WILLIAM EUGENE MAYBERRY, MD

William Eugene Mayberry, MD, passed away on September 16, 2016. He had a long and distinguished career in academic medicine, spending most of his professional life at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

He was born on August 22, 1929, in Cookeville, Tennessee. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 1947 and the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in 1953. He married his longtime sweetheart Jane Foster on December 29, 1953, following his graduation from medical school. He then joined the service and was part of the US Navy Underwater Demolition Team, then decided on a career in endocrinology. He pursued post-graduate work at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Minnesota, New England Center Hospital, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Disease. His major research interest was in thyroid function. He was an expert in thyroid hormone analyses, and was instrumental in developing a radioimmunoassay for human thyrotropin (TSH) and also testing for long acting thyroid stimulator (LATS).

Dr. Mayberry began his work at the Mayo Clinic in 1960 as a consultant in medicine and then served as the Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine from 1970 to 1975 and was professor of laboratory medicine at Mayo Medical School before assuming his presidential role there. He served as President, CEO, and Chairmen of the Board of Governors for the Mayo Clinic from 1976 to 1987. He led the Mayo Clinic through a period of significant change and Dr. Mayberry himself said “Through change, we move forward. It's how we grow. Discomfort with change is only to be expected. With time, we realize that, on the whole, change has been marvelously good for Mayo.” The developments under his reign were described as momentous. They included leading the establishment of Mayo Clinic sites in Arizona and Florida, integrating Mayo Clinic with Saint Mary's and Rochester Methodist hospitals, championing early efforts in diversity, and expanding development activities to support Mayo Clinic's mission in clinical practice, education, and research.

On the Mayo Clinic website, his obituary included statements from the current president and CEO of the Mayo Clinic, Dr. John Noseworthy, who said “Dr. Mayberry was an outstanding physician scientist who cared deeply for his patients and the staff and employees of Mayo Clinic…his pioneering leadership brought forth great change and was vital in shaping Mayo Clinic as a destination for patients from across the nation and around the world. He will long be remembered as one of the great leaders in Mayo Clinic history.” He added that “Dr. Mayberry's warm personality and kind demeanor made him a highly approachable, well-liked, and respected leader.”

Dr. Mayberry was elected to the American Clinical and Climatological Association in 1978 and his address to our group was published in 1980 in Volume 91 of our Transactions. It was entitled “Attempts at Controlling Costs and Fees in a Medical Center Setting.” In his address and manuscript, he talked about the Mayo Clinic experience about controlling medical costs, acknowledging that Mayo's work in this area may not be applicable everywhere. But he believed that the efficient and creative use of human and material resources by all institutions can do much to safeguard the patient's dollar. In the discussion section after his paper was presented he also discussed the impact of starting a medical school and the cost of the delivery of medical care, and he mentioned that the new Mayo Medical School's activity did not have a financial impact on his institution as far as patients' fees were concerned.

Dr. Mayberry was a member of several medical and administrative professional associations. He was also a member of many boards including the Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company, the George A. Hormel Company, Northwestern Bell, the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, the University of Minnesota School of Management, the Minnesota Business Partnership, and the Governor's Partnership on the Economic Future of Minnesota. He was awarded the great honor of the named endowed chair of Excellence, College of Business Administration at his alma mater the Tennessee Technological University. After retirement from the Mayo Clinic he spent much time in Naples, Florida.

At the time of his death he was survived by his daughter Ann Mayberry of Chicago, his son Paul Mayberry of Atlanta, and six grandchildren. He was preceded in his death by his wife Jane and his brother Thomas.

Fred J. Schiffman, MD, MACP