When Judy Alico passed away at age 51, her family was shell-shocked and heartbroken. Her husband, Bob, took action, forming a nonprofit to raise awareness and funding for Mayo Clinic and other organizations to study the condition that took Judy's life.

Michele Halyard, M.D., began her journey as a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic 36 years ago. Today, she is recognized as one of the most influential and impactful leaders in the movement toward health equity.

Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua, M.D., is an oncologist with Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center who specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. He is leading a clinical trial focused on the immigrant African and Asian communities of Minnesota with a high prevalence of one type of liver cancer.

Black people in America are about twice as likely to get Alzheimer's disease and other memory loss disorders. To better understand why, Floyd B. Willis, M.D., is helping the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center recruit participants into research studies.

Alyx B. Porter, M.D., a neuro-oncologist at Mayo Clinic, is focused on inspiring and supporting future generations of physicians from historically underrepresented backgrounds, with scholarships, mentorship, leadership development and financial wellness education.  

Judy Ethen lost her father and brother to pancreatic cancer. Her own case was diagnosed and treated early through Mayo Clinic’s High-Risk Pancreas Clinic, made possible by a generous gift of $22.1 million.

In addition to caring for people before and after transplants, Brian Hardaway, M.D., has been both an organ donor and a recipient. He knows firsthand that good things grow when transplants take root. "You're following patients for years. Transplant medicine is like planting a seed and watching an oak tree grow."

Gary Pies, D.D.S., says the three best things to happen in his life were meeting his wife, serving in Vietnam and going to Mayo Clinic for training as a fellow. In his wife's memory, Dr. Pies has established the Marcia S. Pies Fund in Breast Cancer Research and a $2 million charitable remainder trust.