It’s a vision that is close to the couple’s heart, as both have witnessed friends and family pass away from the disease.

“I’ve seen the time, the energy and the emotions that the entire family goes through watching their loved one undergo cancer treatment for months or even years,” says Becky, whose father passed away from melanoma when she was 13 years old. “If we catch the cancer earlier when the treatment isn’t so challenging, it would be life-changing for so many families.”

To help fuel this critical work, Bahman and Becky established the Hoveida Family Foundation Cancer Discovery and Interception Fund through a generous gift from the Hoveida Family Foundation. Becky and Bahman are recognized as Philanthropic Partners.

The fund is helping accelerate Mayo Clinic’s bold vision to revolutionize cancer care. Researchers are using innovative, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled science to detect cancer earlier, intercept and reverse cancer growth, and intervene before cancer progresses to more advanced disease.

The concept of using AI to find solutions to challenges is a process that Bahman understands well. An engineer and businessman, he co-founded a software company, Open Systems International, in Minnesota in 1992. As the company grew, Bahman and Becky never wavered from their commitment to environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing and treating their employees like members of their own family. After selling the company in 2020, the couple formed their family foundation so that they could “keep doing good.”

The Hoveida Family Foundation is focused on the pursuit of science to help humanity and the environment. This includes critical medical research, and Bahman says that Mayo Clinic was at the top of their list. Bahman, who was born in Iran, recalls hearing of the medical organization as a child.

“I knew that the royal family was seen at Mayo Clinic and that it was the great center of medical care in the world, but I didn’t really know much else at the time,” Bahman says.

That all changed in 1999, when Bahman’s father was diagnosed with colon cancer and selected Mayo Clinic for his care.

“The care he got was excellent,” says Bahman. “I was very impressed with the systems in place, and that’s when I realized what a high-quality institution Mayo Clinic was. Healthcare is moving to a high-tech, data-driven industry, and Mayo is pioneering this work.”

Both Bahman and Becky are patients in the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program, trusting Mayo Clinic with their personal care as they stay connected with the promising research efforts that they’ve helped make possible — including AI-powered breast cancer detection and early pancreatic cancer detection.

Within breast cancer research, a Mayo Clinic researcher and a researcher from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have used funds to develop and test a model that better identifies women who are at high risk and would benefit from preventive measures like lifestyle changes and risk-reducing medications. Next steps will be to validate the model. 

In pancreatic cancer research, a physician researcher and his team have designed an AI Pancreas Cancer Early Detection trial, which is expected to launch later this year. The trial will leverage an AI language model to screen 10,000 patients, identifying those at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer.

“The work in pancreatic and breast cancer is so meaningful to us,” explains Becky. “Just before we gave our gift, we had lost a valued employee and friend to pancreatic cancer. The time from diagnosis to death was so short. I had also recently lost a family member to breast cancer. The idea of using science to diagnose these cancers at an earlier stage is incredibly important.”

The Hoveida Family Foundation Cancer Discovery and Interception Fund is also supporting AI-Powered Science and Discovery Awards in Cancer. This program finds and funds the most innovative concepts and proposals from individuals and teams across Mayo Clinic.

“Mayo Clinic has created a great team of researchers, data scientists and AI experts,” says Bahman. “They have a level of passion that I have not seen anywhere else. If a practical solution comes out of this research to detect cancer even six months ahead of when cancer symptoms manifest, that’s a huge advancement in saving thousands of lives. I have great hopes that Mayo Clinic will be successful.”

Becky agrees, adding that she feels pride in being part of Mayo Clinic’s mission to help people everywhere.

“When Mayo Clinic finds solutions, their goal is to disseminate information across the medical field worldwide and make it available to everyone,” says Becky. “They are helping more than their own patients — they are helping the world."

The post Engineering Earlier Cancer Detection Through AI appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

On most days, he can be found outdoors — running, biking, swimming, golfing and spending time with his dog. When Parker’s not staying physically active, he’s busy working as a financial analyst or tinkering with side projects like app development as a self-described “tech nerd.”

Things haven’t always looked so sunny for Parker, however. Three years ago, he was fighting for his life.

In high school Parker was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. He was able to manage the chronic condition for years before a flare-up in 2021.

Parker was traveling to attend a football game in Las Vegas with a friend when he became so ill that he couldn’t leave his hotel room. Parker was in no condition to fly home. He was taken to a local hospital, where he spent the next three weeks as his situation grew dire. Despite his doctors’ best efforts, Parker quickly lost weight and strength.

“Parker’s condition was deteriorating rapidly,” says Henry Lyons, Parker’s father. Henry, who had built a patient relationship with Mayo Clinic, called for help for his son. Parker was then transferred by air to Rochester, Minnesota.

“With his admission to Mayo Clinic, we went from hopeless to hopeful,” Henry says. “We knew he was exactly where he needed to be to save his life.”

At Mayo Clinic, Parker underwent emergency surgery to remove most of his colon.

I was on the brink of death at 26 years old. Only Mayo Clinic could have dealt with the complexity of my situation.

— PARKER LYONS

“Because of my ulcerative colitis I had gotten an extremely rare fungal infection,” Parker says. “The infection had gotten worse to a point that it triggered a very rare, potentially fatal blood disorder.”

The surgery was successful, but Parker needed chemotherapy to eliminate the infection. After two months of treatments, tests and rehabilitation, Parker was finally able to go home.

“I was on the brink of death at 26 years old,” says Parker. “I needed an expert in every capacity ─ someone on the cancer side, the infectious disease side, the blood disorder side, and a team focused on my mental resiliency. Only Mayo Clinic could have dealt with the complexity of my situation.”

In honor of his son, Henry has made a gift supporting medical research and education at Mayo Clinic, ensuring that Mayo Clinic can continue to provide leading-edge care for complex cases like Parker’s. Mayo Clinic recognizes Henry as a Major Benefactor for his generosity.

“I am forever grateful to Mayo Clinic, and in addition to the joy I experience from Parker living a healthy life, I am hopeful that others can benefit from Parker’s case,” Henry says.

Parker is making the most of his restored health. He is training for a half Ironman Triathlon this summer, and he plans to complete a full Ironman by the end of 2025.

“It’s easy to stay inspired when you have my extreme perspective,” says Parker. “I have a ton of gratitude to be physically active. I’m honored. I’m here because of Mayo.”

The post Parker Lyons appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

That’s one reason the Pounds are so passionate about two causes close to their heart — healthcare and higher education.

When Ralph and Kathy Pounds reflect on their 30-year philanthropic journey, it comes back to loyalty and trust over the long haul, including organizations such as Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where Kathy graduated.

That’s what makes the story of their courtship so unique.

“We had 10 dates over 30 days, then I proposed to her,” Ralph says, smiling. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

It’s reassuring to continue our impact beyond our lifetimes. Our philanthropy is part of the larger relationship we enjoy with Mayo Clinic. The doctors, nurses, receptionists and Development staff are like family to us.

— KATHY POUNDS

So when Kathy suggested early in their marriage they should be helping others as much as they could, Ralph was excited to join in.

“We were blessed to have each other and good jobs, and I thought we ought to be giving back,” Kathy recalls.

The Pounds came to Mayo Clinic in the 1990s when Ralph began experiencing health problems, including digestive issues and swelling in his lips, and his local provider couldn’t figure out why.

“Mayo’s team suggested starting with an allergist, who discovered Ralph was allergic to his blood pressure medication,” Kathy explains. “We changed the medication, and the problems vanished within days.”

The relationship between the Pounds and Mayo Clinic deepened over the years when they learned more about the organization’s mission, and they have generously given to areas including individualized medicine, biomedical research and junior faculty development.

Mayo Clinic recognizes Ralph and Kathy Pounds as Principal Benefactors. In addition, their support will continue to grow for generations to come through multiple endowments that will be established through their estate commitment to Mayo Clinic.

“It’s reassuring to continue our impact beyond our lifetimes,” Kathy says. “Our philanthropy is part of the larger relationship we enjoy with Mayo Clinic. The doctors, nurses, receptionists and Development staff are like family to us.”

The post Ralph and Kathy Pounds  appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

It’s about Mayo Clinic and the future of medicine through the lens of artificial intelligence (AI), one they’re helping kick-start through a sizable philanthropic gift to transform the future of healthcare under Mayo Clinic’s direction.

“The Odells aren’t doing any of this because they want to be liked or recognized,” says Richard Gray, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. “Their focus is on, ‘How do we have a positive impact on as many people as possible?’ And they want to encourage others to join them in their efforts.”

Away From the Camera

While the Odells are not asking for this spotlight, oh, what a story it is.

Linda moved to Southern California with $500 and a Dodge Dart to her name, starting work making $90 a week at what was then known as Security Pacific National Bank. She caught the attention of those in the entertainment industry along the way. There’s even a picture in their home featuring Linda on the set of “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

Meanwhile, Stephen drove a truck, delivering fish in the Los Angeles area as a young man. He struck up a relationship with the Tober family, who owned what was then a small family company known as Sugar Foods.

Donald Tober asked Stephen to work for him and had a proposition: help distribute a sugar substitute product known as Sweet’N Low. Donald grabbed a cocktail napkin and drew a map of the United States with the Mississippi River in the middle. With one arrow to the West, he labeled it Stephen’s territory. Donald took the Eastern United States for himself.

“Within weeks of accepting the job in 1969, the government banned cyclamates, which was the sweetener ingredient in Sweet’N Low at the time,” Stephen recalls. “Therefore, the company had no sales.”

Sweet’N Low changed its formula, and the associated distribution company grew over the ensuing decades due to Stephen’s and Donald’s grit.

“That’s where we started — and today, Sugar Foods products are consumed more than 1,500 times every second across the globe,” Stephen says.

Loving Humankind

Linda and Stephen met on a blind date later in their lives, and for more than 15 years they have been a constant at each other’s side. When searching for the best healthcare in Arizona, friends pointed them to Mayo Clinic. A routine physical for Stephen discovered prostate cancer.

Linda’s first husband died of prostate cancer. It remains a painful milestone in her life that she didn’t want to repeat.

After Stephen’s cancer care, we looked for a philanthropic journey to go on. Mayo Clinic felt like the right place to give.

— Linda Odell

“I was not going to lose Stephen,” she says. At Mayo Clinic, Stephen was an ideal candidate for proton beam therapy, a form of radiation that reduces the risk of damage to healthy tissues surrounding tumor cells. Studies have suggested that proton therapy may cause fewer side effects than traditional radiation, since doctors can better control where the proton beams deliver their energy.

“At Mayo, obviously the core principle is the patient comes first,” Stephen says. “Every interaction I had with someone at Mayo was welcoming — from volunteers to schedulers. Everybody that took my hand and walked me through the waiting room to every doctor that I saw on follow-up — I’ve never had a bad interaction ever.”

But the Odells saw more people in need all around than even Mayo could help. What could they do for people beyond the waiting rooms preparing for cancer treatment? What about those across the United States or across the globe?

“Dr. Gray was the first person we went to when we asked, ‘What can we do?’ He told us about the burgeoning role of AI in healthcare. And I said, ‘That’s it.’ That was all it took,” Stephen says.

Those plans are part of Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. strategic vision to Cure by accelerating discovery, translation and delivery of more cures for both chronic and acute diseases; Connect people with data to create new knowledge and deliver scalable, end-to-end solutions; and Transform healthcare by creating its first scalable, AI-enabled care transformation platform.

“After Stephen’s cancer care, we looked for a philanthropic journey to go on,” Linda says. “Mayo Clinic felt like the right place to give.”

Building a Posse

Stephen’s favorite movie is “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The 1969 iconic Western follows a band of outlaws in the 1890s in Wyoming with a posse of law enforcement on their heels after a botched train robbery.

The metaphor appeals to the Odells, building a group to relentlessly pursue a goal. But this one isn’t a Hollywood script about law enforcement officials and thieves. It’s a much more serious and even more ambitious goal than a timeless blockbuster — democratizing healthcare through artificial intelligence to help as many people as possible. And the Odells are asking people to join their drive to change the world behind Mayo Clinic’s efforts.

“This is a place where Mayo Clinic has to step forward as a leader,” Dr. Gray says. “Many of us can see the promise of AI. But it’s hard to innovate. And it’s even harder to make sure that those innovations can reach broad populations.

“If we approach it as a leader, creating a platform from which all can benefit, that is a much different proposition than saying we’re going to harness this technology to do something on our own for just our patients. The Odells immediately grasped our work in AI. That benefit to society really resonates with them.”

Mayo Clinic has more than 250 AI algorithms in various stages of development and use, from predicting serious conditions before they cause symptoms to a digital healthcare assistant that uses generative AI to allow a clinician to quickly ask questions and pull relevant information from a patient’s electronic health record.

Importantly, Mayo Clinic built Mayo Clinic Platform that allows for impactful and validated AI models to be created and be made available widely so AI solutions can benefit more of the United States and the world — just as the Odells want to see happen.

“We’re harnessing the innovative power of so many of our physicians, scientists, nurses and other experts at Mayo Clinic to fuel the AI revolution safely and responsibly,” Dr. Gray says. “But we’re doing so along with many other values-aligned organizations and innovators, so the network effects create impact at a scale that isn’t possible if any of us were doing it alone.”

The Future of Care

A key figure in Mayo’s AI efforts is radiologist Bhavik Patel, M.D., M.B.A., who spearheads Mayo Clinic in Arizona’s AI work. Dr. Patel’s commitment to AI grew out of the same dedication as the Odells’: He wants to make the biggest difference for the largest number of patients possible.

“Not everyone has access to Mayo Clinic,” Dr. Patel says. “Imagine if we could use these types of tools to extend the Mayo model of care beyond our clinic walls.

“If we’re really going to democratize the care we give, the future of healthcare should be one where hospitals are largely empty, because we’re using these types of tools to provide so much immersive care up front. Patients will be treated in their homes, and your clinician will be able to communicate with and care for you without ever setting your foot in a hospital.”

We’re harnessing the innovative power of so many of our physicians, scientists, nurses and other experts at Mayo Clinic to fuel the AI revolution safely and responsibly.

— Richard Gray, M.D.

And the Odells see the horizon shifting for how care is delivered for many people.

“The gift we gave is only the beginning, and we want others to join us,” Stephen says. “We want everyone to know the importance of supporting projects like these so that by 2030 over 3 billion people will have access to AI to address health issues.

“By investing in AI advancements, we can slow down what I call sick care and truly make it healthcare. Linda and I believe AI is going to play a huge role getting us to that point. Our footprints will fade away like steps in snow, but we hope we made a difference that far outlives us through our support of Mayo Clinic.”

The post Seeing A(I) Solution appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

In December 2019, Jim learned he had a glioblastoma, a malignant tumor that affects the brain or spinal cord. Glioblastoma is a rare cancer, with around 14,000 people in the United States diagnosed each year. The five-year survival rate is only 6.9%.

“The doctors were quite frank with me, you know, about life expectancy, but that wasn’t what I had envisioned for my life,” Jim said. “I used this as a source of motivation, to be resilient. I wanted to defy the odds of my life expectancy.”

A life-changing diagnosis

In October 2019, Jim visited the doctor with bouts of dizziness and unsteadiness while standing. It was assumed that Jim had a sinus infection that wasn’t going away. After a second course of antibiotics and steroids, Jim started feeling better.

But over the next two months, his wife, Vicki, began to realize something was not right. She and Jim traveled to a conference together in California, and throughout the trip Jim felt foggy and fatigued. Vicki recalled a moment while going through airport security where Jim had wandered away, and she found him standing in a daze in the middle of the check-in area.

“He kept having little hiccups where he didn’t seem like himself,” Vicki said.

On December 17, 2019, after a meeting at work, Jim came home because he wasn’t feeling well. Vicki was downstairs in their home wrapping Christmas presents when she received a text from Jim upstairs asking for help. He had tingling on his left side. Vicki thought Jim was having a heart attack or stroke and immediately called 911.

They headed to the emergency room at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, Minnesota. There, Jim received an MRI that revealed a mass on his brain. The medical team quickly coordinated with their colleagues to immediately get Jim to Mayo Clinic in Rochester where he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Physicians told him that the odds of surviving the first year were about 50-50. The best outcome was to stabilize his tumor to stop it from growing.

“With the diagnosis, I was thinking about how it was a life-or-death situation. Glioblastoma is a very intimidating form of cancer,” Jim said. “I was hoping that there was an opportunity for me to continue living a fulfilling life.”

The physicians at Mayo Clinic wasted no time to start treatment. Five days after his diagnosis, Jim underwent brain surgery to biopsy and confirm the tumor. Four days after that, the Splinters met the oncology team that would fight Jim’s cancer. The following days Jim had orientation for chemotherapy and radiation. Jim began his first six weeks of radiation on January 2 — a little over two weeks after his diagnosis.

“Everything happened so quickly,” Jim said. “We felt really supported by the oncologists and everyone in our Mayo Clinic experience. We were trying to process all this information in a short period of time.”

Despite a life-changing diagnosis, Jim kept his spirits up. Having overcome many difficulties throughout his childhood, Jim followed his family mantra to keep him going: Splinters never give up. He often thought of his two daughters during his cancer journey, and he felt determined to watch them get married.

Jim and Vicki tried to keep their difficult situation lighthearted. At the time of his radiation treatment, Jim was working as the group vice president for Hormel Foods Corporation, developing new food products. One of his biggest accomplishments was rebranding SPAM. Each day before treatment, he’d share a fun fact with the staff about SPAM, like how many cans of SPAM were produced in a week. Once his radiation was finished, Jim brought the team SPAM swag bags.

“They took good care of me. Everybody was working hard,” Jim said. “I wanted to keep it as lighthearted as I could and be the best cancer patient they’ve ever had.”

Moving forward

After nine months of chemotherapy and radiation, Jim and Vicki received the best news they could have imagined: Jim’s tumor stopped growing.

“If you didn’t know Jim’s medical history, you wouldn’t know he has glioblastoma today,” said Jian Campian, M.D., Ph.D., Jim’s current oncologist. “We’re continuing our research to find new and better treatments to advance care for patients like Jim.”

Although the tumor is not gone, Jim is living his life as he intended. He visits Mayo Clinic in Rochester every three months where they measure his glioblastoma and ensure it’s not growing.

“We’re now at four years past his diagnosis, and he’s here,” Vicki said. “It was a very bleak picture that we had originally, and we were preparing ourselves for the worst. I didn’t realize how much fight he had inside of him.”

In their spare time, Jim and Vicki stay active and are focused on keeping their best health by biking, running and swimming. Jim walked his daughters down the aisle in 2021, and Jim and Vicki welcomed their first grandchild in January.

They continue to give back to their community by mentoring other families going through glioblastoma diagnoses. They also volunteer in their local community helping underserved populations and support educational initiatives for underrepresented college students. The Splinters are also generous benefactors of Mayo Clinic, giving because the mission aligns closely with their family values.

“I would not be here without Mayo — I am convinced of that,” Jim said. “Mayo Clinic is a place to find hope and healing. I would not be here without the care I have received.”

The post The Splinter Family appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

That’s the motivation behind the newly remodeled Bundy Kitchen + Market at Mayo Clinic in Florida. The cafe is named after Russ and Liz Bundy and reflects their family’s desire to create a comfortable place for caregivers and patients between appointments.

It’s also meaningful for the Bundy family because of their background in the service industry, which began when Russ sold baking pans out of the trunk of his car in the 1960s. Now, the company founded by Russ and his wife, Liz, is known as Bundy Baking Solutions, and it provides baking pans, coatings and equipment to bakers around the world.

The Bundys are strong believers in Mayo Clinic, supporting its mission with gifts to capital efforts in Florida as well as arthritis research and a lectureship. Mayo Clinic recognizes the Bundy family as Principal Benefactors.

“Nothing brings us greater peace than sharing moments with family and friends, and these moments are especially important during challenging times,” Russ and Liz say. “We wanted to create a space that would bring comfort to patients and their families while receiving care at Mayo Clinic, and we’re delighted to see that vision come to life.”

In the cafe, one new option that’s part of the re-imagined menu is the Bundy bison burger, which is a favorite in the Bundy household and celebrates the generational relationship the Bundy family has with Mayo Clinic.

The post The Bundy Family appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

That led the Habigers to a local pulmonologist and a startling diagnosis — pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare condition in which high blood pressure affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.

“The pressure can cause you to die of heart failure,” Bill says. “If the condition stabilizes, you’re lucky. Most people get worse.”

The pulmonologist couldn’t do anything else for him but offered him a referral to Mayo Clinic, where Bill says his physicians used the latest techniques in the field. With Mayo’s care, his condition improved.

“Mayo Clinic was all of what I expected — very professional, well organized, provided good personal care and very little waiting between tests,” Bill says.

In the years since, the Habigers wanted to do something for Mayo Clinic despite most of their assets being tied up in real estate holdings. They worked with Mayo Clinic’s Office of Gift Planning to establish an estate planning tool known as a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT).

“It worked out great to give Mayo Clinic a property through a CRUT that gives us income, plus Mayo gets the benefit when we’re gone,” Bill says. “Mayo is a great place. I believe they prolonged my life for a number of years, and we wanted to do something for them.”

For their generosity, Mayo Clinic recognizes Bill and Diane Habiger as Distinguished Benefactors and members of The Mayo Legacy, a recognition program for benefactors who have included Mayo Clinic in their estate plans.

The post The Habiger Family appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

“It’s because of those people that Anne and I and other patients are getting some of the best healthcare in the world,” David says. “I’m so grateful for others and what they saw in Mayo Clinic — like the Gonda family and their gifts to name the Gonda Building. I felt that we were called to play a small part in supporting Mayo’s mission.”

What the Luthers decided was to empower the next generation of urology research and care by creating an endowment to name the David and Anne Luther Chair of Urology in Rochester, which is held by Stephen Boorjian, M.D.

“I am humbled and deeply grateful to the Luthers for their generosity in supporting our department,” Dr. Boorjian says. “We look forward to providing contributions in urology research, education and care that enhance the patient experience for current and future generations.”

The Luthers, of Edina, Minnesota, have previously supported research involving mental health and addiction. They are driven to give back by their Christian faith and their philosophy to serve those in need.

“We’re called to give,” Anne says. “We want to help and provide for others, and we have been blessed with the means to do that.”

For their generosity, Mayo Clinic recognizes the Luther family as Principal Benefactors.

The post The Luther Family appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

Specifically, the U.S. Navy.   

The attention to detail instilled during his service stayed with Mr. Lauder — whose friends call him Leonard. It was something Leonard noticed keenly during his first visit to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. While there many years ago with his late wife, Evelyn, Mayo Clinic staff asked her to confirm a series of minor personal details.  

Leonard hadn’t seen other health care organizations use this series of questions. This patient safety measure is now standard practice for health care organizations around the world.  

“That simple, seemingly little thing gave me the feeling that Mayo Clinic was the future of health care in this nation,” he says.  

And this straightforward yet effective process reminded Leonard of his time as a lieutenant on active duty in what was then known as the United States Atlantic Fleet. One of his jobs, as a check site observer, was to make sure gun turrets were pointed the right direction.  

“How simple that task was,” Leonard recalls. “But how important it was to save lives. That’s similar to what I observed during my initial visit to Mayo Clinic.”  

Helping veterans

Serving in the U.S. Navy was a formative experience for Leonard. Later, as a proud veteran, he realized he had an opportunity to fund cutting-edge Mayo Clinic research that could benefit his fellow veterans who were suffering from back pain and spinal cord injuries.  

That’s how Leonard came to Mayo Clinic to see Mohamad Bydon, M.D., a neurosurgeon and specialist in complex spinal surgery. Dr. Bydon is also principal investigator of the Mayo Clinic Neuro-Informatics Laboratory. The Neuro-Informatics Laboratory is leading advances in spinal cord injury and disk regeneration, surgical outcomes, spinal biomechanics, and novel spinal devices.  

Leonard was drawn to Dr. Bydon and his team’s work benefiting patients, specifically those with spinal cord injuries who were able to walk again due to the treatment they received at Mayo Clinic.  

“When I first met Dr. Bydon, I became very excited about the potential to partner and help achieve the objectives he shared,” Leonard says. “Dr. Bydon’s work is individualized — it’s an opportunity to help veterans who need it today. I feel connected to these patients and invested in improving people’s lives through these advancements.”  

For his generous support, Mayo Clinic recognizes Leonard A. Lauder as a Philanthropic Partner.   

“Leonard Lauder’s generosity has accelerated pioneering research on spinal cord regeneration, getting us one step closer to solving the most serious spinal injuries,” Dr. Bydon says. “It’s inspiring to collaborate with Mr. Lauder and learn more about his dedication to helping others, especially the veteran community.  

“The advances we’re making in the treatment of spinal cord injury would not be possible without his support.” 

The possibilities and benefits of cutting-edge research aren’t new territory for Leonard. When he joined his family’s company in 1958, he focused on building the company’s first research and development laboratory. Leonard also helped grow The Estée Lauder Companies from a brand with eight products in one country to one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products, with more than 25 brands sold in approximately 150 countries and territories. 

One of the most important lessons Leonard learned while in the Navy and now offers as a personal adage?  

“Managers do things right, but leaders do the right thing. There's a big difference.” 

Red, white and blue notes

A foundation of Leonard’s personal leadership style is recognizing the contributions of others.  

This focus on recognition began during one of Leonard’s first jobs at The Estée Lauder Companies — when he paid monthly commissions to the sales staff who worked behind the company’s cosmetic counters in various department stores. While writing the commission checks, he decided to slip personal thank you notes in every envelope to show how much he appreciated each sales team member. 

There’s a similar practice still in place today. On each of his desks, Leonard keeps personalized blue stationery so he can continue to write messages to employees. He’s written thousands of “blue notes” that are famous throughout his organization. The messages are sometimes humorous, oftentimes congratulatory, or perhaps offer a much-needed word of encouragement.  

“Recognizing the work that someone does and congratulating them, or inspiring them to do better, is one of the best ways I can lead,” he says, while remaining humbled that many of his colleagues have saved his handwritten notes over the years. 

Today, his blue notes have expanded. Veterans who work at The Estée Lauder Companies inspired Red, White & Blue Notes, a companywide initiative that encourages U.S. employees and their families to send thank you letters to military members actively deployed overseas during the holiday season. Leonard sponsors the program, which is now in its fifth year of honoring and recognizing the contributions of veterans as well as the sacrifices their families have made.  

And after more than six decades of iconic leadership, Leonard, now 90, serves as chairman emeritus of the company that bears his mother’s name. He remains enthusiastic about working every day. 

“There’s no place that I don't have reminders of the great things that life has to offer,” Leonard shares. “I can't wait to get to work every day. I really can't.” 

Mayo Clinic is working to solve the world’s most serious or complex medical challenges — one patient at a time. Make a gift now to help transform the future of health care today.

The post Reflecting at 90, Beauty Magnate Focuses on Helping Patients at Mayo Clinic appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.

It was bug season in North Dakota, so Dawn didn’t think much of it. “When I told my hairdresser that, she said, ‘I really think you need to get it checked out.’ She saved my life,” Dawn recalls.

Dawn met with a local dermatologist to have the spot examined. A few hours after her biopsy, Dawn’s dermatologist told her she had melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

Dawn’s dermatologist wanted her to see a local oncologist as soon as possible, but there were no appointments available.

“With that kind of news, I got worried,” Dawn says.

Dawn visited her local physician for another trusted opinion. His comment was even more unsettling: “This looks pretty serious.”

He then picked up the phone and called Mayo Clinic to make a referral.

After receiving news of availability and discussing with her husband, John, and their son, Tom, Dawn made an appointment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dawn and John made the trip to Mayo Clinic and met with Eric J. Moore, M.D., the next day. Dr. Moore scheduled surgery for Dawn two days later.

“We're fortunate to have the No. 1 medical system in the world a six-hour drive away,” Tom says. “We never really questioned that we were going to go to Mayo.”

In October 2011, after several appointments and the initial surgery to remove the spot, doctors confirmed that Dawn’s melanoma was late stage.

“The physicians at Mayo Clinic were all so kind and caring,” Dawn says. “They really wanted to give me hope that this diagnosis was not fatal.”

A month after surgery, Dawn developed an infection in the incision on the top of her head. Dawn happened to be in Minneapolis with family, and they decided to head to Mayo Clinic in Rochester's emergency department about 75 miles away. When they arrived, she was amazed to see a doctor waiting for her who had read her chart and was up to speed on what was going on.

“That is remarkable patient care,” Dawn says.

Finding Hope in a Clinical Trial

In early 2013, doctors performed a precautionary lung X-ray and found that melanoma had spread to her lungs. Dawn's oncologist, Robert R. McWilliams, M.D., suggested she enroll in a clinical trial with an immunotherapy drug, conducted by Svetomir N. Markovic, M.D., Ph.D., a medical oncologist and hematologist who specializes in the care of patients with advanced melanoma.

“Dr. Markovic said a clinical trial was her only option, and that the survival rate at the time was 2%,” Tom says. “I still remember sitting in our home office, my dad and I Googling this stuff, looking for papers on outcomes and survival rates. That's what we found — 2%.”

Dawn decided to take part in the study.
“It was always equally as important to her that she was participating in a clinical trial, not knowing if it would help her, but knowing that the results would eventually help others,” John says.

Best Bet: Surgery

By the end of 2013, Dr. McWilliams and thoracic surgeon Stephen D. Cassivi, M.D., M.S., decided that surgery on both lungs was now Dawn’s best bet.

“I got back to the hospital, and in my room on the whiteboard there was a sign that said, ‘Welcome back, Dawn!’ I just felt like everybody took such good care of me," Dawn says. "They didn't know it, but they were challenging me too. I had to get my lungs working again." In July 2015, another spot was found on her right lung. Dawn then had three stereotactic radiation treatments, a noninvasive radiosurgery technique. After her treatments, Dawn came back to Mayo Clinic every six months for routine testing.

The Patients Are Waiting

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10 Years Later

After numerous PET scans and appointments and with the strong support of family and friends, Dawn officially completed her time with the oncology program at Mayo Clinic in July 2020 — 10 years after the first spotting of melanoma and five years since the last recurrence.

Following completion of her treatments, Dawn and her family decided to support Mayo Clinic through philanthropy. Mayo Clinic recognizes the Botsford Family Foundation as a Major Benefactor for the family’s generosity.

"I can't say enough about the people and the facilities at Mayo Clinic," Dawn says. "The entire team of researchers, providers and staff who saved my life and always gave me hope is something the clinic can be very proud of.”

For John and Tom, Mayo Clinic means even more.

“Not only did Dr. Markovic and the team at Mayo Clinic save my mom, but they allowed her to get to know her grandkids," Tom says. "That’s something you can never put a price on.”

Mayo Clinic is solving the world’s most serious or complex medical challenges — one patient at a time.

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The post Dawn’s Journey: Overcoming a Near-Zero Survival Rate appeared first on Mayo Clinic Magazine.