Robert Scott Gorman M.D.

R. Scott Gorman, M.D., was born in St. Charles, Illinois to parents Robert W. and Lily E. (Hanna) Gorman. He grew up in a suburb of Denver, Colorado where he was an avid outdoorsman and accomplished member of his high school band. His academic prowess became evident early, and he was selected as Valedictorian of his graduating class at Arvada High School. His professional education included a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Colorado College (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude), and an MD degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine (Alpha Omega Alpha, Cum Laude). Scott moved to Arizona to continue his education at the University of Arizona, Tucson where he began his postgraduate training in Family and Community Medicine and completed a residency in Internal Medicine, including a year as Chief Resident. He achieved Board Certification in both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine. Following the completion of his training he remained on staff at the University of Arizona where he not only received numerous awards for both his excellent teaching and patient care but was also recognized for his leadership skills while achieving the academic rank of Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine. Scott was always ready and willing to assume responsibilities wherever the need was greatest. During the dark, early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic he saw a need and became a regional expert on the disease, treating many patients who would not have been able to receive care otherwise. He eventually became the Director of the Immune Deficiency Clinical Research Section of Infectious Diseases at the University of Arizona. In 1993, Scott transitioned away from the University of Arizona and moved to Phoenix to become the Associate Medical Director of CIGNA Health Care of Arizona. While there he became an expert on healthcare financing and medical insurance, while also serving as an attending physician for the Good Samaritan Family Medicine Residency. In 1997 he joined Mayo Clinic Arizona and was instrumental in the creation of the Mayo Clinic Health Plan. Throughout his career Scott shared his expertise on innumerable task forces, committees and advisory councils on the state, local and institutional levels. He achieved the academic rank of Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and assumed a wide range of clinical, administrative and leadership roles with a consistent theme of serving wherever the need was greatest. Always involved in community health maintenance and health promotion efforts, and mindful of the inequities in health care delivery, he served and contributed to AIDS task forces, was a member of the Arizona State Senate Task Force on Managed Care Reform (1999), was director of the El Pueblo Neighborhood Free Clinic, contributed to the Governors Blue Ribbon Committee on HMO Quality in Arizona (1996), and served as President of the Mountain Park Community Health Center (2014) At Mayo Clinic in Arizona, he served in critical leadership roles in a variety of capacities that are too numerous to list but included the Clinical Practice Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Executive Operations Team and the Mayo Foundation Board of Trustees. He was instrumental in the development of Mayo Primary Care Centers, the creation of the Medallion Program and other initiatives aimed at improving primary care access for patients. Scott's deep concern for marginalized recipients of health care led him to work as an advocate at organizational, community, and governmental levels. His clinical expertise and diagnostic skills were an example for many medical students, physicians, and allied health professionals throughout his career and he presented challenging concepts with an ease of presentation and skill that made him a sought-after clinical resource and teacher. He was also a medical journal reviewer for the Archives of Internal Medicine, and the Journal of Respiratory Diseases beginning in 1987. His colleagues referred to him as an "expert on everything" and if he encountered a new problem, he researched medical topics, new clinical pathways, and current research to bring the latest and most up-to-date information to patients and all who attended his conferences. Among the topics that he presented were the importance and timing of periodic medical exams, AIDS updates, the future of managed care in Arizona, bioethics and ethical decision making in managed care, the changing financial landscape of medicine in the United States, and strategies to advance health care reform. He authored over 32 book chapters in medical textbooks and published numerous peer reviewed articles. Research grants included National Breast Cancer Foundation J Fund (2008-2010) and principal investigator for Health Status and Utilization in Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures (2000-2005). Following his retirement from Mayo Clinic Arizona in July 2013, Scott remained very active with the Mayo Emeriti Association, fulfilling executive leadership roles from 2016 through 2019. With the opening of the Arizona Campus of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine he was able to lend his considerable skills to new generations of student physicians through a variety of mentoring and teaching roles. Most importantly, Scott Gorman was a humble man who did not seek attention for his accomplishments but rather was a human being with a heart of compassion, caring, competence, and clinical expertise in his clinical practice and his life in the manner that Mayo Clinic embodies. He often spoke of the "tapestry of influence" that others who worked beside him shared, and that he felt made him a more complete person and a better health care provider. Despite his many professional accomplishments his true passion was the development of meaningful relationships with his friends, colleagues and family, which he prioritized above all else. Everyone who knew him felt blessed by his presence. He will remain in our hearts and memories and be our role model for the future. Scott is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Stuart Gorman and survived by his partner of 43 years Dennis ("Denny") Ballweber, sister-in-law Cheryl Gorman, sister-in-law Donna Flenner and nieces Vanessa Vasa (husband Jason Vasa and children Haven, Montana, and Easton) and Daniella Gorman (son Felix). A Celebration of Life will be held at the Integrated Education and Research Building on the Phoenix Campus of Mayo Clinic in Arizona on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 5:00pm (MST) and will be available via livestream at: https://mc-meet.zoom.us/j/92100686821?pwd=QAZZl9xET0zqgc3KocptO45NQVGOwX.1 Passcode: 052225 In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine – Arizona Campus, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, or the Mountain Park Health Center.