Mayo Clinic: Patricio Gargollo
Story by: Jake Rivard
SÍ SE PUEDE: Mayo Clinic Patricio Gargollo’s Legacy in Medicine
PATRICIO GARGALLO knew he wanted to save lives the moment he set foot in a hospital. “I’d always been interested in science,” he began, “but my passions quickly ignited as soon as I met Dr. Easter.” While working as an equipment sterilizer in the University of California San Diego, Gargallo met Dr. Easter, the resident chief surgeon of UCSD. The two quickly bonded as Easter offered to let Gargallo observe surgeries after his shift ended. After graduating as his high school’s valedictorian, he made his way through his undergrad, medical school, residency, and his fellowship, earning accolades and honors all along the way. Since 2016, Patricio Gargollo has worked in the pediatric urology department at the Mayo Clinic, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the entire world.
The reason he chose pediatrics? Altruism.
“By far the most amazing part of my job is working with children and helping them solve problems,” he remarks, a warm smile on his face. “All I want is to see their lives change for the better.” His primary focus is to assist children with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare, often lethal form of cancer. His ultimate goal in his field is to find a cure. His determination, work ethic, and focus encourage him each and every day to work tirelessly towards this goal. “The Mayo Clinic has provided me with the best job I’ve ever had in my life. We’re all here for one purpose: to help the patient. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Despite his long list of accolades, Gargollo remains remarkably humble about his achievements. “I don’t approach my work with an award in mind. My focus is on the patient, and my philosophy is simple: how would I want my child’s doctor to behave?” He references his upbringing as the source of his humility frequently. “We Latinos are a hardworking people, but we remain remarkably humble throughout it all. No matter the roadblock, we strive for success every day.”
“MY PHILOSOPHY IS SIMPLE: HOW WOULD I WANT MY CHILD’S DOCTOR TO BEHAVE?”
Gargollo cites his background as the driving force behind his career. As an immigrant from Mexico, he spent years adapting to American culture while bringing his best attitude and work ethic day in and day out. “The hardest thing about being an immigrant is that there’s no net to catch you if you fall. You have to work harder, smarter, and strive for success every single day.” He frequently advocates for mentoring within the Latino communities, assisting the Diversity & Inclusion department of the Mayo Clinic with advocacy in schools and colleges.
Leaving a legacy is the most important thing Patricio Gargollo wants to accomplish. “I want to leave the world in a better place than when I arrived. I hope that I’m remembered as a good person who dedicated his career to fighting a horrible disease that’s taken too many lives. One day, I hope that minority students will look at me and what I’ve done and think, hey, maybe I can do this too. That’s why sí se puede is my favorite saying; because, if you work at it, you can do it, too.” +
• Pediatric Urologist, Mayo Clinic
• Born in Mexico City in 1974
• Moved to Southern California in 1982
• Earned Undergraduate Degree at Baylor University-- 1996
• Graduated from Harvard Medical School
• Finished Fellowship at #1 Urology
• Earned Over 10 Awards for Practices, Presentations, and Innovation in Pediatric Urology
• Joined the Mayo Clinic in 2016
“ONE DAY, I HOPE THAT MINORITY STUDENTS WILL LOOK AT MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THINK, HEY, I CAN DO THIS TOO”