This year marks 31 years since the very first Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) workshop. That single event sparked the development of a profession that has helped tens of thousands of clients around the world regain function, reclaim independence, and live stronger lives after rehab or in the face of chronic disease.

Over the past three decades, MedExPROs, including Medical Exercise Specialists, Post Rehab Conditioning Specialists, and Medical Exercise Program Directors, have done more than deliver great results—they’ve carved out a role that never existed before. They’ve brought clarity to the blurred lines between fitness and healthcare. They’ve earned the trust of physicians and therapists. And most importantly, they’ve changed lives.

Here are four major accomplishments MedExPROs can celebrate—and four more that must define the next decade.

🎯 WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED IN 31 YEARS

1. We Standardized Post-Rehab Exercise Protocols

MedExPROs took the guesswork out of exercise after ...

10 Essentials to Unlock Reimbursement

In today’s healthcare environment, Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs) are more critical than ever—bridging the gap between rehab discharge and long-term functional recovery. But if you're still operating under a purely cash-based model, you're not just limiting your revenue—you’re also limiting your impact.

Insurance reimbursement is no longer off-limits. It's possible. It’s happening. And it’s one of the most powerful ways to grow your practice, reach more clients, and gain recognition from medical professionals.

But you need a system. And that’s what the Cracking the Code blueprint delivers. Below are the 10 essential steps every MedExPRO must follow to position their services for insurance reimbursement. These steps won’t teach you to file a claim on their own—but they’ll show you exactly where the path begins.

🔑 The 10-Step Reimbursement Blueprint for MedExPROs

1.  🧾 Verify Insurance Eligibility
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In Tip #40 of the MET 101 series, Dr. Mike dives into one of the most misunderstood and risky areas in medical exercise training: billing through a medical doctor (MD) or physical therapist (RPT) for services performed by a Medical Exercise Professional.

Dr. Mike warns MedExPROs about the "slippery slope" of indirect billing—a practice where a medical professional bills insurance for services that were actually delivered by a Medical Exercise Specialist, but without direct supervision. This isn’t a gray area—it’s insurance fraud, and it can jeopardize everyone involved, including your career. Dr. Mike shares examples such as MES professionals seeing clients at home or in a clinic while the doctor is absent, yet the provider still bills for the session. That’s a clear violation.

Instead, Dr. Mike explains the only legitimate way for a medical provider to bill for your services: you must be an employee, and medical professional must provide direct, on-premises supervision. If those two...

As part of our MES Week celebration, we’re proud to feature a powerful and insightful interview with Susie Duttge, a true Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) pioneer with 27 years of success in the field.

After starting her career as a professional photographer, personal trainer, and aerobics instructor, Susie dove into intensive MES training in 1995—a turning point she describes as the "fuel" that launched her journey. Inspired by her instructor and driven by an insatiable desire to learn, Susie opened her first facility, Fit for Life Rehab and Fitness Clinic, just months after completing her training.

In this exclusive interview, Susie shares the core principles that helped her build and sustain a thriving practice. Her approach? Put clients and patients at the top of the pyramid, deliver private, personalized care, and never compromise your commitment to functional outcomes.

She also opens up about how face-to-face marketing, including speaking engagements and one-on-one physician ...

This week, we proudly celebrate 31 years since the very first Medical Exercise Specialist Workshop, held in July 1994—marking the beginning of a global movement that has changed lives, built careers, and bridged the gap between healthcare and fitness like never before.

Medical Exercise Specialist Week is all about YOU—the dedicated MedExPROs around the world who are restoring function, rebuilding confidence, and producing real outcomes for clients every single day.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing inspiring MES success stories from across the globe, giving you tools and resources to grow your practice, build lasting referral relationships with medical professionals, and dive deeper into the MES Framework—the foundation for our profession’s standards and growth.

We’ll also reveal the future vision of Medical Exercise Training—a profession with ethics, recognition, and outcomes at its core.

So whether you’ve been with us since 1994 or you’re just joining the movement, this week ...

A Milestone 31 Years in the Making

On July 18, 1994, 14 forward-thinking fitness professionals gathered for something the industry had never seen: the first Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) Workshop and Certification. We spent a week—laying down MES systems, language, documentation standards, and exercise programming models for working with clients after rehab. We didn’t know it then, but we were launching a profession.

Today, many of those original 14 Medical Exercise Specialists are still actively practicing—still changing lives, still setting the bar for professionalism, and still proving that properly applied exercise changes function, health, and quality of life.

From One Workshop to a Global Profession

That first course laid the foundation for what is now the Medical Exercise Training Institute (METI) and the global Medical Exercise Specialist movement. Three decades later, Medical Exercise Specialists are practicing on six continents, collaborating with physicians, physical...

In Medical Exercise Training 101 eBook - Tip #39, Dr. Mike breaks down the evolution of medical exercise certifications and how each one plays a critical role in helping fitness professionals transition into respected medical exercise professionals. He emphasizes that certification isn’t just about letters after your name—it’s about building a system that bridges fitness and healthcare.

Dr. Mike walks us through the four cornerstone certifications:

• Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) – The gold standard since 1994, this certification is deep and rigorous, focusing on assessment, documentation, and business systems.
• Postrehab Conditioning Specialist (PRCS) – A powerful entry-level option introduced in 1998, ideal for professionals getting started with medically based clients.
• Medical Exercise Program Director (MEPD) – For those leading facilities or departments, this cert includes advanced topics like pharmacology, communication systems, and managing full MET programs.
• Advanced Med...

Dear MedExPRO,

You’ve taken the time to build your skills. You’re ready to serve clients. But are you missing the final piece?

✅ Consistent, qualified referrals from trusted medical professionals.

If you’ve ever wondered what to say in your introduction letter, how to follow up with a physician, or how to present yourself as a credible partner in a client’s continuum of care—this is for you.

Introducing the newly expanded MedExPRO Referral Ignition Kit – now with 49 powerhouse tools, scripts, templates, and resources to help you attract referrals, communicate clearly, and grow your practice with confidence.

This isn’t fluff. These are real-world, field-tested resources that MedExPROs are using RIGHT NOW to land referrals, build relationships, and establish authority with physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, and more.

💥 What’s Inside the Referral Ignition Kit?

📝 20+ Customizable Communication Templates
→ Introductory, follow-up, and thank-you letters to MDs, PTs, DCs, ...

We hope you had an incredibly insightful and productive experience at the recent MES Workshop in Houston! As we transition back, we're thrilled to reignite our "Cracking the Code" webinar series. Due to the workshop, we took a brief break, and now we’re combining the crucial final steps of the "30 Days to Referral Ready" challenge into one powerful, action-oriented session.

This 60-minute webinar will consolidate and clarify the essential external strategies from Days 25 through 30 of the challenge. This is your definitive guide to effectively communicating your unique value, cultivating strong relationships with healthcare providers, and establishing your position as an indispensable referral partner in the patient recovery process.

This webinar is critical because it brings together all the "go-to-market" strategies you need to transition from simply being "referral-ready" to actively receiving consistent referrals and becoming a recognized extension of the medical team.

We cover ...

Setting New Standards: A Recap of the Transformative MES Workshop in Houston!

Houston was electric on June 28 & 29 as 22 dedicated MedExPROs came together for one of the most impactful MES Workshops to date—and the energy in the room was undeniable.

Led by Dr. Mike, the weekend wasn’t about ticking boxes for another certification. It was about building true competence and confidence as Medical Exercise Specialists who can step into the healthcare system with skill, structure, and clarity, managing clients with medical conditions through exercise—not guesswork.

From Personal Trainer to MedExPRO: A Mindset Shift

The workshop redefined what it means to be a MedExPRO. Instead of seeing clients as workouts, attendees learned to see them as opportunities for functional transformation—with structured assessments, precise documentation, and professional communication that physicians and therapists actually respect.

Participants practiced these skills through hands-on case work, including ...