Description

Course Overview

The goal of this course is to help the learner understand the physical, emotional and psychosocial dynamics that mid-life women experience during this transition. With a solid foundation of an understanding of the mid-life experience, we can then build an understanding of the basic principles of the nutritional needs, physical training focus and mindset work that is beneficial for these women. We then discuss how to apply these basic principles to your individual clients – whether she is sedentary or whether she just won her first triathlon. Finally, we discuss how the wellness professional can build their business leveraging their distinction of expertise in caring for mid-life female clients.

Lesson Overview

Module 1: Menopause – The Basics

• Lesson 1: Menopause Statistics
• Lesson 2: The Female Reproductive Continuum
• Lesson 3: The Menopause Experience
• Lesson 4: Impact of the Menopausal Experience on Health and Wellness
• Lesson 5: Premature Menopause

Module 2: Hormone Biology – From Cells to Systems to Medical Management

• Lesson 6: Hormones and Receptors
• Lesson 7: Female Reproductive Hormone Biology
• Lesson 8: Medical Evaluation and Management of the Mid-life Woman

Module 3: Menopause Health and Physiology

Lesson 9: Bones, Tendons and Ligaments
Lesson 10: Skeletal Muscle Function and Role in Metabolism
Lesson 11: Cardiovascular Health
Lesson 12: Physiology of the Stress Response
Lesson 13: Medical Conditions Common to the Mid-life Transition

Module 4: Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness for the Mid-life

• Lesson 14: Approach to Wellness Care for the Mid-life Woman – The 5 Pillars
• Lesson 15: Training and Physical Activity
• Lesson 16: Let’s Start Training!
• Lesson 17: Nutrition and Supplementation
• Lesson 18: Lifestyle and Wellness

Module 5: Developing a Successful Business in the Menopause Health Space

• Lesson 19: Building Your Brand
• Lesson 20: Building a Community
• Lesson 21: A Success Story

Course Delivery and Assessment

This is an online, self-paced course; all materials are delivered digitally. This course includes narrated slide videos, printable PDF file of the slides, self-study exercises, supplemental reading materials and references. Comprehension of the material will be measured via a mandatory competency assessment requiring a minimum of 80% correct responses.

Prerequisites

The completion of this specialization course, and the passing of its corresponding competency assessment, leads to a Certificate of Specialization. All of the online courses on MedFit Classroom which lead to a Certificate of Specialization are considered advanced level education, and are meant to be taken by fitness professionals who have previously acquired education and experience as a professional within the health and fitness industry. In order to receive the Certificate of Specialization, upon completion of this course you will be asked to provide proof of the following:

1. Evidence of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fitness or health related field AND/OR possess a certification from a nationally-recognized certification, NCCA or ANSI/ISO accredited program AND
2. Evidence of professional liability insurance.

*If you do not meet the requirements for a Certificate of Specialization, you can request a Certificate of Completion.

Renewal of Specialization

This Certificate of Specialization will be considered valid for a period of two years. To keep the certificate current, you must complete 10 hours of continuing education, on relevant subject matter, and formally renew the certificate prior to the date of its expiration. As with many certifications and specializations in our field, professionals should anticipate some costs to continuing education and renewal of this certificate.

MedFit Classroom CEUs

The Menopause Health and Fitness Specialist course provides 10 CEUs toward renewal of MedFit Classroom fitness specializations.

Other Continuing Education Credits

• Approved for credit by ACE for 1.2 CEUs.
• Approved for credit by canfitpro for 4 CECs.
• Approved for credit by ISSA for 8 CEUs.
• Approved for credit by NASM for 1.3 CEUs.

About the Course Author

Dr. Carla DiGirolamo is a double Board-Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist who specializes in the care of reproductive age and mid-life women. She is a Partner at Boston IVF in Waltham, MA where she practices as a fertility specialist and menopause health consultant.

Dr. DiGirolamo completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brown University Medical School/Women and Infants’ Hospital and her Reproductive Endocrinology training at the Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School. She is a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Menopause Practitioner and has been featured in multiple podcasts and speakerships at various events discussing the physiology of the hormonal changes of menopause, hormone therapy and functional fitness training.

She  has been in the fitness industry her entire life as an athlete and for the last decade as a fitness professional with credentials as a Crossfit Level 1 Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach. She’s also earned advanced instructor credentials from Les Mills for their BodyCombat and BodyPump group fitness programs. She brings fitness and nutrition expertise to every patient visit taking a holistic approach to medical management.

She has been featured in Boston Magazine’s Top Doctors in the Boston area for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.