ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Platform welcomes 31 digital healthcare companies to the October cohort of its developer program, which is the largest cohort to date. Participating companies work with Mayo Clinic Platform's de-identified clinical data ecosystem, in addition to receiving tailored mentorship from Mayo Clinic experts and education on clinical and business topics to advance the development of their digital health solutions.

"Mayo Clinic Platform Accelerate has grown to support health tech companies at different stages of development, with program pathways tailored to their objectives and technical needs," says Jamie Sundsbak, director of the Mayo Clinic Platform Accelerate program. "Through our 30-week and multiyear pathways, participating companies gain access to advanced technologies, Mayo Clinic expertise and de-identified clinical data to help them build, refine and scale digital health solutions."

The companies joining the multiyear pathway are developing AI-powered solutions to support clinicians and patient care. They will have up to two years of access to Mayo Clinic Platform's data environment, advisors and ongoing technical support to continue development of their solutions and potential real-world deployment. The six companies are:

• A.I. VALI
• Cardio AI Live
• DxDepth
• FluidAI Medical
• GRAIMED
• Healthplus.ai

The companies participating in the 30-week accelerator track are developing data-driven solutions designed to improve healthcare through advanced technologies and AI. They will collaborate with leading experts, working with de-identified clinical data, and advancing solution development through a structured curriculum and one-on-one technical mentorship. The 25 companies are:

• Acellus Health
• Bewelab SA
• Cardio4D
• CibyLink
• Collabiora/askYori
• Corpus AI
• Cortical Dynamics
• Gauss
• Elli Cares
• EO Care
• GeneSilico
• Gheorg
• Healthspan AI
• Hi-D Imaging
• HosTalky
• KiHealth
• OncoSeer Diagnostics
• POD Health
• Quasar Intelligence
• Raras Health
• SQK
• Synagen AI
• TinyMoves.ai
• Veridata Health
• Welltory

For more information about each company, visit the October cohort webpage.

Since its launch in 2022, Accelerate has supported more than 130 companies from around the world. To learn more about the program or to apply for an upcoming cohort, visit Mayo Clinic Platform Accelerate.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse or warrant the third-party products or services made available through Mayo Clinic Platform, including their functionality, quality, or performance. Mayo Clinic expressly disclaims any express or implied warranties on such third-party products or services, including any implied warranties of merchantability, quality, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, or noninfringement. All use of these third-party products or services, including applicable rights or remedies, are governed by separate terms with the applicable third-party developers or providers.  

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

About Mayo Clinic Platform
Mayo Clinic Platform is a strategic initiative of Mayo Clinic that enables collaboration, data-driven innovation and responsible AI development to transform healthcare globally. Mayo Clinic Platform is reimagining healthcare as an ecosystem — one where data, digital solutions and expertise flow seamlessly between innovators and care teams to improve care for patients everywhere.

Media contact:

• Caroline Auger, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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The tool, called Dermoscopy Explainable Intelligence (DEXI), is part of an advanced imaging system that dermatologists use to capture and track skin lesions over time. DEXI assigns lesions a score from 0.0 to 10.0 based on image characteristics associated with cancer risk. It also identifies features — such as asymmetry, border and color — that contribute to the score, providing dermatologists with additional information they can consider alongside their clinical evaluation.

Researchers evaluated DEXI scores for skin lesions with known diagnoses. Using a threshold of 3.0 — meaning a score of 3.0 or higher was considered positive for potential skin cancer — DEXI correctly identified 93.4% of cancerous lesions and 75% of noncancerous lesions.

"Prior to the study, I would review a patient's DEXI score, but I wouldn't know exactly what to do with the number," says Jenny Link, M.D., dermatologist at Mayo Clinic and the study's lead author. "Now I can confidently use the score as another piece of data to inform my clinical judgment on whether I recommend a biopsy or monitoring."  

Study evaluates DEXI's clinical use

DEXI is a deep-learning tool trained on more than 66,000 annotated dermoscopy images. In addition to assigning a cancer risk score, the tool uses explainable AI to indicate which image features contributed to its score.

The retrospective study included 178 patients who underwent total-body photography, sequential digital dermoscopy imaging and subsequent biopsy of one or more skin lesions.

Researchers analyzed 261 lesions with both a DEXI score and a diagnosis confirmed by tissue examination. They compared scores for noncancerous and cancerous lesions and further separated cancerous lesions into melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.

The average DEXI score was 2.5 for noncancerous lesions, compared with 7.8 for nonmelanoma skin cancers and 6.0 for melanomas. Cancerous lesions had significantly higher DEXI scores than noncancerous lesions. Based on these findings, researchers identified 3.0 as a potential threshold that could help inform clinicians' decisions about monitoring or biopsy.

"We identified 3.0 as a potential DEXI score threshold that could provide useful information when dermatologists are considering whether to monitor a lesion or perform a biopsy," says Dr. Link.  

The researchers also identified limitations. DEXI does not account for patient-specific factors, such as age, medications and history of melanoma. The tool was also less effective at evaluating severely atypical nevi, or skin moles, and early evolving melanomas.

"Our study demonstrated that DEXI is a useful and valuable tool to support clinicians as they evaluate cancerous and noncancerous skin lesions, but it should not be used in isolation. The score must be interpreted alongside clinical findings and patient-specific factors, and the tool requires further validation and refinement," says Dr. Link.

For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.

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

Media contact: 

• Julie Ferris-Tillman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic in Rochester has again been named the No. 1 smart hospital in the world by Newsweek's "World's Best Smart Hospitals 2027."

Newsweek's "World's Best Smart Hospitals" recognizes 410 healthcare organizations from 33 countries that are advancing digital innovation.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona ranked No. 11, Mayo Clinic in Florida ranked No. 21 and Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, ranked No. 46, placing all four Mayo Clinic hospitals in the top 50 worldwide. Each moved up from last year, while Mayo Clinic in Rochester maintained its No. 1 position. All four also were recognized as Leaders in AI Innovation.

"The best answers often come when teams of experts use technology to bring different perspectives together, make better decisions and find answers sooner,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., Mayo Clinic president and CEO. “These rankings reflect the depth of expertise our teams bring to some of the most complex conditions in medicine and how they are using data, AI and other technologies to make that care better. We will keep advancing this work to bring hope and healing to more patients.”

The recognition adds to Mayo Clinic's longstanding performance across independent measures of healthcare quality. Earlier this year, Newsweek named Mayo Clinic the No. 1 hospital in the world for the eighth consecutive year in its "World's Best Hospitals 2026" ranking.

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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:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic named No. 1 smart hospital in the world appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For more than five years, Maricela Olivas had been living with worsening liver disease. By the time she came to Mayo Clinic in Arizona from her home in New Mexico, her condition had become life-threatening. 

Still, she saw an opportunity. 

"I see a door. I see a big door. I said, 'This is my opportunity,” she says. 

Watch: A new door opens: How teamwork and a transplant gave a New Mexico mom a second chance.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:36) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Maricela needed a liver transplant. She also developed hepatopulmonary syndrome, a rare complication of liver disease that affected her body's ability to get enough oxygen. 

"I been suffering all these years, and my kids are suffering, my husband is suffering," she says. 

Dr. Bashar Aqel, chair of the Transplant Center at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and a member of Maricela's care team, says her condition was dire when she arrived at Mayo Clinic. 

"In her case, because of her liver disease, the blood was shunted away from her lungs, so she was not able to maintain the oxygenation of her body," he says. 

Without timely treatment, Maricela's prognosis was poor. 

"Most likely, we're talking about only a few months of survival with her liver, if her liver disease and her hepatopulmonary syndrome were not addressed in a timely manner," Dr. Aqel adds. 

Maricela had been turned away by other transplant centers because of the complexity of her condition. At Mayo Clinic, that complexity brought specialists from across disciplines together to determine how they could help. 

"We have gathered a team of experts across multiple disciplines — surgeons, medical providers, nurses, nutritionists, social workers, and many, many others — they work together in harmony," Dr. Aqel says. 

An important part of Maricela's care was extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which is an advanced form of life support for patients.  

"It's a support system that will help to complement the work of the heart and the lungs when somebody is extremely sick," Dr. Aqel explains. 

Maricela received a liver transplant in April 2026. 

Her recovery took time. As she walked out of the hospital, staff lined the hallway, cheering and applauding.

"At the end of the line, I was jumping like crazy. I don't know how I get energy to jump, and I was happy," Maricela recalls. 

Maricela came to the Mayo Clinic hoping for a chance and was determined to get better. Months later, she walked out of the hospital and headed toward a new chapter. 

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WAKEFIELD, R.I., and ROCHESTER, Minn. — South County Health (SCH) and Mayo Clinic today announced SCH has become the first healthcare organization in Rhode Island to join the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a select group of independent healthcare organizations carefully vetted by Mayo Clinic and granted special access to Mayo Clinic's knowledge, expertise and resources.

The milestone represents a significant advancement for healthcare in Rhode Island and serves as a foundational step in South County Health's vision to create a new model for independent community healthcare — one that combines world-class clinical expertise, advanced digital capabilities, and local, patient-centered care. As part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, South County Health healthcare professionals can quickly access Mayo Clinic's latest research, diagnostic and treatment recommendations whenever they feel it will benefit their patients.

"Today marks a defining moment for South County Health and the communities we serve," says Aaron Robinson, president and CEO of South County Health. "Becoming a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network brings together the best of both worlds: trusted local care and the knowledge, expertise, and resources of one of the world's leading healthcare organizations, while preserving the personalized, community-based care that has always been at the heart of South County Health."

South County Health healthcare professionals can consult Mayo Clinic expertise when they determine it would benefit a patient, at no additional cost to the patient. This can provide additional clinical input while supporting care close to home.  The Mayo Clinic Care Network membership expands the tools and expertise available to local clinicians, enhancing the high-quality care already available in the community and providing additional support for complex cases and specialized needs.

As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, South County Health clinicians will have access to:

• AskMayoExpert – Provides trusted, expert information to help healthcare professionals find the right answers when they need them. Created and used by Mayo Clinic physicians, all the information in AskMayoExpert is regularly reviewed and represents the latest in Mayo Clinic's medical expertise.
• eConsults – Direct connections to Mayo Clinic specialists for complex cases.
• eBoards – Multidisciplinary case reviews with Mayo Clinic experts and other network members.
• Mayo Clinic Platform – Advanced digital and AI-enabled clinical tools.

"We are pleased to welcome South County Health into the Mayo Clinic Care Network," says Ryan Uitti, M.D., medical director, Mayo Clinic Platform. "Their commitment to quality, safety and patient-centered care aligns well with the values of the Mayo Clinic Care Network."

South County Health was selected to join the Mayo Clinic Care Network by demonstrating a commitment to quality and patient-centered care. Founded in 2011, the Mayo Clinic Care Network reached a 15-year milestone as a global community of more than 50 member organizations, representing 80 hospitals and nearly 20,000 physicians.

"For many independent health systems across the country, the traditional path to sustainability has required sacrificing independence to gain access to the resources, scale and expertise needed to compete in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape," Robinson adds. "We believe there is another path. This is about creating a model that improves administrative work and advances clinical care. That means a stronger local health system today and greater access to world-class healthcare for generations to come."

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

About Mayo Clinic Platform
Mayo Clinic Platform is a strategic initiative of Mayo Clinic that enables collaboration, data-driven innovation and responsible AI development to transform healthcare globally. Mayo Clinic Platform is reimagining healthcare as an ecosystem — one where data, digital solutions and expertise flow seamlessly between innovators and care teams to improve care for patients everywhere.

About South County Health
South County Health is an independent, nonprofit health system featuring a 100-bed community hospital (South County Hospital) along with six ambulatory locations across central and Rhode Island. With a commitment to clinical excellence, patient-centered care and community well-being, South County Health provides a full range of inpatient, outpatient and specialty services. South County Health is proud to be Rhode Island's Most Trusted Health Partner.

Media contacts:

• Matt Moeller, South County Health, mmoeller@southcountyhealth.org
• Caroline Auger, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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Nursing staff bring distinct experience to healthcare innovation: firsthand experience with patient care, clinical workflows and the day-to-day realities of nursing practice. Mayo Clinic nursing staff recently gathered to bring together those perspectives and answer a question that extends beyond any one role or care setting: What could the future of nursing look like, and what will it take to get there? 

More than 110 nursing staff representing different roles, specialties and care settings across Mayo Clinic came together at Nursing Nexus, an annual Mayo Clinic forum that brings staff together to identify nursing practice challenges and explore potential solutions for nursing, by nursing. 

From navigating change to shaping it 

"Nursing staff are uniquely positioned to drive solutions to healthcare challenges. They're closest to the patient, and they understand that collaboration is essential to every part of our work," says Ryannon Frederick, chief nursing officer of Mayo Clinic. 

At the event, staff explored how to navigate and adapt to change, heard from fellow nursing innovators turning frontline ideas into real-world solutions, and considered how emerging technologies could reshape care delivery.  

Across roles and care settings, staff identified challenges they see in their work, generated more than 250 potential solutions, and worked together to evaluate and prioritize them.  

While teams approached the work from different perspectives, common needs emerged during ideation sessions. Their ideas centered on several key areas: 

• Providing patients with more personalized, accessible information about their care. 

• Strengthening continuity throughout the patient's care journey.  

• Optimizing staffing and workflows. 

• Reducing documentation burden for staff. 

• Embedding real-time clinical decision support and guidance in workflows. 

Teams advanced 16 recommendations for further consideration. Consistent with past years, those recommendations will help inform upcoming Mayo Clinic Department of Nursing strategic planning discussions, bringing staff expertise and firsthand experience into conversations about the future.

Moving ideas forward 

For nursing staff, producing ideas is only one part of shaping what comes next.  

The Department of Nursing AI Agent Competition, which drew more than 450 staff proposals earlier this year, provided a pathway for selected ideas to advance into testing and development for potential broader use. At Nursing Nexus, finalists presented solutions they developed in response to challenges they encountered in their work. One of the solutions aims to help complete leave and disability paperwork faster, reducing administrative work for care teams and potentially shortening waits for patients who need forms and approvals. 

"When nursing staff bring a desire to be part of the solution and raise their hands because they want to make things better, it's our responsibility to meet them with the connections, resources and pathways that can help move their ideas forward," says Frederick. 

Together, these efforts offer tangible examples of what the future of healthcare could look like when those closest to the work take an active role in building it.

Learn more about nursing at Mayo Clinic.

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic announces a generous gift from the Penske Foundation to support Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester, part of Mayo Clinic’s $10 billion investment to transform healthcare through integrated digital and physical spaces. 

In recognition of this gift, Mayo Clinic will name the Penske Arrival Building, a new gateway to Mayo Clinic's downtown Rochester campus designed to provide patients and families with a warm, welcoming and seamless experience from the moment they arrive.

Recognizing that a patient's care experience begins well before they reach an exam room, Mayo Clinic designed the building to make arrival and departure an extension of care — integrating transportation, navigation, hospitality and human support to reduce logistical burdens so patients and families can focus on their health and one another. 

The Penske Foundation's leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to philanthropic and civic investment. That legacy of service is reflected in its relationship with Mayo Clinic, where its generosity has helped advance and strengthen patient care.

"The Penske Foundation is proud to support Mayo Clinic and its vision for transforming the patient experience. The Penske Arrival Building represents an important part of that vision by making the arrival experience easier and more welcoming for patients and their families," says Blair Penske Hall, president of the Penske Foundation. "We are honored to continue our long-standing partnership with Mayo Clinic and support its commitment to putting patients at the center of everything it does."

The Penske Foundation's support advances Bold. Forward. Unbound, Mayo Clinic's investment to create a fundamentally new model for how care is delivered and experienced. Through innovative care concepts, digital technologies and purpose-built environments like the Penske Arrival Building, Mayo Clinic is creating a Category-of-One experience that is designed around the needs of each patient and visitor.

The building will feature approximately 15,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed interior space, advanced valet services, patient and visitor amenities, and a direct subway connection to Mayo Clinic's established and new clinical buildings.

The Penske Arrival Building will begin welcoming patients with valet and drop-off service on Oct. 8. Parking will become available in April 2027, providing nearly 500 parking spaces for patients at the heart of Mayo Clinic in Rochester's downtown campus.

"The needs of the patient come first in everything we do," says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., Mayo Clinic's president and CEO. "The Penske Arrival Building will bring parking, transportation, navigation and personal support together in one place and make it easier for patients and families to begin and end their time at Mayo Clinic. It is a fitting reflection of the Penske Foundation's commitment to service, and we are truly grateful for their enduring partnership."

The Penske Foundation's past philanthropic support for Mayo Clinic has accelerated the institution's top priorities through the President's Strategic Initiative Fund and advanced the Mayo Clinic Model of Care, Research and Education. The Penske Foundation is recognized by Mayo Clinic as a Philanthropic Partner, its highest level of distinction for benefactors.

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

Media contact:

• Terri Malloy, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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Watch: the Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:09) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Unlike many cancers that form solid tumors, leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow.

Dr. Arana Yi says, "Leukemia affects the production of the blood cells and can circulate through all the body from the beginning." 

Leukemia isn't a single disease. There are several types that can behave differently. According to Dr. Arana Yi, "It is a group of cancers with different subtypes. Some develop very quickly, while others progress slowly." 

Leukemia can affect people of all ages. Symptoms can include persistent fatigue, unusual bruising or bleeding, frequent infections, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and shortness of breath. 

"If those are persistent, it is important to review and be evaluated by a doctor for a possibility of a blood count checkup," Dr. Arana Yi mentions. 

Research is helping doctors identify genetic changes that may be driving a patient's leukemia. That information can help guide treatment. 

Dr. Arana Yi says, "This allows us to use targeted medicines, immune-based therapies, sometimes with less traditional chemotherapy or chemo-free regimen." 

Recognizing possible symptoms and seeking medical evaluation can help doctors diagnose leukemia and determine appropriate treatment. 

"Recognizing symptoms since the beginning, and early evaluation with the doctors is key to diagnose the acute leukemia as soon as possible," Dr. Arana Yi concludes. 

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Helix to generate clinical whole genome sequencing and multi-omics data from one million biospecimens, advancing precision medicine as the standard of care

ROCHESTER, Minn. and SAN MATEO, Calif. — Precure, LLC today announced the selection of Helix as its multi-omic laboratory and AI tools provider supporting plans to generate comprehensive molecular data from approximately one million biospecimens and accelerate the integration of molecular insights into routine clinical care at Mayo Clinic and across health systems more broadly.

Less than a week ago, Mayo Clinic announced the launch of Precure, LLC, with founding partner Thermo Fisher Scientific, to help transform how the life sciences community understands the biological changes that occur as disease develops before symptoms occur. Precure, LLC brings together clinical expertise, de-identified longitudinal health information and population-scale molecular data to accelerate the development of new approaches to care.

Helix will provide both advanced AI tools for delivery of genomics into the clinic and biomarker driven research, and population scale multi-omic capability that encompasses clinical whole genome sequencing (WGS) and research grade proteome sequencing. Linked with longitudinal clinical information and high performance compute infrastructure, the objective is to create new opportunities for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

“Our goal is to generate genomic information that can help inform patient care while creating a powerful resource for discovery,” said Aaron Mangold, M.D., chief medical officer, Precure, LLC. “We are working to make clinical whole genome sequencing and multi-omics a foundation of care, helping us detect disease sooner and act earlier.”

Building on prior work which utilized Helix’s Exome+ ^® sequencing technology, Precure, LLC extends that collaboration by leveraging Helix's experience providing workflow orchestration, (CLIA/CAP) genomic sequencing, data infrastructure, and AI tools to its health system partners. Precure, LLC and Helix have selected Ultima Genomics’ UG200™ Ultra Sequencing Platform as part of the program’s large-scale multi-omics initiative. Helix will use a fleet of Ultima’s next-generation platforms to generate high-quality genomic data for WGS and read-out for proteomics at scale.

“The genome is becoming an enduring patient resource, providing a precision baseline for a lifetime of care,” said James Lu, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Helix. “Helix brings together the laboratory and data capabilities to make this possible at scale.”

Mayo Clinic's involvement in Precure, LLC is intended to advance its nonprofit mission. Any financial returns to Mayo Clinic would be reinvested in its mission of patient care, research and education. Visit mayo.edu/research/precure for more information.

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About Precure, LLC
Precure, LLC is a Mayo Clinic-controlled company established to generate and responsibly integrate population-scale molecular data with longitudinal clinical information. Precure, LLC creates the infrastructure and scale needed to enable external collaborations, disease-focused discovery and the development of new diagnostics, therapeutics and other healthcare solutions. It complements Mayo Clinic’s investigator-led research and clinical translation activities.

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

About Helix
Helix is an enterprise genomics company connecting clinical care and discovery. Its platform brings together clinical sequencing, integration of genomic information into healthcare, and research tools built on linked genomic and longitudinal clinical data. Through its health system partnerships, the Helix Research Network and GenoSphere, Helix helps healthcare and life sciences organizations apply genomics to patient care and the development of new diagnostics and treatments. Learn more at www.helix.com.

Media contacts:

• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
• Caty Reid, Helix, helix@highwirepr.com

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After being diagnosed with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia at age 19, Sky Toyne came to Mayo Clinic for a potentially curative stem cell transplant. Thanks to advances in transplant medicine, a lifesaving donation from her brother, and comprehensive care that addressed both her physical and emotional recovery, Sky overcame leukemia and returned to the life she loves.  

In August 2021, Sky Toyne had just begun her sophomore year of college at a university in Iowa, where she was born and raised. With a love of learning and being active in organizations, she was excitedly thinking about her next semester. Should she run for an executive position in her sorority or study abroad in Australia?  

Soon after the fall semester began, Sky started getting bad headaches. As the weeks went on, she experienced more symptoms — frequent colds, extreme neck aches and fatigue.   

On Oct. 7, Sky woke with intense head and neck pain and a whooshing sound in her ears. Her mom drove her to the student health facility, where initial tests were inconclusive. Bloodwork, however, revealed dangerously low blood counts, and Sky went to the hospital immediately. 

After receiving blood transfusions in the emergency department, Sky was admitted to the oncology floor. A bone marrow biopsy the next morning confirmed leukemia.  

Further testing showed that Sky had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and she had several mutations that put her at high risk of recurrence. To give her the best chance at a cure, she would need a bone marrow, or stem cell transplant.  

"I decided to go to Mayo Clinic since it's the best hospital in the world and a leader in transplant," says Sky.  

She completed induction chemotherapy at the hospital in Iowa and traveled with her parents to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to meet Dr. William Hogan, a transplant hematologist. 

"His expertise was astounding, and we immediately knew I was in good hands," says Sky.  

Hope through innovation 

"Sky's leukemia carried genetic abnormalities that we know place patients at much higher risk of relapse if treated with chemotherapy alone," says Dr. Hogan. "Fortunately, she had responded very well to her initial treatment and achieved a deep remission, which gave us an important opportunity to move toward a potentially curative stem cell transplant." 

Stem cell donor matching depends on inherited immune system genes called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. People with mixed ancestry, like Sky, often inherit combinations of HLA genes that are less commonly represented in donor registries, which means there may be fewer unrelated volunteers who share that exact genetic combination. 

Because a perfectly matched unrelated donor wasn't readily available, Sky required a haploidentical, or half-matched, bone marrow transplant. Unlike a traditional transplant, a haploidentical transplant uses a donor who shares approximately half of the patient's immune system genes — usually a parent, child or sibling.  

"This has probably been one of the biggest advances in transplantation over the past two decades, allowing nearly every patient to have a potential donor," says Dr. Hogan. 

Sky's brother, Speed, agreed to be her donor.  

"I will admit that I was nervous about the donation procedure, but the decision to be the donor was an easy one," says Speed. "It was simply what needed to be done to give my sister a chance." 

The therapies Sky would receive could permanently affect reproductive function. Her care team worked closely with reproductive endocrinology colleagues so she could undergo egg retrieval before transplant.  

"Our goal is never simply to cure leukemia — it's to help patients return to meaningful, fulfilling lives," says Dr. Hogan. "We needed to consider her long-term quality of life, including her fertility, education, career goals, emotional well-being and the many decades of life that hopefully lie ahead after treatment. Those conversations were just as important as the medical treatment itself." 

On Feb. 25, 2022, Sky received the transplant and celebrated her "rebirthday." As the months progressed, Sky was recovering physically, but she began struggling mentally.  

"Transplant recovery is not just a physical process. That's why psychological support is an essential part of transplant care, not an afterthought," says Dr. Hogan. 

Honoring her past and embracing the future 

"The nurses and physician assistants were amazing. They would give me pep talks," says Sky. "A nurse who also had leukemia when she was younger suggested the idea to hold a ceremony for my past self."  

Sky, who had lost her hair, bought a wig, and the nurse made her a flower crown. With her care team and loved ones in attendance, people wrote and read eulogies, and then she did the same, saying goodbye to her past self. 

"It was so meaningful that my care team did that for me, and it really helped me get over my mental block," says Sky. "What I appreciated most about Mayo Clinic was its holistic approach. They cared for my mental health just as much as my physical health, which helped me have the best possible outcome. I felt seen by every staff member, many of whom became like family." 

On her 100^th day post-transplant, Sky rang a bell to celebrate her semipermanent remission. She's hoping to ring the bell again on her five-year transplant anniversary on Feb. 25, 2027, to signify permanent remission.  

"Transplantation is never something a patient accomplishes alone. It requires extraordinary courage from the patient, incredible support from family and the coordinated efforts of a large multidisciplinary team," says Dr. Hogan. 

Life beyond leukemia 

Sky returned to school full time, served in an executive position in her sorority and was a leader in many other campus organizations. Since she continued her classes part time during treatment, she was able to graduate from college on time in May 2024. 

Now 24, Sky earned a master's degree, ran her first half-marathon in March and enjoys traveling around the country.  

"Because of advances in molecular diagnostics, targeted therapies, donor selection, transplant techniques and supportive care, she has returned to an active, healthy life," says Dr. Hogan. "Seeing someone like Sky thriving years later is deeply rewarding for everyone involved and reminds us why these advances matter." 

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