Mayo Clinic Names Strategy and AI Leader as Next CEO
Dr. Matthew Callstrom, who has guided both strategic planning and artificial intelligence initiatives at the health system, will assume leadership in January 2027.
Mayo Clinic has appointed Dr. Matthew Callstrom, medical director for Mayo Clinic Strategy and the AI Program, as its next chief executive officer. The interventional radiologist and nearly 25-year Mayo veteran will lead one of America's most prestigious health systems beginning January 1, 2027.
Callstrom's elevation to the CEO position represents a notable shift in healthcare leadership, where expertise in both strategic planning and emerging technologies is increasingly valued at the executive level. He will succeed Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, who has led the organization since 2019.
From Radiology Suite to Executive Office
Callstrom's career at Mayo Clinic spans nearly 25 years and includes roles as interim chief strategy officer and chair of the radiology department in Rochester. As an interventional radiologist, he uses real-time medical imaging to guide instruments inside the body to treat cancers.
A member of Mayo's board of governors and board of trustees, Callstrom continues the tradition of Mayo CEOs rising from the ranks of its physician leaders. His background "prepares him exceptionally well to lead Mayo Clinic into its next chapter," said Richard K. Davis, chair of Mayo's board of trustees.
AI and Innovation Leadership
Callstrom has been leading Mayo's work on using artificial intelligence in medicine. In 2025, he was one of Mayo's leaders on a collaboration with chipmaking giant Nvidia to become the first major health care system to deploy Nvidia's top AI technology on a large scale.
"AI is now opening up a whole new world to us," he said at the time of the partnership announcement.
Mayo is drawing on more than a century of patient data to fuel its AI discoveries. A 2025 Minnesota Star Tribune article described Callstrom flipping through patient files dating back to the early 1900s, including a 1906 record that noted a gallbladder issue. Callstrom said then he didn't foresee AI eliminating jobs at Mayo, though it could eventually reduce the rate of staff growth in some areas by making them more efficient.
Financial Position and Expansion
Callstrom takes over at a time of financial strength. Mayo reported $1.47 billion in 2025 profits from current activities—the biggest one-year sum ever at the clinic. The financial performance is backing the clinic's $5 billion expansion project in Rochester and nearly $2 billion worth of capital investments at its large medical center in Phoenix.
Balancing Growth with Operational Realities
While Mayo Clinic pursues expansion, the organization faces operational challenges. In 2025, Mayo announced it was closing six small-town medical clinics across southeastern Minnesota, citing declines in staffing and patient volumes.
As Minnesota's largest employer with 57,159 employees in the state, Mayo operates large medical centers in Rochester, Arizona, and Florida, alongside community hospitals and clinics throughout southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Rochester Mayor Kim Norton noted that Callstrom's appointment should make for an easier transition compared to past CEOs who previously ran Mayo campuses in Arizona or Florida. "He knows the community and has a long history here, a lot of respect from within the organization," Norton said.
Industry Implications
The appointment signals that combined expertise in strategic planning and artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in healthcare executive leadership. For health AI companies, Callstrom's ascension may indicate that major academic medical centers are moving beyond pilot programs toward broader AI integration across radiology, diagnostics, and clinical workflows.
Healthcare providers observing Mayo's trajectory may face competitive pressure to adopt similar technologies and leadership approaches, potentially influencing procurement decisions for AI infrastructure and clinical decision support tools across the sector. Whether Callstrom's dual focus on strategy and AI-driven innovation can address both technological advancement and traditional healthcare delivery challenges will likely be watched closely by health systems nationwide.
Sources
Follow Health AI Central
Keep up with health AI where you already read
On LinkedIn
The day’s strongest health AI stories in your feed, one or two each weekday.
On Google
Choose Health AI Central as a preferred source, and Google is more likely to show our reporting in Top Stories.
Reporting & accountability
How we maintain accuracy
Health AI Central separates reported facts, analysis, and public-source data. Readers can review our standards, request a correction, or consult the relevant research methodology before relying on a claim.