Thomas P. Olson, Ph.D., M.S.

Thomas P. Olson, Ph.D., M.S., is a Professor of Medicine and Consultant in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he cares for people with heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions. Dr. Olson's clinical practice focuses on cardiac rehabilitation, exercise stress testing, and developing tailored exercise prescriptions for people across the aging and health-disease spectrums'. He is dedicated to improving cardiovascular health through prevention, rehabilitation, and evidence-based lifestyle and exercise programming strategies.

As Director of the Clinical Integrative Physiology Research Laboratory and Associate Director of the Energy Balance Core Laboratory within the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Dr. Olson leads a widely recognized research program exploring the mechanisms of exercise intolerance and symptom development in a variety of cardiovascular diseases. A fellow of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association, he joined Mayo Clinic in 2005 and continues to advance translational research linking cardiovascular physiology to patient-centered care.

Areas of expertise

Dr. Olson integrates clinical care and physiology research to enhance exercise capacity, facilitate recovery, and improve overall cardiovascular well-being.

• Heart failure: Evaluation and management with emphasis on exercise tolerance and symptom improvement
• Cardiac rehabilitation: Comprehensive programs focused on recovery, performance, and long-term heart health
• Exercise stress testing: Individualized assessment of cardiovascular and pulmonary responses to exercise
• Cardiovascular disease prevention: Strategies for primary and secondary prevention through exercise and lifestyle programming
• Exercise physiology: Application of research-based fitness interventions for special populations

Research and expertise

Dr. Olson's NIH, AHA, and Industry funded research investigates the physiologic mechanisms underlying exercise intolerance across the spectrum of cardiovascular health and disease, with a special focus on heart failure. His studies examine cardiopulmonary interactions, hemodynamics, and metabolic regulation during exercise.

He is actively involved in several professional leadership roles and is recognized internationally for his contributions to exercise physiology, preventive cardiology, and translational cardiovascular science.

Education includes a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; M.S. in Exercise Physiology from the College of St. Scholastica; and B.A. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Concordia College. He completed postdoctoral and fellowship training at Mayo Clinic, where he also served as a Clinical and Translational Research Scholar.