Michael Zehner, M.S., RCEP, is a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine. He currently serves as Manager of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program within the Heart and Vascular Institute at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he has worked for more than 26 years. In addition, he is a faculty member for the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program at Penn State College of Medicine.
Mike earned both his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and his Master of Science in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Science from East Stroudsburg University. He also holds multiple professional certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine.
His areas of expertise include clinical and fitness assessment, exercise testing, and exercise prescription across diverse populations, including healthy individuals and those with cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based exercise interventions, cardiac rehabilitation, and preventive cardiovascular care.
Teaching in the Clinical Exercise Physiology Master’s Program is one of Mike’s greatest professional passions. He particularly enjoys seeing students experience the moment when a challenging concept finally clicks and they understand how it applies in clinical practice. Knowing that he is helping prepare the next generation of clinical exercise physiologists to enter the field as competent, confident healthcare professionals is both rewarding and motivating.