Sharing Mayo Clinic

Education has always been a part of my life. Beyond being a student at various times of my life, I have worked in the field ...

This post was written by Melissa Murray, a Graduate Student in the Department of Neuroscience. Having formerly been an employee and now a graduate student at Mayo Clinic in Florida, the necessity for health and wellness in my life is a big factor. The LiveWell campaign really helped me to see everyday activities or changes that could be undertaken to improve my overall well being. I was excited when the Walk to Wellness program was initiated, because I did not realize I had a pattern for being a bit sedentary.

The following letter was sent to Mayo Clinic leaders by two Mayo employees, Don and Sharon Gabrielson, about the care Don's mother received from Mayo Clinic during her last days. Dear Colleagues, On March 13, 2009 we brought our 81 year old mother, Ruth Gabrielson, to St. Marys Emergency Room. In a few short hours we learned that she had a perforated bowel and bilateral pulmonary embolisms. She was alert and oriented, and capable of making decisions about her care and next steps. Given her age and the high risk of surgery, as well as the diminished quality of life that she would have afterward, she courageously made the decision to decline the surgery and let nature take its course. This meant that within a matter of days, she would die from infection. She was admitted to Domitilla 6 and from that point on, we focused on the plan for palliative care. Dr. Siddarth Singh was kind and caring, and spent a significant amount of time with all of us discussing options, and being truly transparent about what we could expect. He was a godsend in helping us to begin to formulate a plan knowing that Mom's primary goal was to be kept comfortable. The next morning we met the entire team of GI physicians: Drs. Chang, Oxentenko, and Loftus who provided more information in the most compassionate and empathetic manner we have ever witnessed. Mom made the decision to remain in the hospital and receive hospice care on Joseph 3 where she was then transferred later that morning. The hospice room was a blessing, it was decorated beautifully, and had a warm, homelike feel with all the amenities we needed. We were so grateful that mom could spend her final days in such a beautiful environment with plenty of room to accommodate her family.

On the Mayo Clinic Facebook page today, by a patient from Kansas City named Stephanie: I am a cancer patient at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. ...

We've highlighted the contributions of music to the healing environment at Mayo Clinic in some previous posts, but here's another video from last fall that ...

Lynn Closway works in Mayo Clinic's Department of Public Affairs, and wrote this post as a spectator. For an account from one of Synchronicity's rowers, see Yvette Martin's related post below. Be afraid. Be very afraid. If you happen to be one of the 76 teams that DIDN'T score the coveted first place in three of the top categories at the 6th Arizona Annual Dragon Boat Festival March 28 and 29, that is. Be afraid for what next year may hold! Team Mayo Clinic in Arizona easily reclaimed the corporate championship by placing number one (gold) in the 500-meter race and was the hands-down first-place winner in both the "Cheer" and "Team Spirit" categories. Mayo also took a third-place (bronze) win in the "Mixed Team - Division C" category, comprising both men and women paddlers.

Well, I was right. The AZDBA dragon boat race competition last weekend was a success! Even better, Mayo Synchronicity took Gold in the Corporate team race and Bronze in one of the mixed team division races. Our win was greater than the Gold medal because it was accomplished with the same shared teamwork, collaboration, and team spirit that we embody and demonstrate when we serve our patients. With three competing boats and the sponsorship of other teams, we competed against five other corporate teams -- campus teams from the University of California - San Diego, UCLA, and Manitoba High School, and a host of interstate and community teams ready to row their teams to Gold. The Mayo Clinic team advantage in these races was in our name -- Synchronicity. After speaking with Pam, service coordinator in Radiology, another first-time Mayo team rower, she agrees, "Synchronization is the key. Timing is everything. We were digging for Gold in that Tempe Town Lake, and we found it!"

Barbara Porter is Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Mayo Medical School. "Wow, Mommy, look at the big yellow and blue balloons," came a small but discernable voice from the top of the main floor landing of the Gonda Lobby. I was walking by, at a slow pace, while checking my calendar before heading to my next meeting. Balloons in the Gonda building--oh, no! That will sure bring out a team from facilities to retrieve the offending orbs and restore our magnificent lobby back to its usual glory. As I stopped to read the fine print on my Blackberry to make sure I was headed in the right direction for my meeting, I heard a more substantial, but nonetheless kind and gentle voice state, "Yes, Maggie, those are some really big and shiny balloons, aren't they pretty?" It was then I realized that the balloons in question were in fact pieces of the Chihuly Chandelier that hangs majestically above the atrium in the Gonda Building. I have always marveled at the art that adorns every corner of our Mayo Clinic campus.

Pam N from Michigan submitted her story via email this week, saying: "I am sharing my Mayo Clinic story with you in hopes that it ...

Catherine Benson is a consultant in Public Affairs at Mayo Clinic. Alex Walton-Creutz began drawing crowds by playing the piano at Mayo Clinic when he was ...

Generally when the heart of Adrian Fernandez is beating at a frenetic pace, he’s behind the wheel of a race car, and a highly trained and loyal pit crew is waiting around the next turn of the track to spring into action. Not so much when Adrian was on the treadmill at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, submitting to a rigorous workout of a totally different kind. His “pit crew” came in the form of skilled, compassionate cardiac professionals. And this time, Adrian was on his own to prove his performance – cardiac performance, as opposed to driving proficiency. Sonographer Nan Pearson was among those who helped guide Adrian through Mayo Clinic’s new Heart Health and Performance Program, including his stress echo test, a diagnostic tool generally not used unless previous cardiac symptoms had been detected. A cardiac sonographer is able to view images of the heart and blood vessels to detect subtle differences between normal and potentially diseased areas and present the data for interpretation. But Adrian was motivated to participate in comprehensive screening to determine his heart health. Not only does he need to maintain fitness for his racing profession, he has a wife and two young children to think about. And, he admits, “I have a cholesterol issue.”

As an employee at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, I find myself frequently scurrying through the many buildings on the downtown campus as I go about my day. One of my favorite places to walk through is the subway level of the Gonda Building, also known as the Nathan Landow Atrium. Sitting in front of a two-story high wall of windows is a beautiful grand piano that is available for anyone to play. It’s not uncommon to hear patients, visitors, volunteers and staff share their gift of music with those in the area. Since music is an important and enjoyable part of my life, I find myself looking forward to walking through the building and hearing people play the piano or accompany themselves while singing a favorite song. Whether the person is playing a classical piece, a popular song, a song from a musical, a jazz composition, a favorite hymn or a recital piece, I’ve been touched numerous times by the people sitting at that piano.