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!

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:
https://www.instagram.com/wellnessparadox/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-stack-b74a5319/

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In this continuation of our conversation with Dr. Bill Kraemer, a leading figure in strength and conditioning research, we explore several key concepts that are crucial for both practitioners and clinicians alike. Dr. Kraemer discusses the significance of periodization in resistance training, emphasizing the need for flexibility and individualized approaches across different rep ranges and training modalities.

He discusses the importance of training across the full continuum of rep ranges to optimize muscle and tendon stiffness, which are critical for enhancing both performance and injury resilience. Dr. Kraemer also sheds light on the foundational principle of motor unit recruitment, known as Henneman’s Size Principle, and its implications for effective strength training. This principle underpins the need for progressive loading to activate higher-threshold motor units, which is essential for both strength gains and neuroplasticity.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Kraemer also touches on the role of strength and conditioning within the broader context of healthcare, advocating for an integrated team approach that spans across medicine, rehabilitation, and performance. His insights provide valuable guidance on how to apply these principles in both athletic and clinical settings, making this episode a must-listen for anyone involved in human performance or patient care.

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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.

Dr. Kraemer's Biography:

Dr. William J. Kraemer, Ph.D., 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.

Latest Book: Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance

Amazon.com: Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance eBook : Kraemer, William J., Ratamess, Nicholas A., Newman, Thomas: Kindle Store

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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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Episode 1: Dr. Renee Rogers Interview with David Flench & Dr. Thomas Hammett

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.

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

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In this episode, Kelli gives great insight into how she goes about designing primarily weight loss programs for her clients, many of whom have gotten caught up with unsuccessful yo-yo dieting, quick fixes, and other unsustainable methods with her clients. She also discusses topics such as: how she addresses lack of adherence if it becomes an issue, why tracking fats, carbs, protein, at least initially, is so important in setting up a successful weight loss journey, the importance of progressive resistance training as part of a weight loss program, addressing common misconceptions around weight loss, and views on the “body weight set point theory”, which is a theory that proposes our bodies have a set point that it gravitate towards, which may make it harder to successfully lose weight.

This was a great episode that I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

Follow Kelli:

IG: KelzBFit
Facebook Group: Anti-Dieting Methods For Forever Fat Loss With KelzBFit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108524286335617
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellibrower30

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In this fun and informative episode, David Flench, the President and CEO of the Medical Fitness Association, shares his insight and experience on building a successful career; the state of medical fitness in the US today; the need to build trust between clinicians and fitness professionals, and ways to accomplish it; examples of highly collaborative facilities, and much more! See the time stamps below for more information:

1:07 - David’s introduction, background, and trajectory to the president/CEO of the MFA

6:54 – Jeff asks David to expound on his advice for people to lead to a successful career (e.g., the importance of networking and “getting involved”)

9:34: - David’s response

17:14 – How does David define “medical fitness” and what does medical fitness look like in the U.S. today

22:51 – David discusses what medical fitness facility certification and qualifications look like. His answer includes how critical it is to create a level of trust between clinicians and fitness professionals

29:11 – David discusses the primary initiatives the Medical Fitness Association is currently focused on

32:48 - Benchmarks: what does it mean to track data/benchmarks and which are important to track?

39:04 – What are David’s thoughts on physical therapy private practices being “medical fitness facilities waiting to happen,” and the collaboration with physical therapists as part of the medical fitness landscape?

48:45 – What are examples of highly collaborative facilities where clinicians and fitness professionals are working well together?

51:54 - What is the biggest problem that the field of medical fitness is facing today and needs to solve?

56:20 - What innovations in medical fitness does David hope to see in the next 5 to 10 years? He touches on this “obesity medicine explosion” with the GLP-1 agonist medications and the importance of medical fitness as part of this landscape as well.

1:03:30 – Wrapping up…why listeners would benefit from becoming members of the Medical Fitness Association and how to stay connected with David

David Flench Biography:

David Flench servesd as the Board Chair (2021-2023) of the Medical Fitness Association Board of Directors and is the current President and CEO.

He has over 20 years of experience working in the health and wellness industry. Previously, David was the Director of Wellness Centers and Diabetes Center at Hancock Health in Greenfield, IN.

David obtained his Master of Business Administration from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio and his Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Exercise Science from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He also has achieved a range of certifications including Six Sigma Green Belt, American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-cEP), and ACSM Level 2 Exercise in Medicine, certified Health Care Manager by the Indiana Hospital Association, and board certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of ACHE, demonstrating that he is committed to furthering the medical fitness industry.

David also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Medical Fitness Foundation. He has previously served on the Certification, Education, Conference, Budget & Finance, Ethics, and Nominating committees with MFA.

http://www.medicalfitness.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidflench/

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In this episode of The Medical Fitness Podcast, Karli Burridge, Physician Associate, presents a broad and interesting insight into her background and what led her to the field of obesity medicine. She explains how she incorporates the four pillars of clinical obesity treatment into her practice; what she recommends in terms of physical activity and exercise, and common misconceptions around obesity and obesity care.

You can connect with or follow Karli at:
1. Karlijn (Karli) Burridge, PA-C, MMS, FOMA | LinkedIn
2. http://www.GainingHealth.com
3. https://www.facebook.com/MyGainingHealth/Podcast – Gaining Health Podcast

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