History

THE MAYO SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES-A HISTORY BEYOND OUR YEARS

Mayo Foundation has been educating allied health professionals — who are vital to the delivery of quality medical care — for almost as long as Mayo has existed. Even though their evolutionary roots can be traced to that era, the Mayo School of Health Sciences (MSHS) was officially established in 1973.

Over the years, MSHS programs have evolved from a practical need for the best healthcare professionals for our patients. Advances in treatment and increasing technological sophistication of equipment have required unique, specialty clinical skills as evidenced by the following MSHS historical highlights.

Mayo’s very first allied health professional — Edith Graham Mayo — was trained as a nurse anesthetist in 1889. In 1906, Saint Marys Hospital’s Training School for Nurses was founded by Sister Joseph Dempsey, and in 1918, the Colonial Hospital Training School for Nurses was established. Mayo’s Nurse Anesthesia Program is the oldest, continuously operating school of nurse anesthesia in existence. MSHS’s Nurse Practitioner Program, offered in collaboration with Winona State University, was added to MSHS in 1994.

The Mayo Physical Therapy Program has set the standard for education in its field. From its beginning in 1936, through the emergency war classes of World War II, to the present program awarding the doctor of physical therapy degree, Mayo has graduated thousands of physical therapists.

Understanding that patients have basic needs beyond treatment of illness led to the need for professionals such as nutritionists, chaplains and social workers. Although the corresponding programs in dietetics, clinical pastoral education and medical social services were not added to the MSHS until the last decade, education in these professions began at Mayo as early as the 1930s.

During the 1960s and 1970s, healthcare underwent a transformation that led to the beginning of programs in cytotechnology, nuclear medicine technology, occupational therapy, pharmacy services, recreational therapy, respiratory therapy, and surgical technology These programs were a direct result of changes in clinical practice and technological breakthroughs in medicine.

During the 1980s, changes in the way healthcare was delivered to patients resulted in new allied health professions and opportunities. The MSHS responded by adding programs such as medical laboratory technology, clinical neurophysiology, radiation therapy, radiography, medical social services, and diagnostic medical sonography.

In 1993, several programs traditionally offered through Rochester Methodist and Saint Marys Hospitals became a part of  MSHS: pharmacy, dietetics, clinical pastoral education, and surgical technology. Recent changes include the 1995 addition of a Physician Assistant Program in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin—LaCrosse, in response to a national demand for these allied health professionals.

Through these decades, medical and program directors and other MSHS staff have overseen the school’s activities to ensure consistency and quality of the programs offered. For example, leaders of the affiliated nursing programs meet with the MSHS program directors regularly to ensure common approaches for student activities, support and contracts.

MSHS programs and students have played an important role in the integration of the Mayo practices. Rotations to, and programs at, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale have augmented students’ educational experience, and provided these locations with teaching and mentoring opportunities. In addition, many MSHS graduates are employed at Scottsdale and Jacksonville.

MSHS is also working with Mayo Health System to provide similar educational and employment opportunities for graduates. As new practices emerge and existing practices grow, we are able to educate the appropriate number and appropriate level of allied health staff.

Today, MSHS offers 28 diverse programs, ranging from certificate to post-doctoral level. The school enrolls approximately 300 students each year, often in alliance with academic partners — affiliated academic institutions throughout the region. The Rochester Community and Technical College has been a long-term partner in several programs. Similarly, there are partnerships with Winona State University for advanced-practice nurses and with the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse for physician assistant education.

Looking back, many things have changed. One thing that has not changed, however, is a reputation for educating the best allied health staff available to serve our patients. This fundamental commitment underscores Mayo’s belief that quality patient care is the most important aspect of our practice.