Established on 12.06.2002 by the Berquist Family to honor Dr. Walther Prausnitz
Written by Dr. Thomas Berquist:
"The initiating event for establishing the Berquist Family Endowed Scholarship occurred during my first week at Concordia College in the Fall of 1963. My first class was Literature taught by Dr. Prausnitz. Each student was asked to write a few paragraphs describing something meaningful that they accomplished during the summer. It took me about 15 minutes to come up with something and I confidently handed in my assignment. Our papers were returned at the next class and to my shock, I achieved a D-. I graduated number one in my class from high school and falsely decided I was a pretty good student. I guess writing wasn’t my strong suit.
After class, I spoke to Dr. Prausnitz and informed him that I planned to attend medical school and needed a high-grade point average to meet my goal. His response was firm, 'Well, Mr. Berquist if you keep writing like this that is what you will get.' Then came my saving grace. Our papers were due each Friday. He offered to meet with me at 5:00 A.M. every Thursday for the entire semester so he could assist and improve my writing skills. Needless to say, I never forgot the time he dedicated to assisting me. I became a doctor and ended my career having written thirty-eight medical textbooks and serving as Editor in Chief of one of the most prestigious medical journals in my specialty. After establishing the scholarship, I met with him at Concordia and handed him one of my books signed with a kind note. I informed him I wanted to send him a copy after each book but was afraid he would find a mistake. He laughed! I guess my initial writing skills were unforgettable."
Dr. Thomas Berquist was born in Bemidji Minnesota and spent his early years in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. He received his B.S. degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and his M.D. degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his internship and residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in 1975. Following his residency, he served in the U.S. Army and was the Chief of Radiology at U.S. Kirk Army Hospital from 1975 to 1977. He joined the staff in Diagnostic Radiology at Mayo Clinic Rochester in 1977 and served as the department’s Vice-Chair from 1986 to 1990. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1990, and became Chair of the Department of Radiology, a position he held until April 1999. He served as the Director of the Radiology Residency and Musculoskeletal Fellowship Programs at Mayo Jacksonville from 1999 to June 2010.
During his career, Dr. Berquist has been either a member or Chair of more than 50 Mayo committees, most of which are related to clinical practice and education. Other professional achievements include Chair of the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Education Committee from 1991 to 1999; Chair of the Academic Appointment and Promotions Committee from 1998 to 1999; and from February 1999 to August 2005, he was Executive Dean of Education for the Mayo Foundation, which was the first major Foundation role to be held outside of Rochester. He was a member of the Board of Governors of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville for 11 years and also served on the Mayo Foundation Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee from February 2000 until August 2005.
He has also held significant positions of responsibility in several professional organizations including the American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and the Society of Skeletal Radiology. In March 2006, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Radiology. He was also appointed to the ACGME review committee for Diagnostic Radiology in 2006. Dr. Berquist was the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Roentgenology from 2008-2020.
He is recognized as an accomplished author of 38 widely used radiology textbooks, over 100 publications, and has given over 170 lectures and presentations, both nationally and internationally.
In addition, Dr. Berquist received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Concordia College in 2012 and was awarded the Gold Medal by the American Roentgen Ray Society in 2016.
His wife, Mary, is a native Floridian born in Jacksonville, Florida. Mary received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of North Florida.
She spent over 20 years in public education serving as a senior-level administrator at one of the largest public school districts in the United States. She later served as Alumni Director for her alma mater before retiring from the university.
Mary left public education to devote her time and talents to the Office of the Vice President of the United States. Mary served the Bush/Quayle Administration by serving as a key member of the Office of Advance. She traveled to 48 states and numerous countries guiding the successful planning and execution of the domestic and foreign trips for the Vice President.
At the end of the Bush/Quayle term, Mary returned to her passion, education administration. She was chosen to lead the development of the Medical Education Division at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. Under Mary’s leadership, they established over 67 residency and fellowship programs, increased medical students on campus, increased graduate students, and established the first allied health programs, as well as an outstanding program offering CME for continuing medical education.
The establishment of a state-of-the-art Simulation Center was one of the final accomplishments prior to Mary’s retirement in 2010.
Concordia had been part of Dr. Berquist's life since his sister attended along with, in later years, her daughter Dori. He and Mary established a family Concordia Christmas Concert gathering at Orchestra Hall for many years prior to the pandemic. They are blessed with five married children and fourteen grandchildren.
The Berquist Family Endowed Scholarship is awarded to students in their sophomore, junior, or senior years minoring or majoring in English or majoring in science. Selection is also based on financial need and academic achievement.