Mayo Clinic remembers Richard E. Weeks, M.D., former chair, Mayo Clinic Board of Governors in Florida

Richard E. Weeks, M.D. (I ’57), former chair of the Board of Governors at Mayo Clinic in Florida, member of Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, died on Sunday, Jan. 24. He was 96.

Dr. Weeks was chair of the Board of Governors at Mayo Clinic in Florida from 1987 to 1989. Dr. Weeks was a member of Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees and served as chair of Board of Directors of St. Luke’s Hospital in Jacksonville. He retired from Mayo Clinic in 1990.

“Dr. Weeks was a proven physician leader who, upon coming to Mayo Clinic in Florida, was able to lead the relatively new campus with his steady and mature leadership,” says Kent Thielen, M.D. (RD ’94, RNEU ’97), CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. “Dr. Weeks was deeply respected and will be greatly missed.”

Dr. Weeks was born in Watertown, New York, and received his bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a medical degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He completed an internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and was on active duty in the U.S. Medical Corps from 1950 to 1953.

Dr. Weeks’ 38-year career at Mayo Clinic began as a resident in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic followed by a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism. During his career at Mayo, Dr. Weeks served in many leadership roles. He was program director for Internal Medicine residency and internship programs. In 1974, he was appointed vice chair of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. In 1978, he was appointed chair of Mayo Clinic’s Department of Internal Medicine. He also served as chair of the Siebens Building Planning Committee and served on the boards of Saint Marys Hospital and RMH Health Services Inc. Dr. Weeks was an active member of the American College of Physicians, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Diabetes Association.