JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees announced on Friday, Nov. 9, that it has elected Kent Thielen, M.D., (TEE-Lin) vice president, Mayo Clinic, and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. Dr. Thielen succeeds Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., who will become president and CEO, Mayo Clinic, on Jan. 1, 2019. In the meantime, Dr. Farrugia will continue to serve in his role as vice president, Mayo Clinic, and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. Drs. Farrugia and Thielen will work closely through this transition. The board also welcomed Jay Alix and George Bilicic as new public members.

“Dr. Thielen is an exceptional and proven leader who brings a wealth of experience to the position and a steadfast commitment to Mayo Clinic’s mission, values and culture,” says Samuel Di Piazza, chair, Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees. “He has a bold and strategic vision for the way Mayo Clinic will use innovation to further improve patient care and advance Mayo’s leadership in medical education and research.

Dr. Thielen, a Minnesota native, first came to Mayo Clinic as a resident in Radiology in 1990. He has been a member of the Mayo Clinic staff since 1996. Dr. Thielen serves in several leadership roles. As chair, Midwest Department of Radiology, which encompasses leadership of Mayo Clinic Health System and Rochester Radiology operations, Dr. Thielen leads a staff of 260 physicians and physicists, 52 residents, 24 fellows, and 1,500 allied health staff.

Since 2013, Dr. Thielen has led integration efforts between the Mayo Clinic Health System and Rochester practices to create the Midwest Department of Radiology. He significantly expanded scholarship and research support infrastructure within the Department of Radiology. From 2013 to 2017, the Rochester Department of Radiology steadily climbed from 19th to eighth in national rankings of National Institutes of Health awards to academic radiology departments.

Also, as chair of the Enterprise Radiology Specialty Council, Dr. Thielen leads the integration of Radiology practices across Mayo Clinic. He also led the planning and implementation for the new health records system throughout all Radiology departments at Mayo. Dr. Thielen previously served as chair, Division of Neuroradiology, in the Department of Radiology from 2004 to 2013.

“I’m humbled, honored and excited to continue to build upon Dr. Farrugia’s outstanding legacy, which includes his involvement and leadership in the Jacksonville community, and to accelerate Mayo’s efforts in discovery and world-class innovation,” Dr. Thielen says. “I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to ensure the Florida campus continues to grow its stellar reputation as a leader in patient care, education and research.”

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