Bert and Sandy Getz

We give to Mayo to help the progress of medical care, education and research.

"By giving to Mayo, you ultimately touch the lives of people across the country and around the world by helping the progress of medical care, education and research," says Bert Getz. He and his wife, Sandy, are longtime benefactors of Mayo.

Mr. Getz is the chief executive officer and director of Globe Corporation, past chair of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees and serves as a member of Mayo Clinic Leadership Council. The Getzes' generosity to Mayo includes a leadership gift for the underground concourse at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. and the Getz Family Professorship.

In 2002, Leonard L. Gunderson, M.D., was named Getz Family Professor. His work illustrates how philanthropy can have far-reaching effects.

Improving care

Dr. Gunderson has been a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic for 25 years. He currently is the chair of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic Arizona, as well as deputy director of clinical affairs for Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Arizona.

His clinical research interests include the integration of combined therapies and multidisciplinary treatment approaches for patients with gastrointestinal cancers and soft-tissue sarcomas. He also is interested in the use of intraoperative radiation with electrons (IOERT), or brachytherapy (placement of radioactive "seeds" or wires in or near a tumor), as a component of treatment for patients with locally advanced or locally recurrent cancers.

Dr. Gunderson credits his long tenure at Mayo to the team approach among physicians in multiple disciplines, which achieves outstanding patient care and clinical research.

In the last quarter century, that multidisciplinary approach has resulted in improved tumor control and survival for most types of gastrointestinal cancers. Clinical trials have confirmed these improvements for patients with esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas and rectal cancer. For patients with anal cancer, the use of chemoradiation has been shown to be a viable option to surgical removal of the anus and rectum, allowing organ preservation in most patients.

Continuing research

Dr. Gunderson joined Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in 1980, where he was a professor in Oncology and consultant in Radiation Oncology. He served as chair of Radiation Oncology from 1989 to 1996 and chair of Oncology from 1996 to 2001, when he became chair of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

In Arizona, Dr. Gunderson has continued his clinical research focus for patients with gastrointestinal cancers and sarcomas. He also has helped institute an IOERT program at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix with surgical and anesthesia colleagues, using the new technology of a mobile electron accelerator (Mobetron).