THE Mayo

When people hear the word Mayo they typically think of 1 of 2 things:

1. God’s gift to a submarine sandwich or
2. World-renown medicine

This summer I have come to love both (well, actually… I always loved #1). Everyone loves mayonnaise; this is something I’ve been saying for years. I may be the only child whose mother allowed her to eat plain mayo sandwiches (the reason for my congestive heart failure at the age of 16); however, I now have a respect for this ethereal condiment. My best friend and roommate is a living testament to the power of mayo. She claimed she didn’t like it until I reassured her she did… but just didn’t know it; she has now seen the light. It’s completely horrible and entirely heavenly. Yum. (DISCLAIMER: As a healthcare professional, I am in no way endorsing the regular use of mayo. I am, however, willing to admit it is entirely delectable, and no sandwich is the same without it.)

Now that that’s covered, #2. This summer I had the opportunity to complete my clinical rotation at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. For years the Mayo Clinic has inspired hope and contributed to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education and research. I can honestly say that my rotation here was one of the best experiences of my life. I had always heard of Mayo and knew that it was supposedly one of the top hospitals in the country, and thus, world. However, I never knew why. After this summer, however, I could never imagine receiving healthcare anywhere else. It truly is a one-of-a-kind institution full of caring professionals. Everyone who works there loves their job, from the sanitation and grounds crew to the world-class surgeons. Each profession and discipline respects and trusts each other, and this is immensely obvious to the patients. The care that patients receive is exceptional. Physicians, therapists, cafeteria workers, and everyone else take the time to listen and understand. Each is only a phone call or page away, both of which are always quick to be answered. This environment makes you want to be the best at what you do, no matter what that might be. Each is respected for his/her area of expertise, and communication up and down the chain is superb. Needless to say, this was 12 weeks I will never forget.

As part of the logistics of our clinical rotations, we are each assigned a clinical instructor (CI). An incredible therapist by the name of Michele Cernich was mine. Michele is hands-down the best CI I have had. She is very gracious and patient, and most importantly for a student, she is able to give constructive feedback in a tactful and understandable manner. Michele pushed me to use my clinical reasoning by not always simply answering my questions; rather, she helped guide me to the appropriate information as necessary. She is good at probing me to look further and research for answers. She always listened to my concerns and asked for my feedback. She was very good at making me aware of her and Mayo’s expectations for my performance. She is incredibly knowledgeable about OT and healthcare as a whole. Her colleagues and patients each recognize this and respect her greatly for it. I have learned so much from her this semester, both through observation of her technique and by being lucky enough to work alongside her. Along with her professionalism and clinical skills, she has an incredible personality which draws people to her. She is light-hearted and funny, which puts everyone at ease and allows patients to feel comfortable around her. She is one of the reasons that patients say, “Mayo is the only place I will go for my healthcare.” May I someday be able to emulate this incredible compassion, drive, competence and joy for occupational therapy. I could not have asked for a better experience. Mayo has indeed exceeded my expectations and helped me to grow in ways I didn’t know possible. No matter where I go and what I do, may I always keep with me the “Spirit of the Clinic” and remember that “The Needs of the Patient Come First.” This means committing myself to education, research, quality, and, most importantly, mutual respect.

“The spirit of the Clinic, into which is incorporated the desire to aid those who are suffering, the desire to advance in medical education by research, by diligent observation, and by the application of knowledge gained from others and, most of all, the desire to pass on to others the scientific candle this spirit has lighted.“  William J. Mayo, M.D.