
India and elsewhere. A diverse workforce is necessary to
meeting our patient needs. We have several initiatives under
way to encourage diversity among young student interested
in pursuing health care careers, including health career scholarships to recognize achievement. We are also developing
interest networks that gather staff around shared interests.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR DAY?
It’s when I see a patient who has lived for 15 years and 15 years ago that patient only had a 10 percent chance
of surviving. It’s rewarding that I saw a young girl with Hodgkin’s disease and she’s now 23 years old and brings in
her baby with her. Recently, I had a patient whose husband I’m treating for cancer ask me how often I think about
her husband? Before I could answer she said, “We think about you every single minute.” It’s intense, sobering and
rewarding to know people are counting on you. There are some patients I’ve followed for 18 years. Along the way
they send me thank you notes, share photos, tell me stories about their trips. It’s a privilege to care for them.
13
CREATE.
CHALLENGE.
RE-THINK.
INNOVATE.
TEST.
Research that Translates
into Improved Patient Care
“IT TAKES A TEAM and the right environment to translate new knowledge into
improved care. I love the impact of what we can do.” Edith Perez, M.D.
A
t Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, physicians are expected to be engaged in
research and are provided the resources
needed to make that possible. Dr. Edith
Perez, director of the Breast Clinic
Program, is a hematologist/oncologist
who decided early on to devote a large
part of her career life to research. What
she needed was an environment that
had the infrastructure to advance clinical
trials and the field of cancer care. She
found it at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
“My goal at Mayo — and in my life —
is to affect more lives than patients I can
see,” she explains. “I want to help thousands of people through translational
research and patient care.”
Toward that goal, much of her schedule
involves her in clinical trials exploring
the use of new therapeutic agents for the
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treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
In 2005, she chaired an internationally
known breast cancer clinical trial whose
findings confirmed a potent weapon
against the recurrence of cancer cells
in trastuzumab (Herceptin), when
combined with chemotherapy versus
chemotherapy alone for patients with
HER-2 positive invasive breast cancer.
“I try to think outside of the box,”
says Dr. Perez. “I recently met with one
of our basic researchers on the mechanics
of breast cancer metastasis, along with a
research nurse and clinical coordinator.
In just 10 minutes, we had developed
a plan to establish such a breast tumor
bank. That’s the beauty of Mayo. You
can capitalize on all the resources available to do translational research.”
Other physicians, like Dr. Ken DeVault,
also chose Mayo for its commitment to
doing clinical research. “We have a large
motility laboratory for esophageal research,
with an extensive data base, technology
and infrastructure that enables us to
study all aspects of esophageal disease,”
explains Dr. DeVault. “The resources we
have you could find in other academic
medical centers, but they are not typically
found in a practice the size of Jacksonville.
The kinds of patients we see also contribute to our capacity to do research.”
It is in the clinical setting that research
ideas are ignited and the potential to
save lives is realized. “When I came here
I was encouraged by a mentor to engage
in the three shields that comprise the
Mayo logo: patient care, education and
research,” he says. “It’s that concept that
distinguishes Mayo, and strengthens
research and education that ultimately
benefit patients.”
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville:
The Place to Build Your Career
MANY PHYSICIANS DECIDE to make long careers at Mayo. What keeps them
here? They say it boils down to a couple of simple things: they are encouraged to
grow in their careers, and they have the best colleagues to be found anywhere.
D
r. Chris Hughes applied to do a
transplant fellowship at Mayo Clinic
because he says he heard it was one of
the best places to train. “The deciding
factors,” he says, “were Mayo’s reputation
and what it could mean to my future
career. Patients frequently ask me where
I trained. I’m glad to say that I trained
at Mayo.”
Dr. Hughes joined the staff of Mayo
Clinic Jacksonville in 1999, and today, in
addition to being a transplant surgeon,
he is an educator. “I work with surgical
residents and hepatology fellows,”
he says. “Residents bring up intuitive
questions, which spark my learning
and sharpen my skills.”
Physicians at Mayo are both teachers
and students. Many physicians become
experts in their specialties and are eager
to share their knowledge and experience
with colleagues in formal educational
forums and in daily consultations. And,
many serve as faculty in one of Mayo’s
five schools.
One of the tenets of Mayo’s mission
is that every staff member is interested
in the professional progress of all staff
members. The size of Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville makes it feasible to get
to know virtually everyone on staff.
In addition, the one Mayo Clinic
concept serves as a vital connection
to colleagues across its three locations,
and all disciplines.
Mayo identifies your strengths and
equips you to develop your highest
potential with:
Colleagues who are interested in
your professional development
Paid trip days with expense reimbursement, including conference fees
Opportunities to teach inside and
lecture outside the institution
Ancillary resources that support
sharing of knowledge
“I think Mayo is the only medical
center in the country to have distant
location sites, which gives us a unique
barometer on health care in this country,
says Dr. Lange. “It’s a national advantage, and it’s an individual benefit for
anyone looking to build a career that
has depth and breadth.”
To equip physicians to be leaders,
Mayo offers professional development
education. Mayo’s Career Advancement
Leadership Group designs education
modules that address issues related
specifically to career development
and advancement.
“Mayo supports us in our career
choices,” says Dr. Lange. “There are
great resources available to us, including
access to technology and education, great
colleagues, and the stimulation of students,” add Dr. Lange. “I’ve learned to
value these things over the more than
20 years that I’ve been here.”
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Practicing Medicine
the Way You Envisioned
DR. MARY O’CONNOR has the kind of strong handshake you’d expect from an
orthopedic surgeon. The confident gesture reflects what a career in medicine will
yield when professional and personal priorities and goals are in alignment.
I
n 1980, Mary O’Connor was a member
of the U.S. Olympic rowing team. It was
the year that the United States boycotted
the summer Olympics in Moscow as a
protest by President Jimmy Carter against
the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. “Yes,
it was a big disappointment to miss the
Olympics,” says Dr. O’Connor, “but one
has to put this in the right perspective.
I chose to focus on the honor of being
selected to the team. There were many
who did not make the cut.”
The experience taught her important
lessons about leadership, priorities, and
what’s really important in life. Her choice
of orthopedics as a specialty is indicative
of her willingness to pursue goals, even
when it means rowing against the current.
“I knew Mayo had one of the best
orthopedic departments in the country,”
says Dr. O’Connor. “But residents at my
medical school told me that I didn’t have a
chance of getting in at Mayo because the
competition was very tough and because
I was a woman. There were few women in
orthopedic surgery at that time. I was told
to apply to less prestigious programs.”
This lack of encouragement did not
diminish her passion for pursuing a
career in orthopedic surgery. She was
accepted as a resident at Mayo Clinic
Rochester in 1985. She joined the staff of
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in 1991, and since
2005 has served as chair of Orthopedic
Surgery in Jacksonville. With her background and wealth of experience, she
encourages and welcomes more women
to join the staff and fill leadership roles.
“In terms of Mayo, women physicians
and, in particular, surgeons can do very
well,” explains Dr. O’Connor. I know
“It’s the ABILITY to
engage ACTIVELY and
FREQUENTLY with
other people that
SETS MAYO APART.”
Mayo is very interested in being supportive of balancing the demands of family
and career. We want to continue to attract
the best and the brightest. This means
attracting outstanding women and being
an institution which welcomes diversity.
This is a fabulous place for both men and
women — there’s so much opportunity
for professional and career development.”
Dr. O’Connor notes that she continues
to be provided with leadership opportunities. These demand that she prioritize
— balancing career growth while focusing
on clinical, academic and research activities that are important to her — and time
for her family. “While I value my career
and my patients are extremely important
to me, ultimately my most important job
is raising our three children,” she says.
“They are most precious to me.”
At the top of her daily list of priorities
are the patients she cares for: people facing arthritis of the hip and knee, failed
joint replacements, and pelvic tumors.
“Taking care of my patients is my
number one work priority. It is critical to
me that I am at an institution where I am
surrounded by really good people who
help me give the best care to my patients.”
Beyond team members, she sees a
spiritual side to her work. “Driving into
work, I pray for my patients and that I
will do a good job in surgery that day,”
she says. “God is the healer. I try to do my
part, the best I can, to help my patients.”
From Dr. O’Connor’s perspective,
the best things about Mayo are:
Team members committed to
doing what’s best for patients
Access to expert colleagues
Opportunities to cultivate
leadership skills
Administrative support for research
and career development
16
17
18
Wielding All Three Shields
DR. EDITH PEREZ says that we all are connected by breast cancer. “We all have a
friend, a child, a partner who has been affected by it. It really is a societal issue.”
As a physician and researcher, she’s committed her life to changing that fact.
A
conversation with Dr. Perez inspires
hope for all women who have been
diagnosed with breast cancer. Whether
she’s caring for a patient, reviewing the
latest clinical trial data, or training to run
a marathon to help raise money to fight
breast cancer, Dr. Perez is enthusiastic
and hopeful about finding better ways
to treat the nearly 200,000 women in the
United States — and a million around
the world — who are diagnosed with
breast cancer each year.
Her passion for medicine and research
is fueled by a simple question: What can I
do today to make things better for patients?
While doing an internship at a university medical center in California, she
worked under a Mayo-trained chief of
oncology. Then, while giving a poster
presentation at a national meeting, a
Mayo physician offered her kind words
of encouragement. These experiences
factored into her decision in 1995 to join
the staff of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
“I knew before I arrived here that I
connected with the Mayo principles,” says
Dr. Perez. “Here I found an environment
that is collegial across the entire system,
where there is mutual respect for all team
members, and where I am able to engage
in patient care, education and research.”
“I see my talent as GENERATING NEW IDEAS
related to the science of medicine,
and CARRYING THOSE IDEAS far beyond Mayo.
To make that happen takes an
entire team.”
Edith Perez, M.D
In the course of a day, she may care for
patients, meet with colleagues on developing clinical trials of new therapeutic
agents, review manuscripts as part of
her responsibilities on the editorial board
of several journals, work on National
Cancer Institute studies, and put the
finishing touches on a presentation she’ll
deliver at an international meeting.
The scientific and geographic range
of her work is particularly energizing to
her. Dr. Perez believes patients ultimately
benefit through the intellectual exchanges
and associations with other physicians
outside the walls of Mayo. “We can assure
patients that they will receive the best
care because our medical and scientific
contacts with researchers and physicians
EDITH PEREZ, M.D.
within the Mayo system and elsewhere
strengthen our strategies against diseases
such as cancer,” she says. “The world
continues to move around us and I want
to constantly bring change that will
benefit patient care.”
To make the best care available to
patients means integrating the collective
experience and wisdom gained from
Mayo’s multi-disciplinary, team approach
to patient care, research and education
activities. She has seen this in her own
experience. Her work with trastuzumab
(Herceptin) was among the most significant breakthroughs in breast cancer in
three decades.
“It was gratifying work,” she explains.
“I had a good idea and a vision. The Mayo
Model provided the colleagues to see
the vision through.”
Specialty: Hematology/Oncology
Patients: It’s a privilege to care for them
The Mayo Clinic Model of Care: Stands for excellence
Your specialty: Breast cancer prevention and treatment
Your colleagues: I value them; I couldn’t do what I do without them
Work/life choices: It takes focus to achieve good balance; I love to exercise nearly every day
Best part of the day: Thinking about possibilities
19
Discovering the Right Balance
of Work Life and Home Life
DR. KEN DEVAULT, a gastroenterologist, ser ves as chair of the Division of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, but that’s not the only leadership title he holds.
Just ask his wife and six children. Even with a busy professional life, he’s a dad
who attends his kids’ plays and soccer games, and takes morning walks with
his wife on the beach.
I
t has been 14 years since Dr. DeVault
joined Mayo Clinic. Even though he’s
eager to talk about his work in patient
care and research, he’s equally delighted
to point out a Times Union newspaper
article entitled, “Ten tips for raising kids.”
He easily straddles life with one foot in
the professional sphere and the other in
the personal realm of fatherhood. How
does he maintain balance in his life? It’s
quite simple: he makes what he loves
his priority.
Before work, he spends time with his
wife and children. At work, he devotes
half of his time to patient care; the other
half is divided between research and
administrative duties. “I get satisfaction
from it all,” he says. “There’s nothing I
don’t like at Mayo.”
KEN DEVAULT, M.D.
He concedes that he may have more
flexibility than some colleagues due to
his research and administrative work, but
adds that it is possible for some staff
members to work late one night in order
to meet outside commitments other
evenings. “And, if you get sick, your
patients are taken care of by colleagues.
If you were in a small practice, that
wouldn’t be the case.”
There are other pluses he describes,
including a generous paid trip time policy
and vacation days based on age, not
seniority. More routinely, he balances
work with time spent with his family.
Nearly every weekend you can find
him surfing and boogie boarding with
his children.
His wife, Shelly, stays healthy and
active, volunteering her talents to a
local organization that transitions
orphaned children from China into
Specialty: Gastroenterology/Hepatology
What kinds of patients do you care for?
I see patients with all aspects of esophageal disease. We have
a large motility laboratory here and an extensive database.
What words would you use to describe Mayo Clinic?
Supportive. Collegial.
Are you excited about the future of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville?
Yes. The new hospital will provide greater convenience for
patients and staff. It will be better for surgery and for crosscollaboration with colleagues. The proximity of the hospital will
allow me to see my patients in the hospital more routinely.
20
foster homes. When the DeVaults decided
to adopt two girls from that country,
Mayo Clinic’s benefit plan helped make
that possible. “Mayo provided financial
support to help with the adoptions,” he
says. “The benefits here are progressive.”
When it comes to articulating his secret
for living a balanced life, Dr. DeVault
doesn’t have a formula, but a philosophy.
“It’s hard to define work/life balance,”
he says. “As a parent, I have empathy
for all parents. It’s not easy. But if you
don’t enjoy your work, you won’t have
work/life balance. At the end of my
workdays, I can go home and say I did
a good job. Beyond that, you have to
have things you like doing outside of
your work. I like taking care of my kids,
mountain biking, running and surfing.
I’m healthy and I’m content.”
What would a mid-career physician finding appealing
about Mayo Clinic?
If you’re in private practice and consumed with hiring
and firing and managing your practice, this would be
a desirable place to work. Or if you’re in an academic
medical center where it takes weeks to get a consult
for your pancreatic cancer patients, and you want to
be able to give your patients availability to care, this
is the place to be.
21
A Wave of Enthusiasm
for Life in Jacksonville
DRS. LANGE, HUGHES AND COLON grew up in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and
Puerto Rico, respectively. They agree that when an offer came to join Mayo Clinic
in Jacksonville, warm ocean breezes, natural beauty and urban sophistication
made the decision to move here as easy as a stroll along the beach.
“
I
enjoy the outdoors and summers here
are hot, which is fine with me,” says
Dr. Lange, who was completing a fellowship at Mayo Clinic Rochester when he
heard the news that Mayo would be
opening a clinic in Florida. “I’m not a
cold weather person. This is just the right
place for me. Mayo and the community
make this a great place to live and work.”
There are many reasons why.
Jacksonville is built along the Atlantic
Ocean and the St. John’s River. Home
to more than one million residents, it
is known for miles of beautiful beaches,
wind surfing, swimming and fishing.
Many of its citizens are not native to
the city, which adds richness to its
cultural fabric.
All you need to do to experience its
vibrant urban quality is take a walk
along the St. John’s River in downtown
Jacksonville, visit museums, or explore
history at a nearby plantation or other
historic site.
There are excellent golf and tennis
facilities, fishing options, and water
sports from surfing and sea kayaking to
running on the beach. The city is a hub
for professional sporting activities. It is
home to the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars,
World Golf Village and the headquarters
of the PGA tour. Since hosting the Super
Bowl in 2005, the city has continued
to see an upturn in new business
opportunity and associated growth.
There is a range of educational options,
including more than 250 public and private schools and 14 regional colleges and
universities. “There are wonderful schools
for young children,” says Dr. Colon.
“That’s in addition to great recreational
opportunities and the arts.”
There is a diversity of neighborhoods
that include the beach communities, each
of which has its own unique personality.
Other areas of the city encompass many
new housing developments and a large
area of waterways and other attractions.
“What’s great is that the city is not
so big that you have a long commute,”
explains Dr. Hughes. “My home is one
mile from the clinic. There’s been a real
explosion of growth in home building
and business, which is a positive sign.”
When the urge strikes to get out of
the city, there are numerous attractions
within an hour’s drive. “What I like to
do is spend time at the beach or take
weekend trips with my family,” says
Dr. Hughes. “Jacksonville’s location is
a good point from which to drive to
other great communities and sites.”
For instance, Amelia Island to the north,
or St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest
city located south of Jacksonville, are
within easy driving distance.
Drs. Lange, Hughes and Colon: three
transplants who have found in Florida
the life and lifestyle they sought.
23
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MAYO CLINIC.
As a next step in your career planning, we invite you to learn more about
the staff, work environment and professional atmosphere of Mayo Clinic by
visiting our web site at: mayoclinic.org.
We look forward to an opportunity to learn about your career goals and to
further describe how practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic might fulfill your
aspirations for a professionally satisfying and personally enriching career.
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA
SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX, ARIZONA