Mr. Gatton made several donations to the Mayo Clinic, which he credited with saving his life on more than one occasion.

Through the Gatton Professorship at Mayo Clinic, Bill Gatton helped make possible the pioneering work of David Ahlquist, M.D., whose research contributed to the development of Cologuard®, a breakthrough colorectal cancer screening test. What began as an investment in innovative research grew into an advancement that has helped millions of people benefit from earlier cancer detection, preventing thousands of deaths. The Gatton Professorship stands as a powerful example of how philanthropy can fuel discovery, improve patient outcomes, and leave a lasting impact on lives around the world.

A gift from Bill Gatton supported the establishment of The Bill Gatton Center for Advanced Cardiac Rehab at Ballad Hospital in two locations, Bristol and Kingsport, Tennessee.