WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is inviting the public to a showing of Ken Burns’ documentary, “The Mayo Clinic: Faith – Hope – Science” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in Room 200 of the Science and Learning Center.
The two-hour documentary film, which features the voices of Tom Hanks, Sam Waterston, Blythe Danner, and Josh Lucas, explores the clinic’s 150-year history and what it means to put the needs of the patient first.
The film tells the story of William Worrall Mayo, an English immigrant who began practicing medicine with his sons Will and Charlie in Rochester, Minn. When a deadly tornado tore through their small community in 1883, the Mayos took charge of recovery efforts, enlisting the help of the nearby Sisters of Saint Francis to care for patients. Afterwards, Mother Alfred Moes, the leader of the convent, told Dr. Mayo she had a vision from God that instructed her to build a hospital, with him as its director. She believed it would become “world renowned for its medical arts.”
Blending historical narrative with contemporary patient stories (like those of John McCain and the Dalai Lama), this film is a timely look at how one institution has met the changing demands of healthcare for 150 years — and what that can teach us about facing the challenges of patient care today.
The medical center now treats over a million patients every year from 50 states and 150 countries and employs 64,000 people in Rochester and at campuses in Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz.
Saint Mary’s is proud to collaborate with Mayo Clinic on its new 3+2 Physician Assistant program. Many Saint Mary’s alumni work at the renowned medical center, and Saint Mary’s students are fortunate to be able to learn and work with talented staff at Mayo Clinic through several initiatives.
The event is hosted by Saint Mary’s Student Activities Office and the John C. Parmer School of the Sciences with support from Eric Olson from KMSQ in Austin.