Skip to main content
Richard Oeckler, MD, Pulmonology, Rochester, MN, Mayo Clinic Hospital - Rochester

RichardAOecklerMDPhD

Pulmonology • Rochester, MN

Critical Care Medicine

Medical Director, Medical Intensive Care Unit; Physician Champion, Mayo Clinic ICU Recovery Program; Associate Professor of Physiology, Assistant Professor of Medicine Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; Consultant, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Mayo Clinic

Join to view full profile

Dr. Oeckler is on Doximity

As a Doximity member you'll join over two million verified healthcare professionals in a private, secure network.

  • Connect with other colleagues in the same hospital or clinic
  • Search all U.S. specialist profiles and refer a patient
  • Read the latest clinical news and earn CME/CEU credits

See Dr. Oeckler's full profile

Already have an account?

Summary

  • I am a critical care clinician investigator with an interest in mechanical ventilation and its sequelae, including the prevention and treatment of severe and refractory hypoxemia, the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and recovery after ICU discharge. I am the director of the Mayo Clinic medical ICU (MICU) and physician champion of the Mayo Clinic Intensive Care Recovery Program (MCIRP).

    My clinical research focuses on the continued pursuit of truly personalized approach to non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure or the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). By employing sound, physiologically-based techniques tailored to individual patient lung mechanics it is my belief that we can minimize or prevent ventilator-induced (VILI) or patient self-inflicted (P-SILI) lung injury and reduce overall mortality in these conditions.

    My basic and translational work attempts to understand how lung cells injure and repair in response to deforming stress. Potential translational interventions include osmolar agents (inhaled), redox signaling, the adenylate cyclase axis (particularly soluble AC), and associated receptor signaling.

    Educational endeavors include the development of mechanical ventilation education for residents, fellows, and staff at the Mayo Clinic and as co-director of the international Mayo Mechanical Ventilation Conference and various organizations and societies.

    • Mayo Clinic ICU Director Discusses Care of Critically Ill COVID Patients

    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Mayo Clinic's ICU director Richard A. Oeckler, M.D., Ph.D. says the number of critical care patients at the hospital has stabilized.

    Mayo ICU director: Sacrifices have helped stabilize number of patients

    We spoke to Dr. Richard Oeckler, director of the medical intensive care unit at Mayo Clinic, about the Clinic's ventilator and intensive care unit capacity...

    Mayo Clinic's Dr. Oeckler describes caring for COVID-19 patients

    The Mayo Clinic's ICU Medical Director Dr. Richard Oeckler says the number of cases have been steady, but not overwhelming.

    Are COVID mitigation efforts victims of their own success?

    Rochester Post-Bulletin article on flattening the curve and how soon is too soon to reopen the economy in the face of COVID-19 in SE Minnesota.

    An Ordinary Flu Led to 45 Days in a Coma

    It's impossible to predict when an ordinary infection may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). When it does, only 6 in 10 people survive.

Education & Training

  • Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)
    Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)Fellowship, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, 2008 - 2011
  • Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
    Mayo Clinic College of MedicinePost-Doctoral Fellowship, Clinical Investigator Training Program in Thoracic Diseases, 2007 - 2009
  • Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)
    Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)Residency, Internal Medicine, 2004 - 2007
  • New York Medical College
    New York Medical CollegeClass of 2004

Certifications & Licensure

  • WI State Medical License
    WI State Medical License 2013 - 2025
  • FL State Medical License
    FL State Medical License 2021 - 2025
  • MN State Medical License
    MN State Medical License 2005 - 2024
  • NH State Medical License
    NH State Medical License 2019 - 2021
  • GA State Medical License
    GA State Medical License 2015 - 2020
  • VT State Medical License
    VT State Medical License 2019 - 2020
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Critical Care Medicine
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Disease

Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Alveolar Microstrain and the Dark Side of the Lung  
    Richard Oeckler, MD, BioMed Central

Press Mentions

  • Mayo Clinic Experts Urge 'Household Holiday': Keep Thanksgiving Gathering to a Minimum
    Mayo Clinic Experts Urge 'Household Holiday': Keep Thanksgiving Gathering to a MinimumNovember 25th, 2020
  • Debate Will Argue Pros and Cons of Low Tidal Volumes and Driving Pressures Outside ARDS
    Debate Will Argue Pros and Cons of Low Tidal Volumes and Driving Pressures Outside ARDSOctober 21st, 2020
  • LIVE Updates from COVID-19 Conference: First Session Begins, Experts Discuss Respiratory Effects, Critical Care in Patients
    LIVE Updates from COVID-19 Conference: First Session Begins, Experts Discuss Respiratory Effects, Critical Care in PatientsJuly 27th, 2020
  • Join now to see all

Grant Support

  • Hypercapnia Modulation of Alveolar Cell Repair in the Ventilator-Injured LungParker B. Francis Fellowship2012–2015

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations

External Links

  • Clinicalhttp://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/14337835.html
  • Researchhttp://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/oeckler-richard-a-m-d-ph-d/BIO-00092713

Dr. Richard Oeckler, Dr. Richard Oeckler, MD, Dr. R Oeckler, Dr. Richard A Oeckler