Diane F. Jelinek, Ph.D.

How Mayo Clinic Touches Me

"I always tell students, particularly those who are wanting to come to my laboratory, that it's so critical to be passionate about science. Passion is the key factor that really translates into success.

I've been very fortunate to have been able to have trained a number of students to get their Ph.D., and it is really like having them become a member of your scientific family.

I think that role modeling goes a long way at Mayo Clinic and my opportunity to teach provides an example to young learners at Mayo Clinic that Mayo's a very diversified environment.

Mayo has a very unique model of funding our graduate students and it's critical for allowing us to attract the best and the brightest students. Philanthropy provides an opportunity to increase the learner pool and by doing so furthering the research programs of investigators of Mayo Clinic.

The most rewarding part of being an educator at Mayo Clinic is the opportunity to make a difference for someone, to inspire them, to give them the tool sets that are necessary for them to be successful and, probably, more importantly, to see them succeed and to look back on their career and be proud of having the opportunity to make an impact on someone else's career."