BOSTON, MA, & COSTA MESA, CA—May 17, 2021—IHRSA, the world's leading authority on the commercial health club industry, with a mission to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry, has formed a strategic partnership with the MedFit Education Foundation, dedicated to facilitating education and empowering professionals to work with those with medical conditions, chronic disease, disabilities and women’s health issues.
The partnership will provide medically-based fitness education training for IHRSA’s upcoming 40th Anniversary International Convention & Trade Show (IHRSA 2021) in Dallas, TX.
This strategic alliance will also allow IHRSA’s professional members to gain access to over 30 medical fitness specialist courses via MedFit Classroom, as well as an opportunity to promote themselves to the public via an international online directory of professionals with experience in condition-specific prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation via the MedFit Network.
“MedFit’s lead positioning in the emerging medical fitness space has been very impressive,” said IHRSA Interim President and CEO Brent Darden. “Our mutual organizations embrace the transformation of fitness and wellness for leading the world to a healthier lifestyle. This is an opportunity for the fitness industry to uplevel their education and services to be on the frontline of healthcare and position themselves as essential.”
MedFit Founder Lisa Dougherty said, “Chronic illnesses, and the health risk behaviors that cause them, account for the majority of healthcare costs today worldwide. There is a huge opportunity for clubs to expand their offerings and serve as pivotal players to the largest, fastest-growing demographics in the U.S. (world) and make an impact in our world’s healthcare system.”
Dougherty was selected as a finalist for the White House Champions of Change in 2016, recognizing individuals and businesses doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.
About IHRSA
IHRSA, The Global Health & Fitness Association, is a not-for-profit trade association representing the global fitness industry of over 200,000 health and fitness facilities and their suppliers. IHRSA maintains a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical for peak health and to fight the battle against obesity and chronic lifestyle disease.
As the world's leading authority on the commercial health club industry, IHRSA’s mission is to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry, while providing its members with benefits and resources. IHRSA and its members are devoted to making the world happier, healthier, and more prosperous through regular exercise and activity promotion. IHRSA is the publisher of Club Business International, the leading monthly magazine for the global fitness industry. Founded in 1981, IHRSA will be hosting its 40th Anniversary International Convention & Trade Show in Dallas, TX, on October 13-15, 2021, to celebrate the industry's revival!
About the MedFit Network (MFN)
MedFit Network (MFN) is a both a professional membership organization for fitness and allied healthcare professionals, gyms, studios, integrative wellness centers, and students as well as a free online resource directory for the public to locate fitness and allied healthcare professionals around the world with a background in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation in working with those with chronic disease or medical conditions www.medfitnetwork.org
About the MedFit Education Foundation (MFEF)
The MedFit Education Foundation (MFEF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2017 dedicated to creating and facilitating education programming to empower fitness and allied healthcare professionals to work confidently with the aging population and those with chronic disease or medical conditions, disabilities, women’s health issues through online education, webinars and conferences. www.medfited.org
