Home"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket › AZ Insider: VIP Gathering's Scene Stealer!
 
 
 

Kathy Shayna Shocket has the inside scoop on the stories that make headlines. mayo 1 

Kathy’s report on why the outdoor summer event was suit and tie suitable and emotionally rewarding. 

 As the early morning newscasts were warning people of the nearing record heat of temps soaring up to 112 (and 120 in the next couple of days). an outdoor  VIP gathering was getting underway at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.  Yes, it was outdoors, but it had all what I call the “beat the heat” amenities; from covered viewing areas to state-of-the-art portable outdoor coolers. So the suit and tie worn by many, was, dare I say, “no sweat."

Despite the summer temps, about 100 people turned out to watch as the final piece of steel was placed on Mayo Clinic’s Cancer Center building.  Welcoming the crowd were Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Wyatt Decker, M.D., Vice President, Mayo Clinic, CEO, Mayo Clinic in Arizona.  William Stone, M.D., Chair, Mayo Clinic Clinical Practice Committee, Richard Gray, M.D., Mayo Clinic Cancer Clinical Practice Subcommittee and Phoenix City Councilman Jim Waring also spoke. (Pictured above are Paula Menkosky, Wyatt Decker, Greg Stanton, Jim Waring, Chic Older and Dr. Dr.William Stone.)

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(Mayo Clinic's Wyatt Decker speaking to crowd moments before the steel beam and flag are raised into position.)

The $130 million, 215,000 square foot new building  which has been rising on the Mayo Clinic campus in Phoenix since December 2011, will be the future home to its Cancer Center and the first proton beam therapy facility of its kind in the Southwest. The new Cancer Center will begin to be occupied in early 2015, and the proton beam therapy is expected to begin by 2016.

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(Mayo Clinic's Dr. Anita Mayer signs the steel beam.)

 It was an emotional viewing, as the beam, draped with an American Flag was raised and placed on top of the building under construction. In addition to the flag, the beam was “adorned” with autographs and heart felt messages. Not only had many guests signed the beam that morning, but some Mayo employees and patients had added their written sentiments the week prior. 

 So, as the beam rose into the air, the messages from Mayo employees, doctors, patients, and city and construction officials; went along in spirit. That’s why you could say that, amidst the crowd of important people, the steel beam was quite the “scene stealer."

 kathy-shayna-shocket

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer, Photographer and TV -Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. She's a former TV Reporter who has written for publications such as TIME MagazineMoney Magazine, PEOPLE MagazineThe Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. You can reach her at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it