Mayo surgeons to perform in special Indy 500 tribute to health care workers

The two Mayo Clinic surgeons whose performances have become an international sensation are scheduled to be included as part of a special Indianapolis 500 tribute to front line health care workers.

Drs. Elvis Francois and William Robinson, both orthopedic surgery residents at Mayo’s Rochester campus, will perform from the race track in front of an empty stadium as part of the "Indy 500 Special: Back Home Again" broadcast, airing Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on NBC. 

The tribute is part of a full week of virtual and social distancing activities planned as part of what would normally be one of the nation’s biggest race weekends. Due to the pandemic, the race itself — the 104th Indianapolis 500 — has been postponed until Aug. 23.

“Being here for this moment, and speaking to the fact they we are slowly getting back to a new normal … this is a great opportunity for us to be better for having gone through these challenging times we have been through,” Dr. Francois said in a Mayo Clinic-produced video.

The doctors plan to use their performance to raise awareness for The Fight Is In Us, a campaign to encourage survivors of Covid-19 to donate potentially life-saving plasma for research into new treatments for the disease. Mayo is leading the nationwide plasma trials.

The Indy routine follows a string of high-profile performances for the duo, including appearances on Ellen and Good Morning America.

Dr. Robinson said his goal with this most recent performance is to play a small part in providing a glimmer of hope for people.

“I have played a lot of pianos,” said Robinson. “This was by far the most surreal thing I have ever been a part of.”

Cover photo via the Mayo Clinic News Network