The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees has named Kent Thielen, MD, the new CEO of Mayo Clinic’s Florida operations. Thielen succeeds Gianrico Farrugia, MD, who is being promoted to president and CEO of Mayo Clinic on Jan. 1, 2019.

Thielen, who was also named a vice president of Mayo Clinic, has been with the institution since 1996 and spent the last five years leading the development of the Midwest Department of Radiology. He has held numerous other leadership positions with Mayo Clinic and spearheaded the implementation of a new health records system throughout all of its radiology departments.

“Dr. Thielen is an exceptional and proven leader who brings a wealth of experience to the position and a steadfast commitment to Mayo Clinic’s mission, values and culture,” Samuel Di Piazza, chair of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, said in a prepared statement. “He has a bold and strategic vision for the way Mayo Clinic will use innovation to further improve patient care and advance Mayo’s leadership in medical education and research.”

“I’m humbled, honored and excited to continue to build upon Dr. Farrugia’s outstanding legacy, which includes his involvement and leadership in the Jacksonville community, and to accelerate Mayo’s efforts in discovery and world-class innovation,” Thielen said in the same statement.