Dr. William L. Haskell is a distinguished scholar and leader in preventive medicine and cardiovascular health at Stanford University School of Medicine. He currently serves as Professor (Research) of Medicine, Emeritus in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, with additional appointments at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and Stanford Cancer Institute. After earning his PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Illinois in 1965 and a certificate in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1967, he established himself as a pioneer in exercise science and cardiovascular prevention. His academic career has been centered at Stanford University, where he has made seminal contributions to understanding the relationship between physical activity and chronic disease prevention. Dr. Haskell previously served as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Cooper Institute from 1996 to 2008 and as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Health Fitness Corporation from 2004 to 2010.
Dr. Haskell's groundbreaking research has fundamentally shaped global physical activity guidelines and cardiovascular prevention strategies, particularly through his leadership on World Health Organization initiatives establishing evidence-based public health recommendations. He has been instrumental in developing objective measurement techniques for physical activity in free-living populations, pioneering the use of wireless accelerometers, altimeters, and other sensing devices for data collection and processing in NIH-funded research conducted in collaboration with MIT scientists. His work on the role of physical activity in cardiovascular disease prevention, rehabilitation, and successful aging has resulted in numerous influential publications that transformed clinical practice worldwide. The Stanford Heart Network, which he directs, represents a significant contribution to healthcare infrastructure, providing an internet-based support system that assists community-based cardiovascular prevention and treatment programs across multiple countries.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Haskell has been recognized with multiple prestigious lifetime achievement awards, including honors from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. His mentorship has shaped generations of researchers and clinicians, establishing physical activity as a cornerstone of preventive medicine and cardiovascular care. Currently, Dr. Haskell continues to advance the field through innovative work on energy balance and successful aging, while expanding the use of mobile technology for physical activity assessment and personalized interventions. His ongoing research focuses on developing sophisticated methods for objective measurement of physical activity using sensing devices, with the goal of creating evidence-based interventions that promote long-term cardiovascular health and healthy aging. As an active emeritus professor, Dr. Haskell remains committed to translating research into practice, ensuring scientific advances in physical activity and cardiovascular health reach healthcare professionals and the public globally.
