For the first time, a Colombian hospital joins the Mayo Clinic network: what does this entail and how did it achieve this?

The International Hospital of Colombia (HIC), located in Piedecuesta (Santander), has just joined the Mayo Clinic network, considered the number one health center in the world according to Newsweek.

The news broke in Bucaramanga, where Mayo Clinic spokespersons arrived to explain the details of the partnership. Dr. Brian Costello, medical director of the American institution, explained to EL TIEMPO the scope of the agreement, the first of its kind with a hospital in South America.

"We are very excited that Hospital Internacional de Colombia is joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network. As I mentioned in my speech, we seek to collaborate with institutions that share our values ​​and way of thinking ," Costello explained.

The doctor explained that only a very select group of institutions worldwide are invited to join this network. Therefore, he said, "This is the first in Colombia and also the first in South America."

In this regard, the expert explained that the alliance was achieved primarily because HIC has demonstrated great technological advancements and a commitment to medical excellence.

"By joining the Mayo Clinic network, HIC will have access to our medical expertise. Our goal is to collaborate, not to take over patient care in Bucaramanga or Colombia. What we seek is to enrich the medical care already provided here by sharing our knowledge and learning from you as well."

In this regard, he detailed the specialties that will be prioritized in this collaboration.

"The initial collaboration focuses on fundamental aspects of clinical practice that apply to all specialties. As the relationship progresses, we will begin to work in more specific areas, such as oncology (cancer treatment) and cardiology (cardiovascular diseases), and then we will explore other possibilities based on shared needs and strengths," explained Dr.

Víctor Raúl Castillo Mantilla, president of the International Hospital of Colombia, told this newspaper that the agreement with the Mayo Clinic began July 1, 2025.

"We're going to integrate all of Mayo Clinic's protocols, processes, and expertise. We'll have their ongoing guidance, the support of their medical team, and access to their teachings. They're the number one hospital in the world, and have been for seven consecutive years. Before that, they were number two. Reaching this point is very valuable, especially because—as you heard—they were the ones who chose us. They evaluated many institutions and decided that the Cardiovascular Foundation met the conditions to join their network," Castillo said.

For HIC, being included in this network represents a significant step forward. "It's a great achievement. Personally, I never even imagined it. Twenty-seven years ago, we went to the Mayo Clinic to learn, to observe how they did things well, and from there we brought back many ideas that we implemented in our health units. But I never thought that, almost three decades later, we would be part of that great institution . It's deeply satisfying," says the HIC director.

He also explained how patients will benefit: "As we strengthen our quality, we will be able to serve more patients and train more professionals to high standards. And most importantly, this knowledge will be shared with public and private hospitals. As Dr. Costello said, we must be generous with our knowledge."

In fact, he explained that the agreement goes far beyond an academic exchange. "It's much more. It includes consulting, implementation of care models, knowledge transfer, supervision, telemedicine... It's a transformative agreement. It's not about putting a logo on it or making a symbolic alliance. What I told Dr. Costello was clear: we're going to be like leeches, and we're going to suck all the blood we can out of them (laughter), because this is an opportunity we can't waste."

Finally, he pointed out that second opinions from doctors at the Mayo Clinic are available.

"All HIC physicians can contact their counterparts at Mayo Clinic, send tests, and receive advice. This isn't about benefiting one or two physicians. We have 800 professionals at the hospital, and we hope everyone will benefit in some way. This is an agreement to transform the entire organization in pursuit of excellence," said the HIC director.