When a tornado struck Rochester, the Franciscan Sisters joined Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his sons, Will and Charlie, in caring for wounded survivors. Mother Alfred Moes envisioned a hospital. “With our faith and hope and energy,” she told Dr. Mayo, “it will succeed.”

The Mayos and their colleagues created a new way to practice medicine: teams of specialists who place the needs of the patient first.

Within 30 years, “the clinic in the cornfield” became an internationally respected medical center. During the World War I era, Mayo Clinic developed innovations that remain central to our mission today.

In 1919, the Mayo brothers and their wives established Mayo Clinic as a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to excellence in patient care, research and education.

I could talk all day about the Mayo Clinic but I will spare you all the history that I learned.  However, I must tell you Mayo’s primary mission:

The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered.

Mayo also understands that caring for the whole patient extends beyond treating physical ailments.  Since its inception, Mayo has used art, architecture and beauty in surroundings to address the “spiritual aspects” of medical care.

I promised an amazing sculpture.  Below is our picture of the original Michelangelo Pieta which we took when we visited the Vatican a few years ago.  It was my favorite piece of art in the Vatican.

Then we found this gift from Mr. David Lindgren at the Mayo Clinic Saint Mary’s Hospital.  This reproduction of Mary was commissioned by the Pope when it was placed at Saint Mary’s Campus Hospital of the Mayo Clinic.

Michelangelo captured the extreme beauty of Mary’s face, full of grace and compassion,

The original Clinic was located in the Plumber Building.  The Mayo Brothers created a hospital where people were excited to come, with ornate doors, marble floors, and a reception desk more like a hotel than a hospital.  The patients were treated as equals and that same attitude exists today.  When William asked one of my doctors why they did not wear white coats, he told us dressing in suits put them on equal levels as other staff and the patients.

The Mayo Clinic is as beautiful inside as it is out.  Art is everywhere.  Another thing to note is when William was taking pictures with me in the photo several times doctors who were passing by stopped and took the picture with us both in the photo.  Below are random pictures of art we loved.

And here is the Medical School.

Thanks for coming along with us on this adventure in Rochester, MN.  We will continue to share as this adventure has just begun.

My last picture is of the first person we met here in Rochester.  He has this coffee cart at the Clinic but he also has a Vegan Restaurant in the city which we will frequent a lot.

So meet Old Abe with Old William