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Harper Family Foundation

Mayo Clinic to launch artificial intelligence education program through $10 million gift from Harper Family Foundation.

By Mayo Clinic

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Mayo Clinic announces a gift of $10 million from the Harper Family Foundation to support education in artificial intelligence (AI) that will help prevent and cure more diseases through new solutions for patients.

This generous support will launch the Mayo Clinic Harper Family Foundation Artificial Intelligence Education in Medicine Program, which will train Mayo Clinic staff and the next generation of medical professionals to deploy the best AI technology ethically for patients.

"The Harper Family Foundation was created through the hard work, success and generosity of Mike and Josie Harper as a sustainable resource to support education, leadership and healthcare, and to strengthen our communities," the Harper Family Foundation Board of Trustees says. "We are proud to be stewards of this resource and to support the three-shield mission of Mayo Clinic, including the important efforts of the Education shield to establish the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine program."

"Through these efforts we hope that Mayo can continue to lead the medical community in realizing the potential and ensuring the appropriate use of AI in support of the needs of our patients and staff."

— Harper Family Foundation Board of Trustees

The Harper Family Foundation’s support will accelerate career development opportunities in AI for staff and knowledge dissemination to share insights with a global community of learners.

“We are honored by the remarkable generosity of the Harper Family Foundation,” says Fredric Meyer, M.D., who serves as the Juanita Kious Waugh Executive Dean of Education at Mayo Clinic. “This investment recognizes not only the vast potential for AI to transform healthcare but also the unmatched quality of Mayo Clinic faculty and staff, who will be even better equipped to meet the needs of tomorrow’s patients thanks to this gift.”

Mike Harper Jr., M.D., who previously served as the Mayo Clinic executive dean of practice and as a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, and his wife, Mary Harper, are both directors of the foundation, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to practicing in Neurology, Dr. Harper is currently a professor in Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Dr. Harper’s father, Charles M. Harper Sr., was CEO of ConAgra Foods from 1976 to 1992. Mr. and Mrs. Harper Sr. established the Harper Family Foundation in 1993. Its primary focus is supporting organizations working in education, social services, health, youth and civic projects. Recognized by Mayo Clinic as a Philanthropic Partner, the foundation previously established the Harper Family Foundation Scholarship Fund for Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in 2018. The Harper Family Foundation has also made generous gifts to support the Mayo Clinic Hospice program and the Poverello Fund, as well as unrestricted gifts.