Meet Lisa Dougherty, entrepreneur and founder of Medical Fitness Network, who was inspired to help people with medical conditions reach their goals and needs and be connected to a vast group of fitness and health professionals. Lisa is positively paving the way of our future health care system. Read on to learn more how she brings people together to better their health and wellness. – Sarah

What attracted you to the field of health and wellness? I have always wanted a career in helping others. After 15 years in the finance industry I went back to school to be a fitness instructor via University California, Irvine. My father is a 4 time cancer survivor and I was drawn to helping those with medical conditions or chronic disease to maximize their health & maximize their quality of life.  I learned that there are over 100 million people 50 and over in the U.S. and according to the CDC 80% of our aging population has one chronic disease/medical condition and 50% have two or more. Regular physical activity is one globally accepted strategy to promote & preserve health. The fitness industry is a long term benefactor of this growing population and provides us an opportunity to be part of the healthcare team.

Your Job Title: Chief Executive Officer and Personal Fitness Trainer

Company you are with now: Medical Fitness Network and Whole Body Fitness

Website: www.MedicalFitnessNetwork.org

Other Social Media links you would like to include: – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedicalFitnessNetwork

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you: My day usually starts off with emails for MFN.  I offer personal medical fitness training Mon-Sat.  My clients range from teenagers to those in their 80’s.  They may be cancer survivors, have medical conditions, other chronic health challenges, rehab from surgery or injury, prenatal fitness or are obese.  I also know to work with triathletes, marathon runners and those looking for general fitness and weight loss.

How did you get your current job in health and wellness? I founded the Medical Fitness Network to help those with chronic disease/medical conditions or who need pre & postnatal care find qualified complimentary healthcare & fitness professionals who have a higher level of knowledge in the prevention, rehab or treatment in and not limited to: Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Mental Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Pre & Postnatal Care, Respiratory Disease and Stroke.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? Since I was a young girl I loved bringing people together and organizing projects.  This network allows me to bring people and businesses together to serve the greater good.  This project has been volunteer driven for the past 2 years, 65+ people on its Advisory Board, who are leaders in healthcare & fitness, and over 100 national business partners supporting this network.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? You have to be really passionate about wanting something and devote whatever time it takes to success.  My father always told me that “people do not plan to fail but fail to plan”.  Having a good road map of what you want to accomplish is the 1st step.  Planning short term goals along the way to measure your success and make sure you are on track so you can adjust along the way is important. I would also have to say that keeping a positive attitude and surrounding yourselves with like-minded people helps a lot!

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? I think knowing I made a difference and having my family and others be proud of my achievements are just as important to me as a paycheck.  Giving back and helping people and animals is something I value.

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.