Dr. William Worrall Mayo's precept, "No one is big enough to be independent of others," made a huge impression on his sons and on the history of Mayo Clinic. The Mayo founders believed that the combined wisdom and talent of team members is greater than any one individual. They credited people from different backgrounds, skills and life experiences as the essential factor in Mayo Clinic's success.

Mayo has been called a "people organization" -- dedicated people working together as a team to deliver the highest-quality care for patients. Among these are people who made important contributions to the early years of Mayo Clinic, to the standard of care and to the development of services that support the best interest of patients. Their leadership was pivotal in establishing many aspects of the Mayo Clinic practice and their contributions paved the way for the progress of today.