Medical Fitness Association

08/08/2025

MFA Webinar: Resistance Training - The Missing Link Between Medicine & Fitness with Jeff Young

Too many people avoid resistance training due to fear, misinformation, or past bad experiences—while many clinicians feel unprepared to guide them. This session changes that.

Join us to learn how clinicians can start the conversation and overcome barriers, and how fitness professionals can carry it forward with personalized, habit-building programs. Together, we can turn resistance training into a powerful tool for long-term behavior change.

📅 Wednesday, August 13, at 2:30pm ET
📍 Click here to register: https://www.medicalfitness.org/events/webinar-the-behavior-change-blueprint

08/06/2025

🎙️ New Episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast!

Meet Carly Headd, Director of Programming at Pinnacle Lifestyle Medicine, as she shares her inspiring journey from intern to medical fitness leader. Click here to listen: https://www.medicalfitness.org/medical-fitness-podcast

In this episode, Carly dives into:
✅ The power of behavior change in health outcomes
✅ Building confidence as a fitness professional in medical settings
✅ Designing programs for chronic disease management
✅ What she looks for when hiring exercise professionals
✅ How Pinnacle creates successful referral pathways from rehab to fitness

This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about bridging fitness and healthcare!

Pinnacle Medical Wellness

08/05/2025

Join us this Thursday, August 7 at Noon ET for an insightful webinar on improving mobility in individuals with Parkinson’s disease! Click here to register: https://www.medicalfitness.org/events/webinar-parkinsons-group-ex-class

Discover how a specialized group exercise program combining Rock Steady Boxing and strength training led to a 14% decrease in TUG times and a 13.9% increase in sit-to-stand scores.

We’ll cover program design, outcome tracking, and adherence strategies to help medical fitness professionals implement evidence-based interventions that make a real difference.

👉 Don’t miss it!

07/23/2025

💥 NEW EPISODE! 💥
Revolutionizing Cardiac Rehab: Exercise That Truly Heals
In this must-hear episode of The Medical Fitness Podcast, we spotlight an inspiring and science-backed transformation happening at Valley Medical Center and Pinnacle Medical Wellness.

🎙️ Listen now: https://www.medicalfitness.org/medical-fitness-podcast

🎧 Meet Ashan Korala & Alex Cannon — two professionals leading a major shift in how cardiac rehab is delivered. From outdated band exercises to personalized strength training, VO₂-based cardio, and a seamless transition into long-term wellness, their model is changing lives and setting a new standard for clinical exercise.

✅ 35%+ increase in VO₂
✅ 12% gain in grip strength
✅ 60% program completion rate (vs. 15% national average)
✅ Real outcomes. Real lives improved.

If you're passionate about medical fitness, exercise physiology, or lifestyle medicine, this one is for you. Let’s change the narrative on rehab and recovery. 💪

07/18/2025

Congratulations to MFA member & MFA Certified Facility, Duke Health & Fitness Center in Durham, NC, on being named Best Gym in Indy's 2025 Best of the Triangle-Durham County for the 3rd year in a row as voted by the community!

07/10/2025

We're celebrating a milestone in medical fitness! 🎉
The YMCA of Greater Brandywine is officially the first YMCA in the nation to receive Medical Fitness Association (MFA) Facility Certification!

Click here to listen to the latest episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast: https://www.medicalfitness.org/medical-fitness-podcast

In this episode, MFA President & CEO David Flench sits down with Veronica Lopez, YMCA-GBW's Vice President of Health Strategies, to talk about:

✅ Their journey to MFA Facility Certification
✅ Building a culture of health across 9 branches
✅ Launching innovative tools like the Fit Truk
✅ Creating the upcoming “Prescribe the Y” program

This is a powerful example of how Ys can step into a stronger role in community and preventive health. Check it out!

06/25/2025

NEW MEDICAL FITNESS PODCAST EPISODE!
What happens when national heart health advocacy meets grassroots physical activity coalitions?
Click here to listen: https://www.medicalfitness.org/medical-fitness-podcast
Greg Mihailovich of the American Heart Association (AHA) joins us to share how AHA is driving policy, system, and environmental change to make physical activity more accessible for everyone—state by state.
We dive into:
✅ The “Life’s Essential 8” for cardiovascular health
✅ The It’s Time to Move campaign & exercise prescriptions
✅ Building state-level plans like the New York Moves Coalition
✅ How YOU can help shine a light on barriers to being active
Check it out!

06/24/2025

We are thrilled to have Collette Carter, Director at the Owensboro Health Healthpark, an MFA Certified Facility, as our new Board Chair! Collette brings nearly 30 years of experience in medical fitness and an abundance of enthusiasm to MFA. Collette and her team recently hosted a very successful Medical Fitness Summit-Central Region for MFA. We are fortunate to have her at the helm!

Owensboro Health Healthpark Director Collette Carter has been named chair of the Medical Fitness Association (MFA), becoming the first Kentuckian to lead the national organization. MFA promotes medically integrated fitness as part of a broader approach to health and wellness.

06/19/2025

The Medical Fitness Summit at Owensboro Health Healthpark is off to a great start with a welcome by MFA CEO, David Flench, and inspiring words from the Owensboro Health CEO, Mark Marsh. Looking forward to a strong lineup of speakers today and tomorrow!

06/12/2025

🚨 Just ONE WEEK AWAY! 🚨
Join us for the Medical Fitness Summit on June 19-20 at the Owensboro Health Healthpark in Owensboro, KY!

Click here to register: https://www.medicalfitness.org/events/centralmfa2025

✅ Get inspired by expert speakers
✅ Learn the latest in medical fitness and chronic disease management
✅ Network with peers and leading industry vendors

🎟️ There’s still time to register! Don’t miss this opportunity to grow, connect, and elevate your impact in medical fitness.

06/11/2025

Check out the latest episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast entitled, "When PT Ends, What’s Next? A Physiatrist’s Answer to the Follow-Through Problem."

Click here to watch/listen: https://www.medicalfitness.org/medical-fitness-podcast

Dr. Sarae Jandreau is not your average physician. A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, athlete, and former assistant strength coach, she’s now a newly minted physiatrist with a mission: bridge the disconnect between therapy, medicine, and fitness.

This episode is a masterclass in what can happen when a physician is trained in the science of exercise before they ever wear a white coat. Dr. Jandreau gets it — the underdosing, the communication breakdowns, the passive referrals that never go anywhere. She’s not just treating back pain, she’s addressing the root cause and planning for what the patient’s body should look like 20 years from now. Check it out!

06/05/2025

📢 Upcoming Webinar Alert!
Why Weight? Understanding Obesity with Body Composition & Grip Strength Testing
🗓 Tuesday, June 10 | 🕐 1:00 PM ET
👉 Register now: https://www.medicalfitness.org/events/webinar-why-weight

Discover how tools like InBody can go beyond BMI to provide deeper insight into obesity, muscle function, and sarcopenia risk—especially for patients pre- and post-bariatric surgery.

✅ Learn how to personalize treatment plans
✅ Track fat mass, muscle retention & water balance
✅ Use grip strength to assess physical health

🎙 Featuring Taylor Florentino, MS, InBody
📍 Sponsored by InBody & the Medical Fitness Association

InBody USA