Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Elizabeth Baier
Rochester, Minn.

Mayo's president stepping down to run program in Arizona

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Mayo President and CEO Denis Cortese is stepping down from the clinic's leading role Friday.

Cortese arrived at Mayo 40 years ago as a student, and spent some time at Mayo's Jacksonville campus in the '90s before returning to Rochester in 2002.

Cortese has overseen the clinic's three campuses and its health care system and opened two new hospitals -- one at Mayo's Arizona campus, and another at the Jacksonville campus.

"My wife keeps wondering, will we be returning again at some point to Rochester? And I don't think so," Cortese said. "But it feels good to retire and move on to some bigger issues that I've developed a major interest in over the past 15 to 20 years."

Cortese leaves the clinic as the nation debates health care reform. He said Congress should look to clinics like the Mayo Heath System and others in the region that are producing results.

"You can't write legislation to create what the delivery system looks like, but you can write legislation on what the delivery system should be producing and what we're going to pay for," he said. "That's the difference between politics and being able to do something."

He begins a job in January leading a new Health Care Delivery and Policy Program at Arizona State University.