John and Carolyn Sonnentag donated $10 million to Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, which will establish an endowment fund for a new neurosurgery residency program in Florida, according to PostBulletin.com.
Here are five takeaways:
1. John Sonnentag underwent surgery at Mayo for a spinal tumor. He wanted to give back to Mayo because of his treatment's success.
2. Mayo welcomes this donation as filling a void of neurosurgeons. With more neurosurgeons retiring, the neurosurgeon shortage will continue to exacerbate.
3. The donation will fund a residency program with seven slots for a seven-year training period.
4. Mayo reports training one neurosurgeon during the seven-year period costs about $1 million.
5. Because of the staggering expense, Mayo's neurosurgery residency program will be the first new program in a few years, nationally.