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Minnesota
Mayo Clinic Celebrates Heritage Days, Sept. 30–Oct. 4
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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Sept. 24, 2013 — Heritage Days, a tradition for many years, celebrates the history, culture and values of Mayo Clinic. The events held across the Mayo Clinic campuses in Rochester, Florida, Arizona and the Mayo Clinic Health System recognize and thank all of the dedicated employees and volunteers who provide service to patients.
This year, Heritage Days also kicks off the Mayo Clinic Sesquicentennial, honoring 150 years of continuous service to patients. Dr. William Worrall Mayo settled his family in Rochester, Minn., in 1864 and opened a medical practice that evolved under his sons into Mayo Clinic, a global source of hope and healing.
Events for the Mayo Clinic Sesquicentennial will continue through December 2014. Visit the Sesquicentennial website at150years.mayoclinic.org.
Everyone is welcome to attend the events taking place across the Rochester campus Sept. 30-Oct. 4:
- "Ring in" Heritage Days and the Sesquicentennial by enjoying the return of long-lost music of the Rochester Carillon. With generous support from John T. and Lillian G. Mathews, the carillon clock function has been computerized. You will now hear, for the first time in many years, the Westminster ("Big Ben") chimes on the quarter-hour as well as hymns at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., originally selected by Dr. Will Mayo. These chimes are best known for being played on the Big Ben clock in London. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the dedication of the Plummer Building and Rochester Carillon. The event begins at noon on Monday, Sept. 30.
- Midday entertainment will take place Monday through Friday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at five locations downtown and at Saint Marys Hospital. A variety of musical and dance performances, many featuring Mayo Clinic employees and community organizations.
- Premiere of an original film, "A Cheerful Heart: The Dave Madden Story," the true story of a young man who contracted polio in 1948 and lived for 16 years in an iron lung at Saint Marys Hospital. Despite limitations and confinement that few people can imagine today, Madden's faith and good cheer inspired everyone who met him. Visitors included famous entertainers and athletes, politicians and royalty. He ran a TV rental business from his iron lung and appeared on the "Today Show." There is no charge and the film will be shown several times each day in Geffen Auditorium. The schedule is available on the Heritage Days website. This film is made possible by a generous gift from Gerald and Henrietta Rauenhorst.
- Display of an original iron lung in Mathews Grand Lobby, street level of the Mayo Building.
- Posters highlighting milestone anniversaries in Mayo Clinic history can be found in the Mathews Grand Lobby, street level of the Mayo Building.
- Display of antique vehicles on Annenberg Plaza, between the Plummer and Mayo buildings. Look for a late 1800s/early 1900s doctor's buggy and a 1950 Packard "woodie" sedan with trailer and wooden motorboat.
- Visit the Mayo Clinic's Research Information Center in the Gonda Building Lobby on Oct. 3, at 1:30 p.m., to meet cardiovascular researcher Robert Simari, M.D., to learn about approaches to build heart valves using stem cell and bioengineering technologies. The goal of these studies is to build a living and growing heart valve made from the patients' own cells. This year marks the two-year anniversary of the center, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The public is welcome to participate in the week's festivities. Event listings can be found at most information desks on campus.
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About Mayo Clinic
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org, www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu
