Medical Fitness Podcast

The Medical Fitness Podcast brings you experts from across the institutional divide of the healthcare and fitness industries. Join us for in-depth conversations on how to foster collaboration between fitness professionals and healthcare providers and improve the overall health journey.

This podcast is brought to you by the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) and The Medicine Rehab and Fitness Institute (MRFi), both of which are dedicated to medical fitness education and building the bridge between medicine, rehab, and fitness. New episodes will be available twice a month.

Join us on this special episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, featuring the inspiring journey and invaluable insights of Jeff Jeran, a seasoned leader in medical fitness and a Senior Director for Power Wellness at Valley Health Wellness & Fitness Center; Fitness Center of Thibodaux Regional; Hampshire Wellness & Fitness Center and the Board Chair of the Medical Fitness Association. From transforming personal challenges into a thriving career to pioneering solutions in patient referrals and integrated care, Jeff shares the strategies and dedication that keep his centers at the cutting edge of fitness and wellness. 

Hear firsthand about innovative collaborations between fitness and healthcare, unique patient referral programs, and powerful ways to bridge gaps between medical and fitness professionals. Whether you’re a clinician looking to enhance patient outcomes or a fitness professional aiming to expand your role in medical wellness, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and inspiration for all. Don’t miss it – tune in now and step up your understanding of what’s possible in medical fitness!

Watch the interview above or click any link below to listen to this episode.
In this episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Amy Bantham, CEO of Move to Live More and former president of the Physical Activity Alliance. Amy shared insights from her extensive research on integrating healthcare with health and fitness, including the barriers clinicians face when referring patients to fitness programs. She highlighted the importance of building trust between healthcare providers and fitness professionals and emphasized the need for standardized qualifications in the fitness industry.

We also explored Move to Live More’s mission to bridge the gap between healthcare and community-based fitness, ensuring that patients receive effective, evidence-based exercise prescriptions. Amy discussed how small changes, like incorporating physical activity data into electronic health records, can significantly improve patient outcomes and support clinicians in promoting exercise as medicine.

This episode is a must-listen for clinicians and fitness professionals dedicated to enhancing patient care through physical activity. Don’t miss out on these game-changing strategies to create seamless healthcare-to-fitness referral pathways!

Watch the interview above or click any link below to listen to this episode.

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In this insightful episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, co-hosts Jeff Young and David Flench sit down with Dr. Cedric Bryant, the President and CEO of the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Dr. Bryant shares his personal journey from academia to his current leadership role at ACE, highlighting how he integrates science-backed education and behavior change strategies into fitness programming. The conversation explores topics such as the importance of evidence-based practices, the need for a continuum between "moving more" and structured exercise, and the role of behavior change in promoting long-term healthy lifestyles.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the fitness industry, especially regarding collaboration between fitness professionals and healthcare providers. Dr. Bryant emphasizes the importance of networking, lifelong learning, and professionalizing the fitness industry to ensure fitness professionals can effectively contribute to public health initiatives like Active People, Healthy Nation. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a health professional, or simply interested in improving your well-being, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration to keep moving forward.

Tune in to hear more about Dr. Bryant’s career, his approach to effective exercise programming, and the role of fitness professionals in the larger healthcare continuum.

Catch this episode now and start applying these key takeaways to your professional practice or personal fitness journey!

Watch the interview above or click any link below to listen to this episode.

Dr. Mock is board certified in lifestyle, preventive, and family medicine.  He is the chair of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Fitness and Medicine Member Interest Group,  Co-Medical Director at the Center for Health Promotion; Director of Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in the Department of Preventive Medicine, owns a gym in Redlands, CA, and is a 3x California's strongest man champion.

In this engaging episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, Dr. Andrew Mock, a prominent figure in lifestyle and preventive medicine, discusses his passion for strength training and how it has shaped his career as both a physician and fitness professional. Dr. Mock details the current shortcomings in medical education regarding exercise, particularly resistance training, and shares how his work with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine is helping to change this. From teaching physicians the foundational principles of strength training to creating curriculums for medical schools, Dr. Mock is leading efforts to make physical activity a standard part of patient care.

Listeners will be drawn in by Dr. Mock’s unique perspective as both a competitive strength athlete and a physician. He shares practical insights on how clinicians can assess and incorporate strength training into their practice, overcoming common barriers like patient fear of injury. For anyone interested in the intersection of fitness and medicine, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving role of exercise in healthcare and why resistance training should be a core component of medical care.

Watch on any of the links below. 
In this episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, Dr. Laurie Whitsel, a leading policy expert from the American Heart Association and advisor to the Physical Activity Alliance, explores the intersection of public policy and healthcare in promoting physical activity. She discusses the ongoing efforts to make physical activity assessment, prescription, and referral a routine part of clinical care in the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Whitsel shares exciting initiatives such as the development of standardized measures in electronic health records and the collaboration with healthcare systems to reduce barriers and ensure physical activity becomes part of the clinical workflow.

In this captivating episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, hosts David Flench and Jeff Young are joined by Michael Stack, a highly respected exercise physiologist, health entrepreneur, and advocate for the fitness industry. Michael's career spans over two decades, and he has made significant strides in elevating the role of fitness professionals within the healthcare system. As the founder of Applied Fitness Solutions and host of the Wellness Paradox Podcast, Michael shares his journey from working in commercial fitness to becoming a prominent voice in medical fitness and policy change.

Listeners will be intrigued by Michael's discussion on the importance of values in both personal and organizational growth, as well as his unique approach to integrating fitness professionals into the healthcare ecosystem. He provides insight into the challenges and opportunities of transitioning from a commercial fitness model to a medical fitness center and offers valuable lessons learned along the way. Michael also highlights his work with the Physical Activity Alliance and his role as guest editor for a special themed issue of the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal, focusing on the professionalization of exercise professionals.

This episode is packed with insights on advocacy, policy change, and the future of medical fitness, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of fitness and healthcare. Whether you're a fitness professional, healthcare provider, or simply passionate about improving public health, Michael's perspective will leave you inspired and eager to engage in the ongoing transformation of the fitness industry. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in medical fitness—tune in to this episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast!

You can also listen via any of the links below.

Please be sure to check out Mike's amazing podcast, The Wellness Paradox, at: https://www.wellnessparadoxpod.com/

You can also follow Mike on social media at:
The Wellness Paradox   

Michael Stack  
Join us as Dr. William Kraemer shares his incredible journey from aspiring football player to world-renowned sports scientist, offering insights into the evolution of strength training and the importance of evidence-based programming - citing his recently published book, "Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance" as a resource. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and practical application. For Dr. Kraemer's bio, see Part 1 above.
Note: This is Part 2 of 2 - Scroll down for links to listen/watch.
Click the YouTube image below to watch or listen via any of the links below.
Dr. William KraemerJoin us as Dr. William Kraemer shares his incredible journey from aspiring football player to world-renowned sports scientist, offering insights into the evolution of strength training and the importance of evidence-based programming - citing his recently published book, "Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance" as a resource. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and practical application.
Note: This is Part 1 of 2 - Scroll down for links to listen/watch.

About Dr. William Kraemer:
Dr. William J. Kraemer, FACSM, FNSCA, is a distinguished sports scientist and researcher in strength and conditioning. His illustrious career spans several prestigious academic institutions. Recently retired as a full professor from The Ohio State University (OSU), Dr. Kraemer continues his work as a Research Scientist at OSU, focusing on NIH and Department of Defense grants. He holds the title of Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut and has previously held significant positions at Ball State University and Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Kraemer began his academic journey at the University of Connecticut after serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kraemer has made substantial contributions to the field through his extensive research and publications. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications listed on PubMed, along with more than 100 book chapters and 14 books. His expertise continues to shape the field with a recently published book on Athlete Development in 2024 and the 4th edition of his Exercise Physiology text in 2025.

Dr. Kraemer's professional contributions extend beyond his research. He is a Fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). His leadership roles include serving as a past President of the NSCA and as a Board of Directors member of the ACSM. Notably, he founded and served as Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research for 30 years.

His exceptional work has earned him numerous accolades. In 2024, he received the NSCA's Alvin Roy Award for his career contributions to strength and conditioning. He was also awarded the ACSM's Citation Award in 2020. The University of Jyvaskyla in Finland recognized his global impact by awarding him an honorary doctorate in 2016. These are just a few among many prestigious awards he has received in the fields of sports science and strength & conditioning.

Dr. Kraemer's impact on the field is further evidenced by his ranking as one of the top 5 Sports Scientists out of 31,313, according to a 2023 Stanford University study. His significant contributions span physiological sciences and sports sciences, with a particular emphasis on resistance training physiology and athlete development in sports medicine.

Through his extensive research, influential publications, and widespread recognition, Dr. William J. Kraemer has firmly established himself as one of the world's leading sports scientists and strength & conditioning researchers.
Join us for this episode with Dr. Jon Bonnet; David Flench and Jeff Young as they talk about Lifestyle Medicine and the importance of disease prevention and overall wellness in our healthcare system.
Dr. Jonathan Bonnet is board-certified in family, sports, obesity, and lifestyle medicine. He is an associate professor (affiliate) at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Program Director of Medical Weight Loss at the Clinical Resource Hub Weight Management Center at the Palo Alto VA. Jonathan has a background in exercise physiology and is a certified personal trainer. He completed his undergraduate and medical school degrees at Ohio State University before finishing his family medicine residency at Duke University, and his sports medicine fellowship at the University of Florida. He also holds a master’s degree in public health from Harvard.
Dr. Bonnet serves on the board of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and co-chairs the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's (ACLM) 30-hour CME board review course. He also serves as the advisor for the Emory University Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group and previously served on the board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He has co-authored two editions of the Lifestyle Medicine Handbook and the first edition of the Medical Fitness Bible. He has published research in sleep medicine, nutrition, sports and exercise, obesity, and behavior change and serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
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Dr. Renee Rogers is a Senior Scientist at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a Consultant and Strategist for Ideal Consulting.

She is an expert in developing bio-behavioral healthy lifestyle interventions for obesity treatment with special focus on physical activity and relevant strategies to promote long-term success. She has worked in weight management and physical activity research and programming for 20+ years playing many professional roles that include working as an instructor, practitioner, program director, researcher, designer, and consultant and strategist to large corporations.

As the anti-obesity medications are exploding on the market, with over 100 in the pipeline, we, as fitness professionals, have a role to play in the health journey of those using these medications to ensure their success in the long term.

Join us as we explore this notion with Dr. Renee Rogers, an expert in bio-behavioral healthy lifestyle intervention in obesity and chronic disease care with a focus on relevant engagement strategies to promote long-term adherence.

Watch on YouTube below!

Click here to read the article, Contemporary Treatments for Obesity: Physical Activity in the Context of Antiobesity Medications, in the Translational Journal of the ACSM by Dr. Renee Rogers and Dr. John Jakicic of the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS and Dr. Caroline Apovian of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Stay tuned for our next episode on Wednesday, November 21 with Josh Lyons, CEO of Pinnacle Lifestyle Medicine, as he shares a revolutionary approach to integrating fitness with healthcare, focusing on data-driven, prescriptive exercise that addresses chronic health needs. Discover how Pinnacle’s medical fitness model builds real outcomes and credibility with medical providers, moving beyond traditional fitness entertainment. Whether you're a clinician or fitness professional, this episode will inspire you to elevate fitness into the realm of true healthcare. Check out this interview with Thomas Hammett!