Rochester residents learned today that the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees has elected Dr. Matthew R. Callstrom, M.D., Ph.D., to become the organization’s next president and chief executive officer. The announcement, reported by KROC‑AM News and Bioengineer.org, signals a leadership transition for the world‑renowned health system that employs thousands of local workers and drives a major portion of the city’s economy.
According to the Mayo Clinic news release cited by KROC‑AM, Dr. Callstrom will take over from Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, who will remain in the role until the end of this year to ensure a seamless handoff. Bioengineer.org reports a longer transition, stating Dr. Farrugia will stay on through December 31, 2026 while working closely with Dr. Callstrom. The two outlets therefore differ on the exact timeline for the change.
Board chair Richard K. Davis described Dr. Callstrom as an “accomplished physician‑scientist and enterprise leader” with “nearly 25 years” of experience at Mayo Clinic. Both sources note that Dr. Callstrom joined the institution in 2002 and has served in roles that include medical director for Mayo Clinic Strategy and the AI Program, interim chief strategy officer, and chair of the Department of Radiology in Rochester.
His work has helped shape the organization’s strategy and advance the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into medicine, aiming to accelerate new cures, detect disease earlier, and give clinicians new capabilities for complex conditions. Dr. Callstrom is also internationally recognized for advancing image‑guided cancer treatment and has authored more than 200 publications and patents, according to Bioengineer.org.
In a statement, Dr. Callstrom said he is “deeply honored” to lead Mayo Clinic and highlighted the institution’s tradition of combining clinical expertise, science, and innovation to meet patient needs. He added that the organization now has an opportunity to “accelerate the translation of discovery and emerging technologies into better care and extend Mayo Clinic’s impact to more patients, wherever they are.”
Dr. Farrugia, who has led Mayo Clinic since 2019, is credited with launching the “Bold. Forward.” initiative that spurred more than $5 billion in expansion projects throughout Rochester. He praised Dr. Callstrom’s deep institutional knowledge and expressed confidence in the future of the clinic.
What’s next: The Board will oversee the transition period, with Dr. Callstrom preparing to assume full responsibilities after Dr. Farrugia’s departure—whether at the end of 2025 or December 31, 2026, as reported. Rochester’s health‑care community will watch closely as the new leadership shapes the clinic’s next chapter.
Sources: krocnews.com, bioengineer.org
