Hi Ms. Young and thank-you for reaching out to me. I applied to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota and was quite willing to do whatever it takes to get my serious hiatal hernia fixed even if it meant living in Minnesota for the allotted time period. Initially I self referred not aware that a Dr. referral was needed. So I called Dr. Gutierrez-Brewer at John’s Hopkins who had done my endoscopy in March of last year. She told me I needed surgery but that the way my Hernia presented she did not feel she could fix it. I contacted her recently and she send me a referral which I sent to the Mayo clinic. The Dr. specified that the surgery should be done in a specified manner. Possibly robotically. I am so disappointed and actually scared as I know I need this surgery and I am aware of the risks my long term GERD and hernia has had on my health. I also realize this surgery is not to be taken lightly and I have perseverated on whether having the surgery is worth the risk. Having finally decided to go through with surgery with Dr. Gutirrez-Brewer’s recommendation as well as the Dr. I have seen here in Pa. I was taken a back by Mayo’s refusal to treat me. I am not a high maintenance person and I don’t make decisions lightly so this has been a major set back for me in terms of remaining healthy. I do not want to have surgery unless it is with a highly skilled physician, as mentioned before, the surgery is not to be taken lightly. If you can advise me as to how I can be seen at Mayo I would greatly appreciate it. Would It help to have the Surgeon from Johns Hopkins make another referral as hers may have gotten there a little late? I would even agree to be put on a waiting list if at all possible. Please advise if it is in your capacity to do so. Thank-you. Elleheart