If you’ve ever run Bring a Friend Week, you know how powerful it can be to invite people into your gym for the first time. They get to see your space, meet your coaches, and experience the community, often leading to new members.
Now imagine that same concept but instead of friends, you invite healthcare providers. That’s the idea behind Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week, a strategy we teach inside The Global Health Project.
Why Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week Works
Healthcare providers see thousands of patients every year. They know people need nutrition and exercise coaching, but with the average doctor spending less than 20 minutes per visit, they don’t have the time to deliver lifestyle change.
By inviting them into your gym, you:
Build trust and credibility by showing them your facility and coaching program.
Start relationships that can turn into ongoing partnerships.
Showcase your expertise in nutrition and health-focused coaching.
Differentiate your gym as the go-to prevention partner in your community.
Simply put: if providers don’t know what you offer and how you can help their patients, they wont’ refer people to you.
Benefits for Healthcare Providers Who Attend
This isn’t just about referrals; it’s also about serving the providers in your community. Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week gives them a chance to:
Experience your coaching program firsthand – See the community, feel the energy, and witness the life change that happens inside your gym.
Prioritize their own health – Providers need health and accountability too. Who knows, maybe they’re looking for a place to call home.
Build confidence in referring patients – By learning more about your nutrition and coaching programs, providers feel more comfortable and confident sending patients your way.
Earn Free CME Credits – Through The Global Health Project, providers can access two accredited CME sessions powered by the CrossFit Medical Society. These include Dr. Tom McCoy presenting on the efficacy of CrossFit and lifestyle interventions, followed by a panel of physicians and gym owners sharing real-world examples of healthcare partnerships in action.
What’s Available Inside The Global Health Project
The Global Health Project is a free training for gym owners and coaches who want to bridge the gap between healthcare and fitness without reinventing the wheel. When you join, you’ll get everything you need to run Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week like a pro:
📧 Email Templates – Step-by-step scripts to invite providers before the event and follow up after.
🎨 Canva Templates – Done-for-you designs for flyers, social media posts, and invite cards so your event looks polished and professional.
🏋️ Programming Powered by Best Hour of Their Day – Fun, approachable workouts designed for a welcoming experience.
📝 Marketing Timeline – A clear checklist of what to do (and when) so nothing falls through the cracks.
🗣️ Conversation Starters & Scripts – How to confidently explain your coaching program and start partnership conversations.
🎥 Professional Media Assets – Videos of healthcare providers sharing their experience, giving you instant credibility when you promote your event.
With these tools, gym owners can host a professional, well-branded Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week that builds trust, sparks referrals, and strengthens community health — all through a completely free training.
Who to Invite and How to Spread the Word To Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week
Start With Your Current Members
Make a list of healthcare providers who already belong to your gym.
Give them flyers or invite cards to bring to their offices.
Reach Out to Local Connections
Think through doctors, nurses, PTs, and other providers you or your members know.
Drop off invite cards at their offices.
Use Social Media
Announce Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week on your gym’s channels.
When you’re part of The Global Health Project, you get access to professional media assets featuring healthcare providers sharing their experiences, perfect for boosting credibility.
Success Story: From Invitation to Referrals
CJ, owner of CrossFit Indiana, used the flyers and conversation prompts provided inside The Global Health Project to run Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week at his gym.
The results? Local healthcare providers came in, experienced the lifestyle interventions happening inside his gym, and saw firsthand how his coaching program supports long-term health.
Two of those providers loved the experience so much that they joined as members. Now, not only can they personally benefit from his coaching, but they can also speak authentically to their patients about what it feels like to be part of the program.
This is the power of inviting providers into your space: once they see it, feel it, and try it, they understand the impact and become far more confident in referring patients.
Why This Matters
The Global Health Project was created to empower gym owners to build a bridge between traditional healthcare and the life transformations happening inside their gyms.
Healthcare providers are already face-to-face with the people in your community who need help most. They know their patients need more than prescriptions; they need consistent support with nutrition, fitness, sleep, and stress management. But providers can’t do it alone.
By hosting a Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week, you give providers a reason to come into your gym, experience your coaching firsthand, and see the life change happening within your walls. From there, real partnerships can form and with them, a steady stream of referrals that transform both your business and your community’s health.
Ready to get started? Join The Global Health Project today and gain access to all the templates, tools, and programming you need to host Healthcare Professional Appreciation Week and start creating the bridge between healthcare and your gym.
