Richard J. Gray, M.D.

Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers?

My leadership style is driven by a commitment to Mayo Clinic’s core value: the needs of the patient come first. This guiding principle ensures that we not only deeply care about our patients but also are committed to doing whatever it takes to meet their needs — whether through unhurried exams, actively listening to their goals or innovating new treatments to address unsolved conditions.

Every employee understands this commitment to our patients because it is reflected by our leaders as well. The impact of this focus is clear: Mayo Clinic in Arizona was ranked No. 1 in cancer quality and outcomes last year by Vizient; earned our 25th consecutive Leapfrog “A” grade for safety, placing us among the top 0.5% of hospitals nationwide; and has 45% of its physicians in the 99th percentile for patient experience according to Press Ganey.

Q: What impact has any disruptions of the past 18 months had on you as a leader?

Leading a large organization through times of uncertainty has reinforced the importance of surrounding myself with strong leaders. While we can’t always predict the challenges ahead, we can rely on the “collective genius” of our teams to help us navigate through them. History also offers valuable lessons. Thus, by actively seeking input from all members, valuing diverse perspectives and learning from the past, we can make more informed decisions and approach new challenges with greater insight and resilience.

This collaborative approach has proven invaluable during crises, and I’m proud of how our teams have applied these lessons to new challenges, keeping us resilient, agile and ready to pivot when faced with the unexpected.

For example, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we faced significant supply chain disruptions that forced us to find new ways to meet the needs of our patients. Similarly, this year, a natural disaster disrupted IV fluid manufacturing in the U.S., presenting another challenge to our supply chain. In both situations, our strong leadership teams were critical to our ability to respond quickly and effectively.

Q: What do you feel we can be doing as a business community to empower economic growth here?

As a business community, we have a strong tradition of pulling together to support one another in the Phoenix metro area, welcoming newcomers and advocating for policies that foster economic growth. Collaboration is a key part of this — Mayo Clinic actively participates in organizations that include the Arizona Commerce Authority, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Greater Phoenix Leadership to drive economic progress.

Arizona has made significant strides in diversifying its economy, leading in innovative sectors like biotechnology, chip manufacturing and electric vehicles. And with infrastructure that enables businesses here to reach tens of millions of consumers quickly as well as the significant population growth expected in the next few years, we are now ready and must take the next step, which is to focus on fostering early-stage innovators and ensuring they have the capital and mentorship to launch successful companies. By strengthening this foundation, we can make our economy even more vibrant, dynamic and attractive to new business, positioning Arizona as a leader in innovation for years to come.

Q: What is new and notable for your company’s near future that will impact our economy?

At Mayo Clinic, we are excited about the impact our work is having on the local economy, particularly as we lead the transformation of healthcare and distributing new solutions through the Mayo Clinic Platform. The Platform’s collaborative approach is driving the growth of a rich data ecosystem, which is attracting interest from companies eager to partner with us. A key example of this is our Discovery Oasis initiative, a biotech innovation hub adjacent to our Phoenix hospital campus. This 100-acre development will bring together innovative early- and mid-stage companies with more established organizations to collaborate on groundbreaking advancements in biomanufacturing, cell and gene therapies, next-generation diagnostics and more, all aimed at pushing the boundaries of medical science and bringing new solutions for patients.

Beyond Discovery Oasis, we are also strengthening the local economy by expanding healthcare options in the Phoenix market. This summer, we announced a joint venture with Brooks Rehabilitation, a Florida-based leader in post-acute care, to open a 60-bed hospital on our campus. This $70 million project, which will break ground in early 2025, is a significant step forward in enhancing post-acute care options in the region and creating more jobs and economic opportunities for the local community.