What Is The Global Health Project?
The Global Health Project is a free initiative by Healthy Steps Nutrition that helps gym owners and coaches build partnerships with healthcare providers. Since its launch in March 2025, it has already created over 1,000 healthcare-gym collaborations worldwide, proving that when fitness professionals and doctors work together, communities get healthier.
But here’s the thing: this isn’t new to us.
Healthy Steps Nutrition started working with healthcare partnerships back in 2012, when local doctors began referring patients for nutrition coaching. Over the past decade, we’ve refined exactly what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to connecting gyms with providers. The Global Health Project is the culmination of those lessons, delivered for free to gym owners who want to make a bigger impact.
Why Healthcare Partnerships Are Critical Right Now
The healthcare system is overloaded and gyms have an opportunity to step in.
93% of adults are metabolically unhealthy
Doctors see 2,000–3,000 patients per year but spend less than 20 minutes with each
Providers know patients need nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep coaching but don’t have the time or systems to deliver it
This creates a huge gap: patients leave with prescriptions instead of lifestyle change.
Gym owners are perfectly positioned to fill that gap by becoming the extension of healthcare in their communities.
Benefits for Gym Owners Who Join The Global Health Project
This award is a major milestone, but what we’re building goes far beyond recognition.
We’re expanding the vision through initiatives that elevate the role of coaches and gym owners in the future of healthcare.
The biggest challenge for most gyms? They don’t know how to connect with healthcare providers or what to say. The Global Health Project eliminates that barrier.
When you join, you’ll get:
💻 Free Training for Gym Owners – Learn how to approach providers, run Healthcare Appreciation Week, and build long-term partnerships.
🎥 Professional Media Assets – Videos and graphics featuring healthcare providers endorsing gyms as trusted lifestyle partners.
📣 Marketing Timeline & Canva Templates – Ready-to-use tools that save time and make your gym look professional.
🎓 Free CME Training for Local Providers – Invite doctors and medical staff to earn continuing education credits while learning how your gym can support their patients.
Results so far:
1,000+ healthcare–gym partnerships formed since launch
700+ gym owners and coaches completed the free training
100% of graduates reported more confidence in approaching providers
For gym owners, this means:
More referrals from healthcare providers
Greater credibility and authority in the community
Increased nutrition coaching revenue
Stronger member retention and long-term impact
Nutrition Program Highlight:
Haley Sparks used The Global Health Project framework to connect with just one local doctor in her community. That relationship has turned into a steady stream of 1–3 patient referrals every month into her nutrition and health-focused coaching program.
For Haley, this partnership not only grew her business, it positioned her as a go-to resource for lifestyle interventions, building trust with both providers and patients.
Her story proves that you don’t need dozens of partnerships to make an impact. Even a single connection can bring consistent referrals and transform both your business and your community.
Free CME: A Partnership with the CrossFit Medical Society
In February 2025, the CrossFit Medical Society and Healthy Steps Nutrition co-hosted a one-day event for healthcare providers. This event was recorded and accredited for CME credits, a powerful resource you can use to invite local providers to engage with your gym.
The CME recordings include:
Dr. Tom McCoy, co-founder of the CrossFit Medical Society, presenting on the efficacy of CrossFit and the importance of lifestyle interventions to improve health outcomes.
A panel discussion on healthcare partnerships, featuring:
Dr. Shveta Raju, Director of Gwinnett Clinic (17 locations outside Atlanta) and founder of GC Healthy Living
Andrea McDowell, co-founder of CrossFit AMROCK, who successfully partnered with doctors, hospitals, and medical providers to grow her HSN-powered nutrition and health coaching program
Dr. Enrique Hernandez, pediatric gastroenterologist, who has referred patients to Healthy Steps Nutrition for the past decade
Nicole Aucoin, founder of Healthy Steps Nutrition, shares lessons from building healthcare partnerships since 2012
Hearing directly from both physicians working in clinical care and gym owners implementing partnerships helps local providers see exactly what’s possible in their own communities
Here's An Example Of How It Works [Provider Partnership Highlight] Dr. Enrique Hernandez, 27-Year Pediatric Gastroenterologist
One of the most powerful examples of how this works comes from Dr. Enrique Hernandez, a pediatric gastroenterologist who has partnered with Healthy Steps Nutrition since 2012.
For more than a decade, Dr. Hernandez has referred families to Healthy Steps Nutrition when he sees children struggling not only with gastric issues but also with weight management and blood sugar regulation. With the CDC reporting that 32% of teenagers have prediabetes, he knows nutrition coaching can’t wait.
Here’s how it works:
Dr. Hernandez builds trust with the family during their visit.
He discusses the importance of nutrition for long-term health.
He refers the family to Healthy Steps Nutrition for expert coaching.
The family books a discovery call with our team.
We walk them through the Family Nutrition Program, which helps parents and kids build healthy habits together.
Most families stay enrolled for at least a year, gaining the support, accountability, and structure they need. Some even join the gym, but many continue solely with the family nutrition program—proving that lifestyle coaching can stand alone and still make a huge impact.
🎥 Watch Dr. Hernandez Share His Story →
This partnership model shows how physicians and gyms can work together seamlessly to change the trajectory of health for entire families.
“The Global Health Project is the solution to the global health problem.”
Why The Global Health Project Is Different
Unlike other programs, The Global Health Project isn’t about selling—it’s about serving.
It’s free for gym owners to join
It’s backed by Healthy Steps Nutrition, the Top Habit-Based Coaching Program of 2025
It’s built on over a decade of experience working directly with healthcare providers since 2012
It’s supported by the CrossFit Medical Society, giving it medical credibility and CME accreditation
It sets a new industry standard for prevention and chronic disease management
No other initiative is bridging the gap between healthcare and gyms at this scale.
Take Action: Start Building Healthcare Partnerships Today
The people in your community are already sitting in doctors’ offices being told they need to lose weight, exercise more, and eat healthier. Providers know their patients need lifestyle coaching—but they don’t have the time to deliver it.
The question is: will they know to send those patients to you?
Join The Global Health Project today and get everything you need to become the trusted healthcare partner in your community.
