Todd E. Rasmussen, M.D.

Todd E. Rasmussen, M.D., is a Professor of Surgery and vascular surgeon in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he leads as Director of the Gonda Vascular Center. Known for his patient-centered approach, Dr. Rasmussen combines advanced surgical expertise with collaborative care, ensuring every patient receives comprehensive treatment for vascular conditions. As a retired Air Force surgeon, Dr. Rasmussen has expertise and maintains an interest in the Military Health System and the Veterans Health.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Rasmussen practices the full spectrum of open and endovascular surgery, offering individualized solutions for complex vascular disease. His clinical focus areas include:

• Vascular and endovascular surgery: Comprehensive care for arterial and venous conditions using minimally invasive and open techniques, including management of severe forms of peripheral arterial disease and critical limb ischemia
• Aneurysm surgery: Aortic aneurysm repair, including endovascular aneurysm repair with stent grafts and complex open aortic reconstruction for aneurysm and occlusive disease
• Mesenteric interventions: Open and endovascular treatment of acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia and related conditions
• Thoracic outlet decompression: Surgical management of thoracic outlet syndrome including first rib resection and associated muscular release
• Carotid interventions: Carotid endarterectomy and related revascularization of the subclavian, vertebral and axillary arteries
• Vascular trauma: Open and endovascular treatment of the spectrum of arterial and venous injury
• Onco-Vascular surgery: Collaborative surgical approaches to assist oncologic surgeons in the removal of primary vascular tumors or cancers in close proximity to major vascular structures

Research and Leadership

Dr. Rasmussen joined the Mayo practice in 2021 following a distinguished 28-year career as an Air Force surgeon, during which he completed deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other regions, and led major research programs for the U.S. Department of Defense. His leadership in military medicine shaped lifesaving strategies for trauma care and led to the co-invention of the REBOA catheter, a device now used worldwide to control bleeding in critically injured patients. Dr. Rasmussen has recently led an FDA supported study on a new biologic conduit used for bypass in patients with vascular injury and severe peripheral arterial disease. Among other military decorations, upon retiring as a Colonel, he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. With more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, an h-index above 70, and over 20,000 citations, Dr. Rasmussen’s innovation and translational research continue to influence vascular surgery and trauma care globally.

Dr. Rasmussen earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1989 and his medical degree from Mayo Medical School in 1993. After completing surgical residency at Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center in 1999, Dr. Rasmussen returned to Mayo Clinic for a vascular surgery fellowship from 1999 to 2001 before beginning the operational portion of his military career.