Cancer Treatment Centers of America® Co-Founder Robert "Bob" Mayo Retires

BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America^® (CTCA) announced the retirement of its co-founder and vice chairman of the Board of Directors, Robert "Bob" Mayo. Following a distinguished and decorated 20-year career in the U.S. Navy where he earned the Navy Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal, and was a four-time recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, Mayo met Richard J Stephenson, the man with whom he would partner to revolutionize cancer treatment in America.

Mayo joined forces with Stephenson in 1980 as director of human resources, leveraging his extensive naval experience in recruiting and organizational development to help build the foundation that would formally become CTCA^® in 1988.

For more than three decades, Mayo held positions of increasing responsibility, including executive vice president, and president and CEO of CTCA. He also created the first Oncology Information Specialist (OIS) Center, which enables patients to discuss their medical conditions with trained cancer care specialists via phone. This unique, direct-to-consumer approach, unheard of at the time, became the cornerstone of the CTCA patient-centered model. Through his ongoing leadership, CTCA evolved into one of the most successful, privately-held health care organizations in the nation. In addition, Mayo also developed strategic filters that led to his selection of four of the five hospital sites that make up the CTCA network today.

"In so many ways, we are where we are today—number four of the nation's 10 best-perceived brands according to the 2015 YouGov BrandIndex Best Brand Survey—because of Bob Mayo," said Stephenson, chairman and co-founder of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. "He led by example, with incomparable passion and dedication to the patients and families we serve from around the world. He will always be my wingman."

"My goal from the very beginning of this partnership with my dear friend, Dick Stephenson, was to create a paradigm shift in health care by focusing on our driving force–the patient," said Mayo. "Together, we found a way to provide world-class treatment options to patients, their loved ones and others, by offering around-the-clock access to highly trained and knowledgeable cancer care specialists." Today, CTCA continues to provide this access with its "800-FOR-HELP" phone line to empower callers to thoroughly understand and select therapies and programs that best suit their needs.

"Imitation is the greatest form of flattery," added Mayo. "For me, a source of immense professional pride as I depart my day-to-day role with CTCA is that we truly changed the world of cancer care. Now, others are trying to follow, which is a good thing for all patients and the essence of servant leadership."

Mayo became Vice Chairman Emeritus on July 1, 2015.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®

Cancer Treatment Centers of America^® (CTCA), headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA^® offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-based complementary therapies that support patients physically and emotionally, enhancing their quality of life while reducing side effects both during and after treatment. CTCA serves patients from around the world at its hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Consistently rated among U.S. hospitals that deliver the highest quality of care and patient experience, CTCA provides patients and their families with comprehensive information about their treatment options and encourages their active participation in treatment decisions. For more information, visit cancercenter.com, Facebook.com/cancercenter and Twitter.com/cancercenter.

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America

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