Richard J. Gray, M.D.

Q: What most notably stands out about your organization as an innovation, opportunity or service that improves or better delivers healthcare to Arizonans?

Mayo Clinic is proud to be recognized as a leader in medical innovation, patient-centered care and cutting-edge research, continuously redefining healthcare excellence in the region.

Patients come to us seeking our Mayo Clinic Model of Care in which multidisciplinary teams work seamlessly together to address the most serious and complex medical conditions. They seek solutions that aren’t available anywhere else, and that is what drives our innovation culture.

To complement our world-class clinicians and scientists, we developed Mayo Clinic Platform, where safe, effective artificial intelligence models for healthcare can be created and validated and made available to all who can benefit from them. These models are already benefiting Arizonans as well as people around the globe whose healthcare providers are part of the Platform.

Additionally, we are expanding our research and innovation efforts through Discovery Oasis, a biotech innovation hub next to our Phoenix campus, where startups across the biosciences can collaborate with us and each other to find new treatments and cures for patients.

We’re building the future of healthcare, fueled by our relentless research and commitment to innovation to deliver groundbreaking treatments, enhance patient outcomes and inspire hope in those who need it most.

Q: Tell us about your known style of leadership or philosophy on being a strong leader for your organization. Tell us about a specific program, leadership policy or practice that has directly benefited healthcare outcomes in Arizona.

My leadership style is deeply rooted in Mayo Clinic’s primary value: The needs of the patient come first. This guiding principle is the driving force behind everything we do, ensuring that we provide compassionate, patient-centered care. This manifests in our leadership styles — including mine — being centered on individual humility and selflessness combined with courage and confidence that our teams, together, can accomplish anything our patients need. This culture is what produces many of the most important aspects of Mayo Clinic care, such as unhurried exams; taking the time to truly listen to our patients’ concerns and goals; and developing new, innovative treatments to address the most challenging unmet medical needs.

This commitment to our patients is embodied at every level of our organization — from our dedicated employees and volunteers to our leaders. The impact of this patient-first focus is evident: Mayo Clinic in Arizona was named a top hospital in the world by Newsweek, earned our 25th consecutive Leapfrog “A” grade for patient safety, and was named to the national honor roll for the eighth consecutive year with national rankings in 10 specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

Q: What do you feel a healthy Arizona workforce and families can mean for Arizona’s growth?

A healthy workforce and strong families are the foundation of Arizona’s long-term growth and prosperity. At Mayo Clinic, we are committed to delivering high-quality, whole-person care that empowers individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. When people have access to exceptional healthcare, they are more productive, engaged and better equipped to contribute to their workplaces and communities — driving both personal and economic well-being across the state.

In addition, healthy families are the foundation of stable, vibrant communities. With access to quality care and support, they experience better educational outcomes, expanded economic opportunities and an overall higher quality of life.

While Mayo Clinic remains deeply committed to the growth and success of our communities, we are also strategically expanding to meet the rising demand for care. Through intentional investments in both physical and digital infrastructure, we are ensuring continued access to exceptional, patient-centered healthcare for those with serious and complex conditions — now and in the future.

Q: What is on the horizon for your organization?

Mayo Clinic recently announced a historic $1.9 billion investment in the transformation and expansion of our Phoenix campus, called Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Arizona.

Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Arizona will increase clinical space on the Phoenix campus by nearly 60% and enable us to better serve the patients who need us most through innovative care concepts and integrated technologies. This growth will transform the way we deliver care, creating safer, more personalized and more convenient experiences for patients and staff. We will incorporate care neighborhoods to streamline the patient journey and foster a sense of belonging, and we will introduce a reimagined arrival experience with intuitive wayfinding to alleviate stress. This expansion will also feature new operating and procedural suites, additional imaging capabilities, more patient beds, expanded cancer cellular therapies and theranostics, and more.

The first phase of construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025, with the completion of all spaces by 2031. We have a comprehensive plan for adding thousands more staff over the next 10 years to support this expansion and the many more patients it will allow us to serve.