The Mayo Clinic is a world-renowned medical practice operated by the Mayo Foundation, a not-for-profit organization based in Rochester, Minnesota. The first and largest facility of the Mayo Clinic is also located in Rochester, but additional large clinic facilities are located in Jacksonville, Florida and Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, the Mayo Foundation operates a number of smaller clinics and hospitals in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
The Mayo Clinic evolved from the frontier practice of Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his two sons, William J and Charles H. Mayo. Dr. William Worrall Mayo emigrated from Britain to the United States in 1846 and became a doctor in 1850. During the American Civil War he was an examining surgeon for the Union enrollment board in Minnesota. In 1864, the Mayos moved to Rochester where the enrollment board was headquartered.
Dr. Mayo's two sons began their medical education at their father's side, observing and later by assisting their father on patient visits and with autopsies. "Dr. Will" (as he was known) graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1883, and "Dr. Charlie" graduated from Chicago Medical College of Northwestern University in 1888. After graduation both returned to Rochester and joined their father's practice.
In 1883 a tornado struck Rochester, causing a substantial number of deaths and injuries. Dr. W. W. Mayo worked with nuns from the Sisters of St. Francis to treat the survivors. After this, Mother Alfred Moes and the Drs. Mayo recognized the need for a hospital and joined together to build the 27-bed Saint Mary's Hospital which opened in 1889.
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