KENT THIELEN

CEO, MAYO CLINIC IN FLORIDA, VICE PRESIDENT, MAYO CLINIC, JACKSONVILLE

Mayo Clinic opened its Florida campus in 1986 and today has a team of nearly 11,000 employees annually serving patients from every state and over 85 countries. Thielen has served as a physician with the Mayo Clinic for the past 35 years and as CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida since 2019. “In each of my roles at Mayo Clinic, starting with my direct patient care as a physician and then in increasing and varying roles of organizational leadership, I’ve prioritized enabling a future of innovation and transformation that provides greater hope and cures for our patients, particularly those with serious or complex health care needs,” says Thielen.

EDUCATION: South Dakota State University (BS), University of Minnesota Medical School (MD)

FIRST JOB: Starting at age 15, I worked for Northrup King Seeds during the summers, in the seed corn fields of southern Minnesota. This was labor intensive work that involved walking the corn fields with responsibilities like detasseling corn.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: My best estimation is that I would pursue a career in farming or ranching. I have very positive memories of my upbringing and involvement in agriculture during my childhood.