By John P. Porcari, PhD, RCEP, MAACVPR, FACSM

Philip K. Wilson, Ed.D — who rose from humble beginnings as a high school coach and educator to become a founding father of AACVPR and a trailblazer in the health and fitness field — passed away on June 21, 2025. 

A mentor, colleague, and friend to me, Phil built his legacy and forged his imprint in the fields of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and fitness programming over more than 40 years. Upon his death, former students and colleagues reacted on social media, using monikers like “legend,” “the GOAT,” “giant in the field,” “leader,” and  “team builder” to describe him. The adjective that resonated most with me was “pioneer.” So many people go through life accepting the status quo, remaining content with the “same old, same old.” Not Phil!  A visionary of his time, he was not afraid to look into the future, see what needed to be done, and then make it a reality.      

Far-Reaching Impact

For instance, Phil and some of his colleagues within the medical community at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse identified the need for continued CR services for patients after completing Phase II. On June 6, 1971, the La Crosse Cardiac Rehabilitation Program was born to address this unmet need. It was the first university-based CR program in the country. Getting buy-in was challenging at first, with some critics feeling very strongly that cardiac patients couldn’t safely exercise outside of a hospital or clinic setting. But Phil demonstrated that with the right training and precautions, such programs were not only safe, but crucial, to the long-term well-being of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Shortly thereafter, the university began offering workshops designed to teach other professionals how to set up and run a comprehensive CR program. Over the past five decades, more than 8,000 professionals from all 50 states and 19 foreign countries have attended one of these sessions. As a result, the name “La Crosse” has become synonymous with cardiac rehabilitation education.

In 1978, Phil recognized that he needed staff to run his on-campus Phase III CR program. He started the Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehabilitation master’s program, the first graduate curriculum in the United States specifically designed to prepare students to work in the discipline. That program is now called Clinical Exercise Physiology, to reflect the expanding role of exercise physiologists in managing a wide variety of chronic medical conditions.

While all of this innovation was taking place, there was no professional organization catering to the specific needs of cardiac and pulmonary rehab specialists. The premier sports medicine organization at the time was the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), but it’s primary focus was on athletes. Seeing the need for a dedicated association just for cardiac and pulmonary rehab professionals, Phil became the main driving force in starting AACVPR in 1986. Other influential leaders, including Michael Pollock, L. Kent Smith, Barry Franklin, Kathy Berra, Anne Abbott, Pat Comoss, and Vic Froelicher — legends in their own right — also were strongly involved in getting the association off the ground, but Phil was the founding president. In 1994, he received AACVPR’s Award of Excellence.   

As a testament to his enduring legacy, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in La Crosse (now called the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program) is still going strong; the Clinical Exercise Physiology graduate program just welcomed its 47^th cohort in June; a Comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation workshop was held in April; and AACVPR continues to reign as the worldwide leader in providing educational opportunities and guidelines for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation professionals.

Whether through his contributions to the field of CR or through his second career creating and managing fitness programs for major cruise lines, those who worked with Phil can attest to his extreme organization and efficiency. He was able to juggle numerous responsibilities simultaneously, while still finding time to exercise every day, fish, ski, read, and play poker with his buddies. I once asked how he managed to keep up with everything; his answer was that he slept four hours a night. His other answer was that he hired good people and trusted them to do their jobs. Phil was not a micromanager but rather gave others the tools and guidance needed to succeed.

After his passing, a comment posted on social media by Diane Dje, who worked for Phil on the cruise ships, captured his impact in one short statement:

“Phil gave me my wings!” 

What a powerful statement — one that rings so true, on so many levels, for so many of us. Indeed, Phil gave the field of cardiac rehabilitation its “wings.” And he gave so many former students and colleagues their “wings,” by providing opportunities and experiences that most people only dream about. He would be the first to say that he may have opened the door, but it was up to us to walk through it and take advantage of those opportunities. I’m sure I speak for others when I say I wouldn’t be the person I am today, professionally or personally, without Phil Wilson.

John P. Porcari is Past President of AACVPR and Professor Emeriti, Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.