Ryan Mays, PhD

Expertise:
Development of novel approaches to improve adoption and adherence to exercise therapy in patients with chronic disease; evaluation of therapeutic methods to improve health-related outcomes in peripheral artery disease; research focused on innovative ways to evaluate cardiorespiratory performance.

• Fellow of the American Heart Association (AHA), 2019
• Fellow of the Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM), 2019
• Blue Ribbon Peer Reviewer, Top reviewer award from the journal Vascular Medicine, 2017
• Jacqueline M. Leaffer Prize in Cardiology, Center for Women's Health Research, 2013
• Student Honoree, 33rd Annual Honors Convocation, University of Pittsburgh, 2008
• Most Outstanding Doctoral Student, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, 2008
• Honorable Mention Student Research Award, National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) National Conference, 2007
• Student Honoree, 32nd Annual Honors Convocation, University of Pittsburgh 2007
• Most Outstanding Doctoral Minority Award, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, 2007
• Most Outstanding Doctoral Minority Award, Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, 2006
• Editorial Activity
• Mays RJ and Regensteiner JG. Quantifying meaningful change: Improving how we evaluate functional ability in peripheral artery disease. J Vasc Surg. 2021;73(1):277-278 [PMID: 33349383]
• Schorr EN and Mays RJ. Patient perspectives on claudication: An opportunity to improve the adoption and adherence of exercise therapy. Vasc Med. Oct 2017;22(5):385-386. [PMID: 28795643; PMCID: PMC5764075]
• Mays RJ and Regensteiner JG. Therapy for PAD: Gaps in treating patients with claudication. Circulation. Sep 2014;130(12):929-931. [PMID: 25095885; PMCID: PMC4486000]

• Northwest Regional Chapter of ACSM, Professional Member, 2014-2018
• CCTSI, Postdoctoral Member, 2009-2012
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, Postdoctoral and Student Member, 2009-2012
• National Postdoctoral Association, Affiliate Member, 2009-2012
• NSCA, Student and Professional
• Society of Vascular Medicine, Associate Member
• AHA, Postdoctoral Member; Early Career Member
• University Physicians, Inc., Faculty Member

Mays RJ, Kahnke R, Schorr EN, Treat-Jacobson D. Relation of Non-Exercise Walking Activity with exercise performance in patients with peripheral artery disease: NEW Activity for PAD. J Vas Nurs. 2023;41(1):1-5. [PMID: 36898798] DOI: 10.1016/j.jvn.2022.11.002

Mizner RL, Mays AA, Mays RJ. Mechanical adaptations in walking using carbon fiber ankle-foot orthoses for patients with peripheral artery disease. Gait & Posture. 2023;101:14-20. [PMID: 36696821] DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.01.008

Mays RJ, Wesselman CW, Brass EP, White R, Creager MA, Amato A, Greenwalt M, Hiatt WR. Automated detection of exercise sessions in patients with peripheral artery disease. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2021;41(3):176-181. [PMID: 33186199] DOI: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000553

Treat-Jacobson D, McDermott MM, Beckman J, Burt M, Creager M, Ehrman J, Gardner A, Mays RJ, Regensteiner JG, Salisbury D, Schorr E, Walsh E. How to implement supervised exercise therapy for patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease: A science advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2019;140(13):e700-e710. [PMID: 31446770] DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000727

Mays RJ, Mays AA, Mizner RL. Efficacy of ankle-foot orthoses on walking ability in peripheral artery disease. Vasc Med. 2019;24(4):324-331. [PMID: 30924412; PMCID: pending] DOI: 10.1177/1358863X19831765

Mays RJ, Goss FL, Nagle EF, Gallagher M Jr, Haile L, Schafer MA, Kim KH, Robertson RJ. Cross-validation of peak oxygen consumption prediction models from OMNI perceived exertion. Int J Sports Med. Sep 2016;37(10):831-837. [PMID: 27410768; PMCID: PMC5765839] DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-103029

Mays RJ, Hiatt WR, Casserly IP, Rogers RK, Main DS, Kohrt WM, Ho PM, Regensteiner JG. Community- based walking exercise for PAD: An exploratory pilot study. Vasc Med. Aug 2015;20(4):339-347. [PMID: 25755148; PMCID: PMC4749131] DOI: 10.1177/1358863X15572725

Mays RJ, Rogers RK, Hiatt WR, Regensteiner JG. Community walking programs for treatment of PAD. J Vasc Surg. Dec 2013;58(6):1678-87. [PMID: 24103409; PMCID: PMC3904661] DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2013.08.034

Mays RJ, Casserly IP, Kohrt WM, Ho PM, Hiatt WR, Nehler MR, Regensteiner JG. Assessment of functional status and quality of life in claudication. J Vasc Surg. May 2011;53(5):1410-21. [PMID: 21334172; PMCID: PMC3541824] DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2010.11.092

Invited Presentations

Mays RJ. Review of AFO trial and publications. Invited talk for the University of Minnesota School of Nursing Research Day Community Partner breakfast (Minneapolis, MN; April 2023).

Mays RJ. Exercise as Therapy: What We Know and What We Don’t. Invited lecture for “Tailored Therapy for PAD Comorbidities” invited panel session at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions Virtual Experience (November 2020).

Mays RJ. Supervised Exercise Programs for Vascular Disease. Invited lecture at the New Cardiovascular Horizons Conference – Updates on Peripheral Vascular Disease (Minneapolis, MN; October 2019).

Mays RJ, Mays AA, Mizner RL. Effect of Ankle-Foot Orthoses on walking ability and patient-reported outcomes in PAD: the AFO for PAD Trial. Invited oral and poster presentations at the 2 nd Annual Meeting of the NIH NIGMS, Mountain West Clinical and Translational Research Infrastructure Network. (Las Vegas, NV; June 2015)

Mays RJ and Casserly IP. The role of exercise training in treating PAD. Invited tutorial lecture at ACSM’s 58 th Annual Meeting. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011. (Denver, CO)

Competitive Presentations

Mays RJ, Kahnke R, Schorr EN, Treat-Jacobson D. Relation of non-exercise walking activity with exercise performance in patients with peripheral artery disease. Poster presentation for “Walk It Off: Adherence, Surrogate Measures and Implications of Exercise on Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes and Disease” poster session at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions Virtual Experience (November 2020).

Mays RJ, Treat-Jacobson D, Regensteiner JG. Improvement of community-based structured exercise therapy using perspectives of patients with PAD: A mixed-methods study. Best of Science oral presentation at the SVM 30 th Annual Scientific Sessions (McLean, VA; May 2019).

Mizner RL, Mays AA, Mays RJ. Mechanical adaptations in walking performance using ankle-foot orthoses for patients with PAD. Poster session at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine and 8 th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(5S):588. (Denver, CO)

Mays RJ, Mays AA, Mizner RL. Efficacy of Ankle-Foot Orthoses on walking ability in PAD: The AFO for PAD Trial I. Moderated poster session at the Society for Vascular Medicine 27 th Scientific Sessions. (Long each, CA; June 2016)

Laskin JJ and Mays RJ. The proliferation of accelerometry for the public: Reliability, validity, and utility. Symposia proposal at the Northwest ACSM Annual Meeting. (Tacoma, WA; April 2016)

Mays RJ, Casserly IP, Rogers RK, Main DS, Hiatt WR, Kohrt WM, Ho PM, Regensteiner JG. Community-based walking for patients with PAD: A pilot study. Moderated poster session at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63(12):A2035. (Washington, DC)

Award: Supervised Treadmill intervention to Reduce Inflammation and Depression through Exercise in HIV: The STRIDE Pilot Study
Co-Investigator (Lofgren PI)
Sponsoring Organization: University of Minnesota Academic Health Center Grant-in-Aid of Research
Award Dates: July 2023 - January 2025

Award: Community-based exercise to improve physical functioning and cardiovascular health following revascularization for peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Principal Investigator
Sponsoring Organization: Olafson Trust/University of Minnesota Foundation
Award Dates: June 2019 – August 2023

Award: Using smartphone sensory technology to characterize ambulatory patterns of patients with PAD
Co-Principal Investigator: (Wolfson)
Sponsoring Organization: University of Minnesota Academic Health Center Faculty Research Development Grant 
Award Dates: June 2019 – May 2023

Award: A community-based exercise program to improve walking outcomes in patients with PAD
Principal Investigator
Sponsoring Organization: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Loan Repayment – Renewal 
Award Dates: June 2016 – June 2018

Award: A community-based exercise program to improve walking outcomes in patients with PAD
Principal Investigator
Sponsoring Organization: NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) K01 Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (*Tribal Member of the Cherokee Nation)
Award Dates: August 2012 – August 2017 

Award: Community-based walking exercise enhanced by orthoses to improve walking ability in patients with PAD
Principal Investigator
Sponsoring Organization: Pilot Grant
Award Dates: July 2014 – June 2015

Award: A community-based exercise program to improve walking outcomes in patients with PAD
Principal Investigator
Sponsoring Organization: NIH Division of Loan Repayment – New
Award Dates:  August 2013 – July 2015 

Award: A community-based exercise program following endovascular therapy for patients with PAD.
Principle Investigator
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NHLBI F32 Individual Fellowship
Award Dates: July 2011 - June 2012

Award: A community-based exercise program following endovascular therapy for patients with PAD
Principal Investigator: Buttrick
Sponsoring Organization: NIH NHLBI T32 Training Grant 
Award Dates: July 2009 – June 2011

• Development of novel approaches for improving adoption and adherence to exercise in peripheral artery disease
• Signal detection in physical activity
• Perceived exertion and practical assessment methods for cardiorespiratory fitness