Todd E. Rasmussen

Colonel, USAF
USAISR Deputy Commander

Col. (Dr.) Todd E. Rasmussen received medical school training at Mayo Clinic as an Air Force Health Professions Scholar. He performed his general surgical training at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base (1993-1999) accomplishing a one-year research fellowship at Mayo during his residency.

Col. Rasmussen completed vascular surgery fellowship training at Mayo in 2001 after which he was assigned to the National Capital Area in Washington DC. Soon after September 11th, Col. Rasmussen began caring for combat injured returning to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Operation Enduring Freedom (2002-2004).

While in Washington he completed a two year assignment at the nation’s military medical academy (The Uniformed Services University in Bethesda) while continuing his clinical practice at Andrews Air Force Base and Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

In 2004 Col. Rasmussen returned to Wilford Hall and deployed as a vascular surgeon to Operation Iraqi Freedom at the Air Force Theater Hospital on Balad Air Base (2005). Following this deployment Col. Rasmussen initiated a vascular injury research program focusing on extremity vascular injury as well as unique methods of controlling torso hemorrhage. He has completed subsequent deployments to Iraq (2008) and Afghanistan (2010) as well as combat surgical teaching missions in Morocco (2006) and Pakistan (2007).

Col. Rasmussen has served as Chief of the San Antonio Military Vascular Surgery Service as well as the Chief of the Division of Surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center. His awards include the Gold Headed Cain Award for outstanding clinical and academic practice at Wilford Hall Medical Center as well as the Air Force’s Achievement and Meritorious Service Medals.

In addition, Col. Rasmussen was recently awarded the Army’s Commendation Medal for service in Afghanistan. In the summer of 2010, Col. Rasmussen was appointed Deputy Commander of the US Army’s Institute of Surgical Research where he currently practices as a vascular surgeon and directs the vascular injury research program as well as broader initiatives aimed at optimizing combat casualty care.