ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Regional Health (RRH) today announced the retirement of Robert Mayo, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Vice President, effective March 31, following more than two decades of service to the organization and the community. The health system also announced that Leslie Wong, MD, MBA, FACP, FASN, has assumed the role of Chief Clinical Officer, Executive Vice President, effective April 1.
Dr. Mayo joined Rochester Regional Health in 2002 and has served as Chief Medical Officer since 2013. Over his tenure, he played a defining role in shaping clinical leadership, advancing quality and safety initiatives, and strengthening the organization’s physician enterprise.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mayo served as a steady and trusted voice, helping guide both caregivers and the community through an unprecedented public health crisis with clarity, compassion and expertise.
“Dr. Mayo’s leadership has left an indelible mark on Rochester Regional Health,” said Richard 'Chip' Davis, PhD, EdM, CEO, Rochester Regional Health. “For more than 20 years, he has been a champion for our patients, our physicians, and our community. His calm, thoughtful guidance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, helped steer our organization through one of the most challenging times in modern health care. We are deeply grateful for his service and wish him all the best as he begins this next chapter focused on mission and ministry work.”
Dr. Mayo and his wife Karin are moving to Sweden to lead the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Stockholm.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve alongside such dedicated and compassionate colleagues at Rochester Regional Health,” said Dr. Mayo. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and especially how our teams came together to care for our community during its most challenging moments. I leave with deep gratitude and great confidence in the future of this organization.”
As part of a planned leadership transition, Dr. Wong has stepped into an expanded role as Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer. In this capacity, he will oversee clinical operations across RRH’s provider enterprise, including Graduate Medical Education and the clinically integrated network.
Dr. Wong brings deep clinical and leadership experience to this role. A nationally recognized nephrologist, he has a strong track record in clinical excellence, value-based care, and building high-performing teams. Since joining RRH in 2024 as Executive Medical Director for the Medicine Service Line, he has helped advance clinical integration and strategy across the system. He is known as a collaborative, forward-thinking physician leader who has strengthened care delivery models, supported physician engagement, and improved quality, patient experience and operational performance.
The Chief Clinical Officer role reflects a more integrated, systemwide approach to care delivery, bringing together clinical operations across all settings and disciplines to enhance coordination, quality, and patient outcomes.
“Dr. Wong is a highly respected leader with a deep understanding of our system and a strong commitment to clinical excellence,” Davis added. “We are confident in his ability to build on Dr. Mayo’s legacy and lead our clinical teams into the future.”
Together, these leadership transitions position Rochester Regional Health to continue advancing high-quality, patient-centered care and meeting the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
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About Rochester Regional Health
Rochester Regional Health is an integrated health services organization serving the people of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond. The system includes nine hospitals; primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses and urgent care facilities; innovative senior services, facilities and independent housing; a wide range of behavioral health services; and Rochester Regional Health Laboratories and ACM Global Laboratories, a global leader in patient and clinical trials. Rochester Regional Health is the Rochester region's second-largest employer.
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