Physician. Born in Le Sueur, Minnesota, the eldest son of Louise Abigail Wright and William Worrall Mayo, a physician. As boys, he and his brother, Charles, often accompanied their father on his rounds as a country doctor. William attended the University of Michigan Medical School and graduated in 1883; he also took degrees at the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital in 1884, and at the New York Polyclinic in 1885, before he joined his father's practice in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1889, in cooperation with The Sisters of Saint Francis, the Mayos established a hospital in Rochester. William and his brother performed all the surgeries at St. Mary's Hospital until about 1905. The brothers spun a cooperative clinic from their partnership, later known as the Mayo Clinic, which began as a surgical clinic, but became a full medical center in 1915. At that time, the brothers gave $1.5 million to the University of Minnesota to establish the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research at Rochester in connection with the clinic. William became a specialist in abdominal, pelvic, and kidney surgery. During the First World War, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Army Medical Reserve; he served as chief adviser for the surgical services in the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army. He was named Chairman of the Committee of American Physicians for Medical Preparedness in 1916. In 1919, he received the Distinguished Service Medal. Post-war, he remained active as a surgeon at the clinic until 1928, and in its administration until 1933. He succumbed to stomach cancer at the age of 78. His biography was included in "The Doctors Mayo" by Helen Clapesattle, published in 1941. The United States Postal Service issued a stamp depicting William and Charles Mayo in 1964.
Physician. Born in Le Sueur, Minnesota, the eldest son of Louise Abigail Wright and William Worrall Mayo, a physician. As boys, he and his brother, Charles, often accompanied their father on his rounds as a country doctor. William attended the University of Michigan Medical School and graduated in 1883; he also took degrees at the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital in 1884, and at the New York Polyclinic in 1885, before he joined his father's practice in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1889, in cooperation with The Sisters of Saint Francis, the Mayos established a hospital in Rochester. William and his brother performed all the surgeries at St. Mary's Hospital until about 1905. The brothers spun a cooperative clinic from their partnership, later known as the Mayo Clinic, which began as a surgical clinic, but became a full medical center in 1915. At that time, the brothers gave $1.5 million to the University of Minnesota to establish the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research at Rochester in connection with the clinic. William became a specialist in abdominal, pelvic, and kidney surgery. During the First World War, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Army Medical Reserve; he served as chief adviser for the surgical services in the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army. He was named Chairman of the Committee of American Physicians for Medical Preparedness in 1916. In 1919, he received the Distinguished Service Medal. Post-war, he remained active as a surgeon at the clinic until 1928, and in its administration until 1933. He succumbed to stomach cancer at the age of 78. His biography was included in "The Doctors Mayo" by Helen Clapesattle, published in 1941. The United States Postal Service issued a stamp depicting William and Charles Mayo in 1964.
Bio by: Iola
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