Dr. Hensrud is past chair of the Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine and an Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He was medical director of the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program for over 10 years, and is medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. Dr. Hensrud is a past President of the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists and served as a consultant to the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is the author of over 70 articles and book chapters. Dr. Hensrud was co-editor of the medical text Clinical Preventive Medicine, a premiere reference in the field of preventive medicine. Dr. Hensrud has contributed to lay education as editor of The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook, which won a 2005 James Beard Foundation Award, The Mayo Clinic Plan; 10 Essential Steps to a Better Body and Healthier Life, and the #1 New York Times bestseller The Mayo Clinic Diet. He also wrote a monthly health column for Fortune magazine for over three years.
Dr. Hensrud received his B.S. from the University of North Dakota, M.D. degree from the University of Hawaii, M.P.H. from the University of Minnesota, and M.S. in nutrition from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship training in Preventive Medicine at Mayo Clinic, and completed a Clinical Nutrition fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.