The Sisters' story of Saint Marys Hospital began like many good stories. Once upon a time, a group of Catholic Sisters and a family of doctors built a hospital in a cornfield. A handshake, not a legal document, sealed this partnership of Franciscan Sisters and Mayo physicians. The hospital grew into a place of healing for people from all over the world. The human story of these unlikely partners continues in The Sisters’ Story, Part Two. Working together, they faced daunting challenges with unwavering dedication to a common purpose: the welfare of each patient. Today, Saint Marys Hospital, together with Mayo Clinic, is indeed the miracle in a cornfield.

About the Author

Sister Ellen Whelan, OSF, followed in the footsteps of four of her aunts when she joined the Sisters of Saint Francis in Rochester, Minnesota. An educator, she received a doctorate in history from Syracuse University. Sister Ellen has been associated with Saint Marys Hospital and Mayo Clinic in various roles, among them serving as chair of the Saint Marys Hospital Sponsorship Board.

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About the Cover

As the last Sister administrator of Saint Marys Hospital, Sister Generose Gervais astutely led the hospital through a challenging period of growth and change. Highly regarded for her keen business sense, Sister Generose was the first woman to serve as director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. Sister Generose created, and currently chairs, the Poverello Foundation, which assists Saint Marys Hospital patients in financial need.

Photograph by Gary E. Koenig, Nurse Manager, Mayo Clinic.