The Sports Cardiology Clinic at Mayo in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota specializes in the evaluation and care of athletes. Our team has extensive experience in evaluating, diagnosing and treating athletes with a wide range of heart conditions. We help elite professionals, college athletes, recreational exercisers and others. We understand the unique physiology and needs of highly active people.
Expertise and experience
The experts of the Sports Cardiology Clinic understand the physical demands of competitive sports, the psychology of athletes and the complexity of exercise physiology in cardiovascular disease. Many of them have personal experience with athletic participation — they know the importance of performance and exercise for all levels of athletes. Our team works with world-renowned specialists and researchers in cardiology, physiology and human performance to help ensure you receive care that's integrated, individualized and cutting edge.
If you're just getting started in exercise or sports, our team provides evaluation and guidance to help give you the confidence to be active safely. If you're already an athlete and have a personal or family history of cardiovascular disease, our team offers an integrated and personalized approach that addresses your needs and goals.
Sports cardiology and the team-based approach
Our sports cardiology experts use a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. They work with a wide range of experts at Mayo Clinic, including electrophysiologists, exercise physiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, nutritionists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, sports psychologists, and geneticists.
Services
When you visit the Sports Cardiology Clinic, you'll be evaluated by a cardiologist and an exercise physiologist. They'll listen to your concerns, have you tested and work with you to develop a treatment or exercise training plan that helps you meet your goals.
Your evaluation and treatment are tailored to your needs and may include:
- A full clinical evaluation, including assessment of symptoms, medical and athletic history, and a comprehensive physical examination.
- An ultrasound of your heart, which may be done with an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram.
- A breathing assessment, which is done with pulmonary function tests.
- A cardiopulmonary exercise test using a mask that measures oxygen use during exercise on a treadmill, bicycle or other device. This test provides information on maximal heart rates, peak oxygen consumption (VO-2 max) and your anaerobic threshold. The test results may be useful to your coach or personal trainer.
- Blood tests and other laboratory testing.
- Other cardiovascular testing as needed. Examples include cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan to assess coronary arteries and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the heart muscle and scarring.
Your visit also might include:
- A sports nutrition consultation focusing on diet and hydration during exercise.
- A sports medicine evaluation and consultation for musculoskeletal issues, which may be followed up with physical therapy targeting specific ailments.
- A sports psychiatry consultation and assessment.
- Referrals to other specialists as needed.
Not all services may be available at all locations. Please confirm when you contact us for an appointment.
Who might benefit from a visit to a Mayo Sports Cardiology Clinic?
Athletes can be evaluated in the Sports Cardiology Clinic for many reasons, including if:
- You're an athlete who has concerning cardiac symptoms.
- You're an athlete or regular exerciser who is experiencing an unexplained decrease in performance and need evaluation of potential causes.
- You're an athlete who has known cardiovascular disease and want to know how you can safely exercise.
- You're an athlete who seeks to improve your cardiovascular performance.
- Your sports eligibility needs to be assessed through pre-participation screening and cardiac clearance to return to play.
- You're an athlete with a family history of cardiovascular disease and want a detailed assessment of cardiovascular risk and appropriate screening.
Nationally recognized expertise
Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 "Best Hospitals" rankings.
Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
- Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023–2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.
Appointments
You may be referred by your health care provider, or you may make an appointment without a referral. Not all services may be available at all locations. Please confirm when you contact us for an appointment.
For appointments or more information about the Sports Cardiology Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, call the Central Appointment Office at 480-301-8484 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain standard time, Monday through Friday, or complete an online appointment request form.
For appointments or more information about the Sports Cardiology Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Florida, call the Central Appointment Office at 904-953-0853 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, or complete an online appointment request form.
For appointments or more information about the Sports Cardiology Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, call the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at 507-284-3994 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday, or complete an online appointment request form.
Doctors
- Thomas G. Allison, Ph.D., M.P.H.
- Christopher V. DeSimone, M.D., Ph.D.
- Elizabeth H. Dineen, D.O.
- Regis I. Fernandes, M.D.
- Narayan (Guru) G. Kowlgi, M.B.B.S.
- Kathryn F. Larson, M.D.
- Darrell B. Newman, M.D.
- Steve R. Ommen, M.D.
- Satyajit T. Reddy, M.D.
- Robert Scales, Ph.D.
- Luis R. Scott, M.D.
- Brian P. Shapiro, M.D.
- Bryan J. Taylor, Ph.D.
- Courtney Wheatley-Guy, Ph.D.