Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

09/11/2026

How can healthcare professionals practice some of the hardest conversations in medicine before having them with a patient?

With support from a Richard M. Schulze Innovation Award in Artificial Intelligence, Misk Al Zahidy is exploring AI-driven patient avatars designed to make communication training more realistic. The goal is to give medical students, residents, nurses and other patient-facing clinicians a safe, structured and repeatable environment to practice difficult or emotionally complex conversations.

Much like a flight simulator helps pilots prepare for real-world situations, these virtual patients could help clinicians build communication skills before putting them into practice with patients.

Learn more about Al Zahidy’s project and how artificial intelligence is being explored to advance medical training: https://mayocl.in/46nZbbZ

The Richard M. Schulze Innovation Awards in Artificial Intelligence support Mayo Clinic professionals who are using AI, advanced technologies and entrepreneurial thinking to reimagine healthcare and education. Made possible through the generous philanthropy of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the awards advance Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. vision.

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

Last weekend, first-year students at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester participated in the Stethoscope Ceremony, a tradition that marks the beginning of their medical education and the responsibility they are accepting as future physicians.

While many medical schools hold a White Coat Ceremony, Mayo Clinic has a different tradition. Mayo physicians have historically not worn white coats, reflecting the Mayo brothers’ belief that white coats could create barriers between physicians and patients. Instead, our students receive a stethoscope, a symbol of listening, connection and the privilege of caring for others.

As these students begin their journey in medicine, the stethoscope is a reminder that no matter how much science and technology advance, listening to and understanding the patient will always matter.

Congratulations to the newest members of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine community!

08/20/2026

One summer program helped her discover her future in Nuclear Medicine.

Before participating in Mayo Clinic's Career Immersion Program, Ilhaam Mohamed knew about only a handful of healthcare professions. Through the program, she explored a variety of careers and gained a deeper understanding of the many ways healthcare teams contribute to patient care.

Sessions focused on Nuclear Medicine and physical therapy captured her attention, introducing her to fields she had not previously considered. The experience ultimately inspired her to pursue Nuclear Medicine as a career.

To prepare for that future, Ilhaam gained clinical experience through phlebotomy and continued building the skills needed to work with patients. This fall, she will begin Mayo Clinic's Nuclear Medicine Program.

Her story demonstrates how pathways programs help learners explore possibilities, discover interests and take meaningful steps toward healthcare careers.

08/19/2026

As healthcare evolves, education continues to play an important role in helping clinicians keep pace with new knowledge, technologies and models of care.

At Mayo Clinic, continuous learning is part of professional practice. In 2025, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development supported more than 6,000 educational sessions, along with online courses, podcasts and programs focused on emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.

This work builds on a century-long approach to connecting education with patient care, research and professional growth. Learn more: https://mayocl.in/4xHPwsp

08/18/2026

A summer pathways experience helped her discover a career she never knew existed.

When Sam Rudnick participated in Mayo Clinic's Career Immersion Program as a high school student, she gained exposure to a wide range of healthcare professions and discovered how many people work together to support patient care.

One experience stood out: shadowing surgical assistants in the operating room. Seeing the role firsthand helped her connect her interests with a potential career path and gave her a clearer vision for her future.

After graduating from high school, Sam earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Minnesota Rochester while gaining clinical experience as a Patient Care Assistant at Mayo Clinic. Today, she is pursuing that same passion as a student in Mayo Clinic's Surgical Assistant Program.

Her journey reflects the power of early career exploration and how pathways programs can help learners discover opportunities that shape their educational and professional goals.

08/14/2026

One pathway program sparked her curiosity. Another helped shape her future.

As a high school student in Florida, Emily Dorairaj joined Mayo Clinic's SPARK program and stepped into a research laboratory for the first time.

There, she discovered how scientific discoveries move from the laboratory to patient care and developed skills in scientific inquiry, communication and research analysis.

A few years later, as an undergraduate student, she returned to Mayo Clinic through the CRISP program, where she gained experience in clinical research and statistical modeling while working on projects designed to improve patient outcomes.

Today, Emily is preparing to begin medical school at Mayo Clinic.

Her story demonstrates the power of educational pathways that support learners at multiple stages of their journey, helping them explore interests, build skills and prepare for future careers in healthcare.

"Asking questions, seeking mentorship and being open to new experiences made all the difference," Emily says.

08/12/2026

From high school student to Mayo medical student.

When Pragnya Karlapudi joined the inaugural Mayo Clinic CARES program as a high school student in Phoenix, she was interested in medicine but unsure what the path forward looked like.

Through CARES, she explored healthcare careers ranging from physicians and nurses to social workers, radiology professionals, veterinarians and chaplains. More importantly, she found mentors who helped her envision a future in medicine and stayed connected long after the program ended.

Today, Pragnya is a second-year medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona, where she continues to work with mentors she first met through CARES.

"The most valuable thing I got from the program was the connections and the people that I met," she says. "Asking people for help when you need it, asking for advice and building relationships opened so many doors for me."

Her journey reflects the long-term impact of Mayo Clinic's pathways programs: helping students explore healthcare careers, connect with mentors and discover opportunities that can shape their futures.

07/28/2026

Over the past two weeks, the inaugural cohort of the Pre-College Healthcare Academy challenged themselves through hands-on learning, explored careers in healthcare and lived and learned on the Mayo Clinic in Rochester campus. Along the way, they gained valuable insights into the future of medicine from leaders across the field. Congratulations to each student on your curiosity, dedication and hard work. We look forward to seeing the impact you'll make as you continue your journey in healthcare.

07/23/2026

Since welcoming its inaugural cohort, the Pre-College Healthcare Academy has immersed high school students in hands-on workshops, interactive learning and real-world healthcare experiences.

Working alongside Mayo Clinic physicians, researchers and healthcare professionals, students are building practical skills, strengthening critical-thinking abilities and exploring the science, teamwork and innovation behind modern medicine.

Their curiosity, collaboration and enthusiasm have been inspiring!