Cancer Treatment Centers of America co-founder retires: 5 things to know

Robert "Bob" Mayo, co-founder of Cancer Treatment Centers of America and vice chairman of its board of directors, announced his retirement from his post.

Here are five things to know about Mr. Mayo.

1. He co-founded CTCA with Richard Stephenson after a distinguished and decorated 20-year career in the U.S. Navy where he earned the Navy Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal, and was a four-time recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal.

2. For more than three decades, Mr. Mayo held positions of increasing responsibility with CTCA, including executive vice president, and president and CEO.

3. He also created the first oncology information specialist center, which enables patients to discuss their medical conditions with trained cancer care specialists via phone. This unique, direct-to-consumer approach, unheard of at the time, became the cornerstone of the CTCA patient-centered model, officials said.

4. In addition, Mr. Mayo also developed strategic filters that led to his selection of four of the five hospital sites that make up the CTCA network today.

5. He became vice chairman emeritus July 1, 2015.