Medical Exercise Program Director

What is the role of the MEPD?

• Develop, manage, administer and market the medical exercise program or facility in any setting.
• Serve of the liaison between the medical community and the medical exercise program.
• Serve of the primary teacher and developer of continuing education for the medical exercise staff.
• Educate medical professionals on the benefits of exercise for medical conditions.
• Supervise the medical exercise training of all clients in the MET facility referred by medical professionals.
• Continually promote and represent the MET facility at meetings, conferences, health fairs, etc.

What will I learn in the MEPD training?

We recently updated the MEPD curriculum to include our “Medical Exercise Training Systems” (METS) training.

METS provides the MEPD with the step by step guidelines to install practice management systems in every aspect of the MET facility or practice.

Whether is a large hospital-based facility or your own private MET practice, the METS systems are necessary to build and maintain a successful MET program.

You will also have access to the 16 MEPD Clinical modules.

These modules allow you to increase your skills in the areas of ergonomics, pharmacology and advanced medical exercise assessments of the shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, spine as well as gait and balance.

What is required to obtain the MEPD Certification?

• Review each MEPD clinical module and complete the accompanying examination and/or case study.
• Complete the homework assignments from the METS teleseminars
• Develop and submit a business plan for a fictitious medical exercise/post rehab facility. The plan must include marketing, equipment acquisition, facility layout, administrative procedures and staff guidelines.
• Develop a presentation on a medical exercise/post rehab related topic, including handouts. The presentation must be delivered to a live audience of post rehab professionals – this presentation must be recorded and submitted to METI for review.
• Participate in a 90-minute “Practice Checklist/Marketing Review” session with Dr Mike.

What are the opportunities for MEPDs?

The career opportunities for MEPDs are endless.

With the rapid growth of MET expected over the next 20 years, there will be a shortage of MEPDs’.

One of our MEPDs directs medical exercise training for the 14 World Health Clubs in Alberta, Canada; another coordinates the medical exercise and wellness program for a large northern New Jersey hospital system; many own their own facilities and a couple now operate multiple MET facilities.

With the MEPD certification a similar career can be yours. MEPDs are found in hospital-based fitness centers, private health clubs, physical therapy and sportsmed clinics and chiropractic offices.

How do I know the MEPD is for me?

To determine if the MEPD is for you, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have strong leadership skills?
• Am I innovative and creative in my approach to fitness programs?
• Is my passion for medical exercise/post rehab fitness not only towards helping clients improve function, but also towards enhancing the professional development of other post rehab professionals?