ROCHESTER, Minn. — A decade after opening, the Mayo Clinic Proton Therapy Program­ in Rochester, Minnesota, has treated 10,000 patients. Annually, the program treats 30%–40% more patients than most comparable centers in the country. And, with new technology and facility expansions, it will soon be able to treat nearly 75% more patients each year with even more precise and effective therapies.

Nadia Laack, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and Anita Mahajan, M.D., radiation oncologist and medical director of Mayo Clinic’s particle therapy center, discuss how Mayo is using tomorrow's standard of care today.

A bold step toward precision and efficiency

Mayo Clinic took a bold step by launching its program in 2015 with pencil beam scanning — an ultranarrow beam that conforms its radiation dose to the shape of the tumor. This allowed a focus on accuracy for complex tumors, many of which were considered untreatable due to their location.

Mayo Clinic, with technology vendors, has continued to elevate this therapy by developing precise tracking technology such as its custom eye-tracking device for melanoma of the eye.

The team's high level of fine-tuning extends to its scheduling. "Most proton systems have one accelerator for four rooms, treating only one at a time," explains Dr. Mahajan. "A patient could be set up in their room, but waiting an hour."

To solve this, Dr. Mahajan helped develop a system that radiation therapists use to communicate and coordinate beam use to minimize patient wait time and discomfort and allow more patients to be treated.

Locking in on a moving target

Heartbeats and breathing create constant movement in the body, making chest and abdominal tumors a moving target and previously impossible to treat safely.

"With our colleagues in Arizona and the vendor, we developed a way to track lung tumors to ensure the beam only turns on when it's within target," says Dr. Laack.

This technology helped extend proton beam therapy's effectiveness beyond cancer.

"Cardiac ablation with proton beam is an example of how we've taken everything to the next level," says Dr. Laack. "Our physicists and the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine developed tools that now allow us to confidently and accurately deliver radiation doses to the heart."

Automating an improved patient experience

Mobility restrictions and constant adjustment can be uncomfortable and time-consuming for patients. They can slow down treatment. Regular bodily functions, including gas, bowel movements and fluid retention, also require ongoing rescanning and radiation plan adjustments for treatment accuracy.

Plan adjustments previously delayed treatment by several days. Automation has helped reduce turnaround time to just one day.

"It's remarkable to have next-day planning because of automation," adds Dr. Laack. "But we can imagine a future where patients lie down comfortably, and we scan and treat them with a custom plan tailored to their current anatomy."

Building on a future-ready foundation

Mayo Clinic is amid a leap forward in heavy particle therapy, decades in the making.

"For 20 years, we've studied data and deepened our understanding of tumor genetics so we could offer the most comprehensive treatment portfolio," says Dr. Laack.

This commitment manifested in the June 2025 opening of the Duan Family Building in Jacksonville, Florida. The building will house the first carbon ion therapy facility in the Americas and introduce powerful radiation delivery for complex and proton-beam- resistant tumors.

In August 2025, the Andersen Building in Rochester also reached a major milestone, adding 360-degree gantry technology that delivers proton beam within a millimeter of accuracy and real-time CT imaging to enable faster, more precise treatment for nearly twice as many patients.

"It's an engineering marvel that represents innovation, collaboration and hope," says Dr. Laack. "It's the promise that every patient who walks through our doors will receive the most precise, personalized and compassionate care available anywhere in the world."

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and to providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Brittany Cordeiro, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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Mayo Clinic is No. 1 on Newsweek's list of "World's Best Smart Hospitals" and has seven No. 1 rankings in "World's Best Specialized Hospitals."

Mayo Clinic in Rochester has been named the No. 1 smart hospital in the world by Newsweek's "World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026" and earned more No. 1 specialty rankings than any other hospital in Newsweek's "World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2026" list.

World's Best Smart Hospitals

The "World's Best Smart Hospitals" rankings recognize 350 healthcare organizations from 30 countries that lead in digital innovation. Mayo Clinic was recognized for its use of artificial intelligence, patient safety technologies, telemedicine and robotics.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Mayo Clinic in Florida and Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, were also recognized in the rankings.

"These hospitals are leaders in innovation in the medical industry, implementing systemic changes that will take patient care into the future," Newsweek says. 

Visit the Newsweek's World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026 website to learn more.

World's Best Specialized Hospitals

This year's "World's Best Specialized Hospitals" list highlights hospitals excelling in 12 medical specialties — the top 300 in cardiology and oncology; the top 250 in pediatrics; the top 150 in cardiac surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, orthopedics and pulmonology; and the top 125 in neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology and urology.

For the first time, Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont, Minnesota, has earned a place on this ranking list, recognized specifically in Pulmonology. While Fairmont's debut is in a single specialty, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire have experienced gains in their rankings across specialties since last year. Specifically, Mayo Clinic in Florida has improved its ranking in all 12 specialties, Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire in seven, Mayo Clinic in Arizona in six, and Mayo Clinic in Rochester in four. 

Visit Newsweek's World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2026 website to learn more.

More information

Mayo Clinic is the medical center most recognized as a top choice by many ranking organizations. Many agencies rate quality in healthcare. Mayo Clinic is the only healthcare organization that consistently ranks among the top providers worldwide, regardless of the quality measures used.

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Before the sun rises at his home near Orlando, Florida, Rakesh Parekh, M.D., is already making the most of the day. He reviews patient notes and exercises before joining his wife, Tejal Parekh, in preparing their children for school. Time means a great deal to Dr. Parekh.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after muscle weakness began to affect his movement. ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Worsening over time, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.

Watch: Dr. Rakesh Parekh's story

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (2:16) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"You get this diagnosis, and, you know, within three to five years, you're no longer," says Dr. Parekh.

He was familiar with the disease long before his own diagnosis.

"My father lived with ALS," says Dr. Parekh. "I know time is of the essence."

Initially working with a care team closer to home, Tejal and Dr. Parekh were determined to find a way forward to preserve his quality of life and possibly help others, including their children, who have a chance of inheriting the gene mutation. The couple began messaging physicians, researchers and friends around the world. That's when they learned about the work of Dr. Bjorn Oskarsson, a Mayo Clinic neurologist.

"Dr. Oskarsson was recommended to us by a friend, and it was like finding a diamond in the rough," says Tejal Parekh.

A personalized approach

Dr. Oskarsson and colleagues at Mayo Clinic have spent their careers looking for answers and options for people diagnosed with ALS. A multidisciplinary care team met with Dr. Parekh in May 2021 and began tests to determine the best way forward.

"We worked with our outside partner to develop an individualized treatment made just for him," says Dr. Oskarsson.

The therapy aims to stop protein production by targeting the gene mutation and halting the progression of the disease. After nearly two years of testing and preparations, Dr. Parekh's first treatment was an injection in his spine in April 2024.

"He is the first person in the world to have received this treatment," says Dr. Oskarsson.

He would repeat the trip from Orlando to Jacksonville for the next two months, then placed on a three-month dosage.

"More than just ourselves, this would be a step forward for all the other people getting diagnosed with ALS; it would be something for them, hope," says Tejal.

One year after treatment started, the results are exciting to the Parekhs and Dr. Oskarsson.

"This is something that is truly new, and one day we will get there for everyone," says Dr. Oskarsson. "And when that happens, there's nothing that compares. It's a beautiful thing."

Back home, Dr. Parekh reflects on how this treatment has changed his outlook. His 25 years working in healthcare did not prepare him for what it would be like to receive care, let alone a therapy that may benefit his children one day.

"Not only has it made an impact on our lives, but honestly, it's made an impact on the way I practice because I realize now what patients need beyond healthcare," says Dr. Parekh.

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Kenneth Adams understands the importance of love, resilience and family. After his wife's passing in 2022, Adams reconnected with a lifelong friend, whom he had known for nearly 50 years. Kenneth and Susan Kidd eventually fell in love, and they were committed to building a life together.

"We love to travel and spend time with family — we wanted our relationship to be an example for our grandchildren. And to us, marriage was the next step," Adams said.

While making plans for a wedding in early 2025, Kenneth became ill and was diagnosed with sepsis. His complex condition required coordinated care, so the team at Mayo Clinic developed a plan: antibiotics administered intravenously every day for six weeks. Instead of staying in the hospital for the duration of the treatment, Kenneth's care team determined he was a candidate for Mayo Clinic's Advanced Care at Home program.

Going home

Advanced Care at Home offers patients high-acuity care, delivered in the comfort of their home. With around-the-clock access, advanced technology and a dedicated in-home care team, patients receive comprehensive treatment while minimizing stress and disruption to daily life. 

"With Advanced Care at Home, we can treat, monitor and communicate with patients as we would in a hospital setting, without recreating the feeling of being in a hospital setting," says Dr. Michael Maniaci, director of Advanced Care at Home.

For Kenneth, receiving treatment at home allowed him to maintain his routine, enjoy meals and sleep without interruption. 

“The program provided everything you would need in a hospital but with the comforts of home and closeness of family," Kenneth says. "They had the procedures down, the infrastructure and the systems in place — it was a dream come true."

As the end of his treatment neared and his strength improved, Kenneth and Susan began thinking about a wedding ceremony again.

A wedding between treatments

On May 19, 2025, Kenneth and Susan invited a pair of close friends and a pastor to their Ponte Vedra, Florida, home. The couple was married in their backyard, and just an hour after saying "I do," Kenneth received one of his daily treatments.

"Getting married was a goal for Mr. Adams, so as his care team, we made sure he could achieve that goal safely and on his terms," Dr. Maniaci says.

Kenneth credits Advanced Care at Home with making the wedding possible. He was discharged from the program a week later with no signs of sepsis. 

“People heal better at home," he says. “I feel that I'm living proof of that. There was no burden on my family — the team handled everything – and by being at home, I could get married,” Kenneth says.

By late July, Kenneth was well enough to resume another passion: travel. A trip that had been postponed earlier in the year was back on the calendar as a honeymoon. Looking ahead, Kenneth is preparing for an annual family trip in October. He continues to live with purpose and gratitude. 

“I want to do what I can, while I can,” Kenneth says. "I can do so much more with my health restored."

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While doctors are often focused on monitoring the health and vital signs of others, a new study had some tuning in to their own health and vital statistics as well. The results suggest that doing so may offer doctors real benefits to their own well-being, in a scalable way. 

Physicians who wore a smartwatch and had access to their personal health data — including information on their heart rate, sleep, breathing patterns and physical activity — reported greater resilience and 54% saw a reduction in the overall odds of burnout compared to those who did not receive a study smartwatch, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open. Mayo Clinic investigators conducted the study in collaboration with the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

"Advancing care starts with caring for those who deliver it. We're shaping a future where the well-being of our workforce is integral to the care we deliver."   - Colin West, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of Employee Well-Being at Mayo Clinic

Physician well-being is essential not only to personal health, but also to the quality of care patients receive. It's tied to job performance, patient safety, access to care and workforce sustainability.  

That’s why Mayo Clinic and others are prioritizing strategies to strengthen and sustain the well-being of healthcare professionals. 

How the smartwatch trial was designed and conducted 

The 12-month trial was conducted at Mayo Clinic and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. It included 184 physicians across specialties such as primary care, surgery, neurology and oncology. Researchers randomly assigned about half of the participants to wear a smartwatch for the full 12 months, while they gave the other half the watch during the study’s second half.

All participants received brief newsletters with general tips on smartwatch use and reminders to sync their devices. These resources aimed to support awareness of the tools and encourage engagement with personal health data.

Physicians in both study groups wore the device more than 70% of the time during the trial. Participants also completed validated well-being surveys at the beginning and end of the study. 

Participants could view their health data through a mobile app but were not prompted to take specific actions in response to it. Researchers say even this passive approach may help support well-being.  

Designing smarter tools for a healthy workforce

The study was co-designed and led by Arjun Athreya, Ph.D., an electrical and computer engineer in Mayo Clinic's Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; Colin West, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Employee Well-Being at Mayo Clinic; and study Principal Investigator Liselotte Dyrbye, M.D., M.H.P.E., senior associate dean for faculty and chief well-being officer at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

"We're entering an era where wearable technology, when paired with thoughtful design and artificial intelligence methods that use the data, could help personalize well-being strategies in clinical settings," Dr. Athreya says. "This study shows we can support healthcare professionals with passive monitoring digital technologies with innovative engagement strategies to provide potentially helpful data without adding burden to their day."  

The researchers say this approach can offer timely support as part of a broader physician well-being strategy. 

"While this is an individually focused intervention, it offers an evidence-based way to support physicians in the short term, complementing longer-term efforts aimed at addressing systemic contributors to physician stress," says Dr. Dyrbye. 

Caring for caregivers: A vision for the future

Next steps for the researchers include evaluating long-term outcomes of the smartwatch project. They also plan to explore whether this approach can support other healthcare professionals.

"Advancing care starts with caring for those who deliver it," says Dr. West. "We’re shaping a future where the well-being of our workforce is integral to the care we deliver."   

The Physicians Foundation, Mayo Clinic's Center for Individualized Medicine, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine partly funded the study. Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding details. 

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This week's episode of Tomorrow's Cure comes to you from the PlatforMed Conference, held in June 2025 in Minneapolis. The event brought together more than 250 global leaders across healthcare, government, academia and business to explore the future of healthcare.

Hosted by Mayo Clinic, the conference examined how platform thinking is transforming clinical care. This forward-looking approach encourages multiple organizations to collaborate to co-create greater value for patients and consumers. In healthcare, platform thinking accelerates innovation, empowers clinicians and expands access to high-quality care.

Throughout the event, healthcare leaders joined Tomorrow's Cure host Cathy Wurzer to share their insights on the future of medicine. The episode features conversations with:

• John Halamka, M.D., Dwight and Dian Diercks President, Mayo Clinic Platform
• Maneesh Goyal, chief operating officer, Mayo Clinic Platform
• Clark Otley, M.D., chief medical officer, Mayo Clinic Platform 
• Sonya Makhni, M.D., medical director, Applied Informatics, Mayo Clinic Platform 
• Aashima Gupta, global director of healthcare strategy and solutions, Google Cloud 
• Rodrigo Bornhausen Demarch, M.D., chief innovation officer, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein 
• Patrick Woodard, M.D., chief information officer, Monument Health 
• Deepak Abraham, Ph.D., chief of medical staff, American Misson Hospital; medical director, King Hamad American Mission Hospital 

Mayo Clinic Platform is the first healthcare platform of its kind, connecting a global ecosystem of data, solution developers and healthcare professionals to drive innovation and deliver new cures.

Goyal highlights Mayo Clinic Platform's global mission, "The purpose of Mayo Clinic Platform is to enable others to deliver high-quality care based on what we know and have learned across our 160 years. So it's about scalability. Our primary call to action is how do we enable 50% of the healthcare providers globally to benefit from Mayo Clinic so that we can impact billions of lives? That’s a platform model. What we’re trying to do with healthcare is: How can we do that? And how can we do that at large scale?"

Mayo Clinic Platform not only connects de-identified clinical data from geographically and ethnically diverse populations, but also powers smarter care delivery:

• Enhancing efficiency – Reducing administrative burden so clinicians can focus on patients, not paperwork.
• Accelerating insights – Integrating digital solutions into clinical workflows to improve accuracy and speed of decision-making.
• Advancing research – Providing a wealth of data to develop tailored treatments and tackle rare, serious and complex diseases.

By linking past patient data to guide future care, Mayo Clinic Platform enables more personalized medicine, improves hospital operations and supports a more sustainable, patient-centered healthcare system.

Dr. Halamka closed the conference with an inspiring call to action, "So, you are here to make a difference. You're here to make an impact. You're here to be part of global transformation of healthcare, and you're here at a time where the only way to do it is partnership and collaboration around platform thinking."

Listen to this inspiring episode of Tomorrow's Cure at tomorrowscure.com. To learn more about Mayo Clinic Platform, visit mayoclinicplatform.org.

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On this week's episode of Tomorrow's Cure, we explore brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), cutting-edge technologies that create direct communication pathways between the human brain and external devices. Once considered science fiction, BCIs are now transforming lives. 

The podcast episode features Dr. Jonathon Parker, epilepsy and functional neurosurgeon, assistant professor of neurosurgery and neuroscience, and director of the Neuroelectronics Research Lab at Mayo Clinic; and Dr. Allen Waziri, neuroscientist and neurosurgeon, and CEO and co-founder of iCE Neurosystems. Together, they discuss the science behind BCIs, current medical applications and the transformative possibilities they hold for the future.

BCIs offer groundbreaking possibilities in the treatment of neurological disorders, with the potential to restore mobility, communication and independence to people affected by severe neurologic injuries or conditions. Already, this technology is enabling users to control prosthetic limbs and digital interfaces through brain activity.

"The brain is a piece of hardware; the brain-computer interface is another piece of hardware we are connecting to the brain," says Dr. Parker. "We are used to communicating through speech, movement, understanding other sensory inputs, right? So this is digitizing those inputs to solve a problem." 

"BCIs, for several decades, is the translation of those electrical potentials that are coming off of the brain into something that we can understand on a computer side that will then functionalize whatever device — a robotic arm, a cursor on a screen, drive a wheelchair, so on and so forth," says Dr. Waziri.

BCIs are being used to assist people with neurological injuries that impair speech or movement. However, experts believe this technology has far greater potential. Beyond restoring motor function, BCIs could pave the way for continuous neurological monitoring and new forms of intervention, opening doors to transformative applications in brain health.

Dr. Parker emphasizes the broader clinical implications of the technology. "When delivered to clinicians so they can just monitor the brain signals overtime, (it) could have tremendous impact for epilepsy, depression, Alzheimer's — these conditions which are affecting huge swaths of our population. That's the future of this technology," he says. 

Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation on the evolving science of BCIs and the remarkable innovations that could redefine human-machine interaction. Listen to the latest episode of Tomorrow's Cure, and explore the full library of episodes and guests at tomorrowscure.com.

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When the spine begins to curve sideways during childhood or adolescence, it can lead to a condition known as scoliosis. While traditional treatments have remained largely unchanged for decades, new advancements are offering young patients and their families more choices — and better outcomes. In this episode of Tomorrow's Cure, we explore the evolving landscape of scoliosis care and what these innovations mean for the future of spinal health.

Featured experts include Dr. A. Noelle Larson, orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic, and Michelle Marks, executive director of the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation. Together, they have developed a shared decision-making tool that helps guide families through the complex process of evaluating treatment options.

Scoliosis treatment is determined by the size of the spinal curve and the child's remaining growth. A common non-surgical intervention is the use of a hard plastic brace, often worn 13 to 18 hours a day, that can be physically and emotionally demanding for young patients.

Historically, the only surgical option was spinal fusion, in which vertebrae are joined using metal rods and screws to stabilize and straighten the spine. Over time, the vertebrae fuse together. While spinal fusion can be highly effective, it reduces spinal flexibility, which can be challenging for young athletes and active individuals.

Now, a new treatment called vertebral body tethering (VBT) is offering a motion-preserving alternative. This technique uses a flexible plastic cord, which allows for spinal movement while gradually straightening the spine as the child grows. The tether adapts to the patient's development, offering a more dynamic and less restrictive solution.

"Scoliosis is not cancer or life-threatening per se, but to that patient and that family, it's life-changing. Going through either a surgery or years and years of bracing takes a toll," said Marks. "They need support, and they need to know that there are incredible professionals that are spending all their free time trying to advance care in every way they can for patients with scoliosis."

The goal of Dr. Larson's and Marks' decision-making tool is to empower families through shared decision-making. By outlining key considerations identified through extensive research, the tool fosters meaningful conversations between clinicians and families, creating space for thoughtful, informed treatment choices.

"I believe that many parents know what's best for their own child, and I hope that in my encounter with families, I can educate them and provide options and help translate the best available evidence and the best available research to that family," said Dr. Larson. "Then the family is really making the decision."

Importantly, the tool also ensures that the child remains actively involved in their care. "This tool is a way to engage the teenager and ask them questions, ask them to give their opinion," Dr. Larson continued. "It's a great opportunity to make sure the child has self-determination."

Learn more about the latest breakthroughs in scoliosis care in this episode of Tomorrow's Cure. For more episodes and featured experts, visit tomorrowscure.com. 

Related Articles:

• Vertebral body tethering: Another option for treating scoliosis in children
• New Surgery for Scoliosis Keeps Teen Agile and Active
• Scoliosis Surgery Preserves Teen's Mobility, Boosts Self-Esteem
• Mayo Clinic Q and A: Do children with mild scoliosis need treatment?

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In April 2023, CV Rao had just returned from a work trip in Europe when he started experiencing abdominal pain on his right side. His wife, a doctor, recognized that he needed to see his primary care physician for an ultrasound scan. 

When the ultrasound didn't show anything, CV's care team ordered a CT scan. The results were alarming — a 7 centimeter tumor, the size of a large peach, was in his liver. 

"It was a shock to the system," CV recalls. 

The initial diagnosis suggested intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the bile ducts.

CV quickly received a PET scan, an MRI and a biopsy at a local hospital which confirmed those suspicions. Within eight days, CV was undergoing chemotherapy to shrink the tumor so he might be eligible for surgery.

After six cycles of chemotherapy, the tumor was reevaluated. The good news was that the cancer was responsive to chemotherapy, and the tumor had shrunk by about 50%. Unfortunately, because the tumor surrounded major blood vessels, local surgeons still deemed it inoperable.

Seeking a second opinion

Determined to explore all options, CV sought a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. 

"I was working on 3D printing investments and kept running into Mayo's innovative approaches," he explains. "Everywhere I looked, they had this 3D printing effort where the surgeons were able to visualize what they were operating on using 3D printed organs."

This led him to believe that Mayo Clinic could offer a solution.

A new hope

Six months after diagnosis, CV and his wife, Madhavi, sat across from Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S., a hepatologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

"We want to give every patient every chance. Undergoing surgery was his best chance at being tumor-free."

Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S.

After reviewing his imaging and personalized treatment plan with Dr. Malhi, CV and his wife met with Patrick Starlinger, M.D., Ph.D., a hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon. 

"Dr. Starlinger looked at me and said, 'You came to the right place. We can help you with this,'" CV remembers.

All three liver veins appeared to be involved. This type of tumor usually is not removable because there must be at least one vein to drain the liver, according to Dr. Starlinger.

"We told him to continue chemotherapy to maximize his response, aiming to get the tumor even smaller. And then we planned for advanced, complex liver surgery."

Patrick Starlinger, M.D.

Although CV understood this would be a high-risk procedure, he remembers feeling reassured after speaking with Dr. Starlinger.

"Dr. Starlinger looked at his fellows and said, 'Would you say this is routine?' And they all said 'Yes, it's a routine surgery for us,'" CV says.

As a native of Austria, Dr. Starlinger explains, "In German, we have a word that means saying 'yes' to life, 'lebensbejahend,' and that's how CV approached this. Both CV and his wife had such positive attitudes and a willingness to fight this with all they had."

CV believes the same can be said of Dr. Starlinger's approach to his case. 

"The very first day, Dr. Starlinger walked in with a positive attitude, which is one of the things that you realize you absolutely need to get through things like this," CV says.

Resecting the unresectable

CV's surgery was scheduled for November 22, 2023, the day before Thanksgiving. 

To prepare for the operation, Dr. Starlinger turned to a 3D printed model of CV's anatomy, just like the ones that had led CV to Mayo Clinic.

"3D models are incredibly helpful in complex surgical procedures because they allow for optimized surgical planning prior to the actual surgery," Dr. Starlinger explains.

At 6 a.m. on Nov. 22, CV was taken back to the operating room for the complex, 4.5-hour surgery. 

"We carefully dissected through the liver until we approached the right hepatic vein, which was really the critical portion of CV's operation," Dr. Starlinger says. "We had everything prepared to reimplant the only remaining liver vein, but with meticulous precision, using an ultrasound dissection device, we were ultimately able to peel the tumor off the majority of the right hepatic vein and perform a primary repair of the vessel."

Dr. Starlinger and the surgical team removed roughly 50% of CV's liver, along with the entire tumor. The surgery was a success.

Experiencing cherished milestones

Nearly two years after his diagnosis, CV is returning to the activities he loved. He has resumed skiing, attended his younger son's robotics competitions, and even traveled to Switzerland and Austria with his wife. 

"I can't wait to see my older son graduate and drop him off at college," he shares with a smile. "We are in a stage of life where a lot of life events are happening. It's amazing to do these things that are important to the family."

These moments, once clouded by uncertainty, are now cherished milestones.

Reflecting on his care at Mayo Clinic, CV expresses deep gratitude to the team that provided him with expert and compassionate treatment. 

"The Mayo Clinic staff is beyond what we've experienced elsewhere," he says. "During my seven days in the hospital, we interacted with many nurses, and through changes in shifts, it was just a uniformly amazing experience. Every, every single person we came in touch with was such a positive experience."

"We wish Dr. Starlinger the longest career possible because the number of lives he has and will save is incredible," he says. 

Related post:

• (VIDEO) A rare cancer. A rare weapon. Curtis Jackson’s inspiring story of survival

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For many cancer patients, treatment can be an isolating and overwhelming journey — marked by fear, fatigue and the constant burden of travel. But what if chemotherapy could be delivered at home? In this episode, we explore the movement to bring cancer care into the comfort of patients' homes. Could this shift not only ease the experience but also improve outcomes?

This week's episode of Tomorrow’s Cure features insights from Dr. Roxana Dronca, hematologist, oncologist and director of Mayo Clinic in Florida Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society. 

According to the American Cancer Society, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with cancer every 15 seconds. That staggering statistic drives the urgent push for more patient-centered, accessible care models. But what does that look like in practice?

For Dr. Dronca, this mission is personal — her daughter's cancer diagnosis revealed just how taxing traditional care can be. Out of that experience came a passionate commitment to transform how and where cancer care is delivered.

"I think cancer care, part of the scariness of it is how unknown it is, how unfamiliar it is in its approach," said Dr. Kamal. "But what if we could soften it by making components of it actually feel as normal as we can?"

Mayo Clinic's response: Cancer CARE (Connected Access and Remote Expertise) Beyond Walls, a new model offering expert care outside of hospital walls. The initiative minimizes travel and maximizes access by combining in-home services with a Mayo Clinic-based command center staffed by advanced practice providers, nurses and hospitalists. This team remotely coordinates care, ensuring seamless integration with each patient's medical history.

"I see that there is no choice every time I speak about Cancer CARE Beyond Walls," stated Dr. Dronca. 

In today's world, "Patients live longer, they need more treatments and we have more cancer diagnoses. We're really being outpaced in our ability to offer treatment to everyone in our physical spaces. So, we either think creatively and design a system where we can get care to more patients and also make the care more patient-friendly, or we build more chemotherapy units."

At-home cancer care isn't just a vision — it's happening now. Join us as we explore this transformative approach to care and what it means for the future of oncology. Listen to the latest episode of Tomorrow's Cure to learn more. 

Related Articles:

• Is home-based treatment the future of cancer care?
• Transforming cancer care with treatments at home 

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