Photos by Ralph Freso
Dr. Richard Gray had no game plan while growing up as the youngest of seven children in Northern Michigan. All he needed to know was a basketball scholarship would pave the way for college.
Gray earned a free education while exploring different fields.
Then he started to focus on medicine, though he said he was “blissfully ignorant” of what it would take to become a physician. But his curiosity led to a biology degree from Lake Superior State University and early admission to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, where he pursued a career as a surgeon.
The Mayo Clinic noticed his work and hired him in 2000 at its Scottsdale campus. His knowledge, leadership and communication skills helped him become CEO of one of the top hospitals in the country.
Gray shared his humble rise with students during the final Grand Canyon University T.W. Lewis Speaker Series session of the spring semester at the Colangelo College of Business lobby.
“It’s nice to have a speaker tell everyone that it’s OK for your path to change, for reassurance,” said Ar’ciele Oglesby-Riddle, a sports management major. "It really helped having a person talk about this live, instead of just seeing it online or on social media, especially the experience of being a CEO.”
Gray’s work has been recognized by GCU, which awarded him the 2025 Colangelo Servant Leadership Award. He also has authored more than 110 peer-reviewed publications and received the 2013 Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator Award.
During his talk, moderated by the college's dean, John Kaites, Gray emphasized the importance of teamwork, curiosity, faith and helping those in need.
His faith fortified his integrity in making the right decision in his profession.
“How do I be humble not by thinking less of myself but thinking of myself less?” Gray said. “How do I look for what’s in others' best interests?”
When he transitioned from surgeon to CEO, Gray said he noticed that the laughs and lunches with co-workers changed.
His lesson?
“Be humble and listen to them. But keep them accountable,” said Gray, adding that everyone is on the receiving end of feedback.
He recalled a moment in college when his basketball coach had to step down because of severe illness. His replacement didn’t connect with him and his teammates, who were recruited by the previous coach.
Nevertheless, it's important to look for nuggets of inspiration from your boss, even if you don't connect with that boss.
“It’s so important to be coachable," he said.
When making the transition from surgeon to CEO, Gray said it was important to show “a willingness to learn from smart people around me,” which included understanding relationships between physicians and administrative workers with business backgrounds.
One year into his tenure as CEO at Mayo, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted him, his staff and his patients. Revenue decreased by 70%, which meant salaries had to be reduced across the board from 5% to 20%.
After announcing the salary cuts, Gray allotted extra time to make himself available for employees.
“This is my time to be the steady force,” Gray recalled.
Instead of checking on the well-being of his workers, a few desk staffers asked him, “Are you OK?”
Among the traits that stand out to Gray include:
- A balance of individual humility and courage to take on whatever challenges might come.
- And looking for grounded people who seek to serve others and do it with a smile on their faces.
“It’s really focusing on making sure those sick people have hope,” said Gray, whose research focuses on developing less burdensome treatments to alleviate the risk of cancer recurrence. “(It's making sure) They have somebody who can come alongside them. … It’s being selfless and having people say, ‘That’s someone I can trust.’"
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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