Professional Development

Mark has a Bachelor’s degree from West Point and a Master’s in Exercise Physiology from Indiana University (as well as two other Masters’ degrees).  He led at every Army level from Platoon to Field Army in his military career, and commanded all Army forces in Europe.  He has served three years in combat, and multiple times in command of training organizations. 

Mark has attended a variety of leadership schools, and he has received numerous military medals (to include the Purple Heart and multiple Bronze Stars).  He has led in combat and peacetime.  He has received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, the Williams Clements Award (best instructor at West Point), and several military and civilian service awards.  Mark serves on the board of “Mission: Readiness” (an organization linked to the health of our nation’s youth), “World T.E.A.M. Sport,” “Operation Gratitude,” and the President Obama’s Council of Fitness, Sport and Nutrition.

Demonstrated Success 

After receiving his Master’s in Physiology, Mark served in the Department of Physical Education at West Point from 1984-1986.  While there, he designed a strength conditioning program called “Partner Resisted Exercises” which contributed to significantly improve muscular strength in cadets.  He also taught beginning swimming (a required course for graduation), combatives (to men and women), gymnastics, boxing, strength and conditioning, and cycling (a course he designed and incorporated into the life-skills curriculum).  He also served as the head coach of the West Point Water Polo team, and an assistant coach for the Swimming team.  He designed an innovative strength training program for swimmers, which was published in “Swimming Technique” Magazine.

Returning to the Operational Army, Mark served in a variety of assignments in combat and peacetime.  Leaving Iraq in 2008, he was assigned as the Commander for all Army Soldier and Officer Basic Training.  During that period, he was tasked with revamping the skills, values and physical programs taught to new recruits.

Driving research and data collection on the specifics of new recruits’ physical conditioning, Mark collocated data showing a staggering percentage of new recruits were overweight or obese, a growing percentage were failing entry level physical training tests, and an increasing number were experiencing debilitating muscle and bone injuries.  All these were caused by increasingly poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, an over-reliance on technologies, and several other societal issues.

Driving change in 2009-2010, Mark launched several health initiatives to counter these trends after civilians became Soldiers.  Two of these reforms were the “Soldier-Athlete Initiative”, and the “Fueling the Soldier Initiative,” both designed to improve the physical conditioning and nutritional health of new recruits.  Mark led the crafting of an operational plan to change the Army’s Physical Training Program (publishing a new PT manual in record time), and changing nutritional services (dining facilities) at various locations throughout the United States. 

After a media blitz which publicized the military’s success, Mrs. Obama visited one of the Army’s key training facilities in 2011, and Mark gave her the population health data of this segment of a closed population, with transitional indications of how the youth of the country would affect future health and medical costs.   

In 2011, LTG Hertling left Basic Training and was assigned as the Commanding General for U.S. Army Europe.  During this time he expanded the “Fueling the Soldier” nutrition initiative beyond basic training, turning it into “Fueling the Force” in tactical formations, and “Fueling the Future” initiatives for children of military families.   Prior to leaving his final command, Mark recorded a TEDTalk entitled: “Obesity as a National Security Concern.”

In 2013, Mark became a Senior Vice President of Health Performance Strategies and Global Partnering at Florida Hospital.  Florida Hospital’s health philosophy is based on CREATION Health, representing the words: Choice, Rest, Environment, Activity, Trust, Interpersonal Relationships, Outlook, and Nutrition.  He assists in the development of a business and employee program. 

Leadership

Mark models a physically active life by biking, swimming, and strength training.  He believes fitness, readiness and resilience is one of the most important elements of leadership.  Mark continues to educate himself with health topics and enjoys finding new ways to make exercise fun, while challenging others to incorporate the elements of CREATION Health – as a holistic health approach – into their lifestyles.

Mark acknowledges his leadership roles in the Army assist him in being able to initiate change, especially as he contributes to the course – which he designed – on improving physician leadership in health care.  He is currently bringing a select group of physicians together to design CREATION Health programs for the over 2000 doctors at Florida Hospital.  At the same time, he introduced new programs – to include the “Walk the Talk Challenge” – to over 30 senior executives at Florida Hospital.  This initiative has changed the activity and interpersonal relationships within the organization. 

Innovation

Partnering with the University of South Carolina, the United States Army performed extensive research on the effectiveness of the soldier athlete initiatives.  Soldiers going through basic training demonstrated increased weight loss and improved strength training.  Mark also indicated that when soldiers saw themselves as athletes, they were more successful in their roles; when they saw diet associated with improved performance, they ate better.  He noted significant reduction in Soldier injuries, improved skill performance, with the execution of the programs.

At Florida Hospital, the CEO of Adventist Health System has described the Physical Leadership Program – which includes a holistic health approach – as being “transformational” in the way doctors address patients and their families.  The rigor associated with the revamping of CREATION Health – internal and external to the hospital – was cited as the COO of the organization as being a key contributor to a recent Baldrige site visit.

Compelling Vision

Mark believes our nation is at a health inflection point, and our population is exhibiting growing negative trends associated with poor health.  He recognizes reversing that trend might be the biggest challenge that the health promotion industry – and the nation – faces, from a health, societal and national security perspective.

Mark wishes to continue cultivating the CREATION Health philosophy as the culture of Florida Hospital.   After promoting it to the hospital as part of the CREATION Health Employees program, he desires to grow it to other organizations and community groups as a way of addressing prevention, pre-acute, and post-acute care.  He continuously emphasizes healthy living must be about more than diet and exercise, and that it must include elements of sleep, behavioral health, interpersonal relations…and importantly, choice.  He believes CREATION Health will have an effect on our nation’s health care.