05/19/2026
Announcement: Chief of Surgery – Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System
Dr. Peter Richard Nelson is an accomplished vascular surgeon, clinical investigator, and dedicated academic leader currently serving as Professor of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine (OU-SCM) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He holds the prestigious Mary Louise Todd Chair in Cardiovascular Research and is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Nelson also serves as Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery and maintains an active clinical practice at both OU Health Sciences Center and the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center.
Dr. Nelson received his undergraduate degree summa cm laude in Biology and Classics from Tufts University and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He pursued extensive postgraduate training at renowned institutions, including a vascular surgery fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and research fellowships at Harvard-Longwood. He later earned a Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Clinical Investigation from the University of Florida.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Nelson has held faculty appointments at leading academic centers including the University of Florida, University of South Florida, and University of Massachusetts. He joined the University of Oklahoma in 2017, where he has taken on numerous leadership roles in research, education, and clinical services.
Dr. Nelson’s dedication to academic medicine and translational research is evidenced by his leadership of and participation in dozens of multi-center clinical trials in vascular and endovascular surgery. His research, funded by the NIH, Department of Veterans Affairs, and industry sponsors, has focused on innovative approaches to peripheral artery disease, aortic aneurysms, vascular access, and limb salvage. He is known for his collaborative spirit and has been a key contributor to numerous influential studies and investigator-led initiatives.
Dr. Nelson’s peers have recognized him with a host of national and regional honors, including the Provost's Teaching Award for Seasoned Faculty, presidential citations from the Society for Vascular Surgery, and multiple “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” awards. His leadership has extended to professional organizations, serving as president of both the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society and the Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.
Board-certified in Vascular Surgery, Dr. Nelson is a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of surgeons and researchers, fostering innovation in vascular care, and advancing the science of surgery through rigorous investigation and compassionate patient care.
