MEA Foundations
Longevity by Design
Where the Science of Longevity Meets the Art of Living
As seen in:
Three Perspectives. One Integrated Approach.
Longevity by Design is a four-day intensive at Modern Elder Academy, co-created by Barbara Waxman, gerontologist, coach and advisor to Stanford University’s Center on Longevity and its program in Lifestyle Medicine, and Derek Gehl, CEO of Modern Elder Academy, who spent the previous decade as CEO of a health supplements organization.
To anchor the clinical side, they've partnered with Humanaut Health, a physician-led practice specializing in proactive, data-driven longevity medicine.
What's Missing from the Longevity Conversation
Maybe you've done deep research and experimented with protocols. Maybe you've been meaning to start, but the sheer volume of conflicting advice has kept you on the sidelines.
Either way, you're in the same place: you know longevity matters, but you lack a clear, personalized path forward.
The challenge isn't a lack of information. It's making sense of it. Every expert contradicts the last. Every new study upends what you thought you knew. And whether you're deep in the research or just getting started, the same question remains: what actually applies to me?
Here's what we've learned working with thousands of people at MEA: those asking about longevity aren't uninformed. They're overwhelmed.
What they lack isn't knowledge. It's a way to make sense of it for their own body, their own life, their own goals.
And here's what often gets lost: the things that matter most for how long and how well you live, how you move, how you sleep, who you spend time with, whether your days feel meaningful, aren't extras.
They're the foundation. The supplements and protocols are finishing touches. We tend to get that backwards.
The research is unambiguous on this. A strong sense of purpose is associated with significantly lower mortality rates. Not as metaphor, but as an epidemiological finding replicated across multiple large studies.
Social isolation increases mortality risk at levels comparable to smoking. Cognitive engagement protects against decline in ways no supplement can replicate.
Meanwhile, your biology sets the boundaries. Metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, hormone function, body composition: these determine the terrain you're working with.
Ignoring them while focusing on purpose is like designing a road trip without checking if the car runs. Ignoring purpose while obsessing over biomarkers is like tuning the engine with nowhere to go.
You need both. Most programs only give you one.
Because longevity isn't just about optimizing biomarkers or extending your lifespan. It's about designing a life rich with energy, connection, and meaning, and having the health to sustain it.
The real question isn't "What's the best longevity protocol?" It's "What's right for me?"
That's a harder question. It requires real data about what's happening inside your body, honest reflection on how you're living, and the ability to have informed conversations with your healthcare providers about what matters most.
That's what this workshop is for.
Who This Is For
This workshop is for people who are serious about living well for a long time and want a more intelligent path than protocol-chasing.
Men and women. Longevity looks different in male and female bodies — hormones, bone density, cardiovascular risk profiles, body composition — all of it varies between sexes and shifts differently over time. The diagnostics capture what's happening in your body, and Barbara's Longevity Lifeplan framework is designed to meet you where you are, not where a generic protocol assumes you should be.
Any age. Whether you're 40 and getting ahead of it, 55 and recalibrating, or 70 and building your next chapter, the research is clear: it is never too late to move the needle on the factors that matter most. Your baseline is your baseline. What matters is knowing it and building from there.
Any fitness level. The diagnostics measure where you are right now, not where you think you should be. The strength and movement assessment identifies what your body needs, and the plan you build is based on your reality, not someone else's starting line.
You're a good fit if:
You're a good fit if:
What Actually Happens Here
Longevity by Design is four days at MEA's Santa Fe campus, and a structured pathway that continues well beyond them.
It's built on a simple premise: you are a study of one. Your biology, your lifestyle, your goals, your definition of a life well-lived. No one else shares your exact combination, which means no generic protocol will ever be the right answer.
This workshop is designed to help you find yours.
1
You get a complete biological snapshot.
You'll complete a comprehensive set of clinical diagnostics through our partnership with Humanaut Health — body composition, cardiovascular risk, VO2 max, strength and movement, blood panel, and full biomarker analysis.
This is the raw material. Some results require lab analysis after the workshop, so your complete picture comes later, through Humanaut.
2
You learn how to navigate your own health data.
Derek will teach you how to use the latest tools, including AI, to take control of your health data once you have it — how to ask the right questions, how to identify what matters, and how to walk into any doctor's office and have a productive, informed conversation instead of a passive one.
This isn't about becoming a medical expert. It's about never being in the dark about your own body again.
3
You build a plan that integrates both sides.
Data without a plan is just information. A plan without data is just guessing.
Barbara will guide you through her Longevity Lifeplan™ framework — a structured process for mapping the factors that research consistently shows matter most: purpose, relationships, cognitive engagement, and how you spend your days. These aren't abstract concepts. They're the levers that large-scale studies link directly to reduced mortality, cognitive resilience, and longer healthspan.
You'll assess where you actually stand in each area, identify the gaps that matter most, and build a concrete, personalized plan around your real life — not an idealized version of it.
4
Your data gets expert clinical interpretation.
All of your data is sent to Humanaut Health. Within weeks, you'll have a dedicated one-on-one virtual consultation with their longevity physicians to review every result, assess where you stand, and identify your top priorities.
This is where data becomes direction.
4
The support continues.
At 30, 60, and 90 days after the workshop, you'll rejoin your cohort for group check-ins. These sessions are designed to keep you accountable, help you navigate what's working and what isn't, and ensure your Longevity Lifeplan doesn't become another document you never look at again.
Most workshops end when you leave. This one stays with you.
What You Leave With
Who Leads This
Barbara Waxman
Gerontologist and Longevity Lifestyle Expert
Barbara has spent more than 25 years studying what makes the second half of life not just longer, but better.
She's a gerontologist, master certified coach, and advisor to the Stanford Center on Longevity — one of the few people in the field with the credentials and practical experience to translate longevity research into something you can actually act on.
She created the Longevity Lifeplan™ and the Seven Lifestyle Levers™ framework — practical tools for designing a life where purpose, relationships, growth, and meaning aren't abstract ideals but daily practices.
At this workshop, Barbara brings the life design lens. Through guided self-assessment and her proprietary frameworks, she'll help you cut through the noise and identify the specific levers that will make the biggest difference in your life. Not someone else's highlight reel. Your actual life, with all its complexity.
Derek Gehl
CEO, Modern Elder Academy
Derek spent over a decade as CEO of a health supplements company, specializing in the latest anti-aging and longevity formulations. He was an early biohacker before most people had heard the word, spending years deep in the science of optimization — testing protocols, tracking biomarkers, and working with leading researchers and physicians on the cutting edge of human performance.
He chased every protocol, supplement, and optimization shortcut he could find. And then he walked away from the industry — not because it didn't work, but because he saw how much of it was noise.
After more than a decade in the business of health, working alongside leading physicians, researchers, and longevity experts, Derek has become exceptionally good at one thing: helping people navigate this complex, often contradictory space to determine what's actually right for them.
At this workshop, Derek brings the biological lens. He'll teach you how to use the latest tools and AI to take control of your own health data and have informed conversations with healthcare providers — so you're never passive about your own health again.
He's candid about what doesn't work, including his own past mistakes. That willingness to say what most people in the industry won't is part of what makes his guidance so practical.
Humanaut Health is a physician-led longevity medicine practice designed to bridge the gap between traditional reactive healthcare and proactive health optimization.
Founded in 2023 by a team that includes the co-founder of Restore Hyper Wellness and physicians who have collectively performed over 7,000 regenerative medicine procedures, Humanaut was built to make advanced longevity medicine accessible to people who are serious about their healthspan.
Their approach goes far beyond a standard annual physical. Humanaut's clinical team builds a complete picture of your health risks, metabolic function, and longevity potential using advanced diagnostics that most primary care physicians don't offer.
Their results speak for themselves: 83% of members with diabetic-range HbA1c lowered their levels. 87% of high-risk members reduced ApoB, a critical cardiovascular risk marker. And 68% achieved meaningful LDL reductions.
Featured in Forbes, Wired, Inc., and on Apple TV.
They partner with MEA to provide the clinical diagnostic assessments and post-workshop consultation that anchor this experience. Their role is specific: review all of your biological data, then sit with you one-on-one after the workshop to provide clear, practical direction.
This is not a quick screen. It's a thorough clinical assessment from a team that does this every day.
The Diagnostic Pathway: Your Longevity Bio-Profile
In partnership with Humanaut Health, every participant receives a comprehensive set of clinical assessments — your biological baseline and the starting point for everything that follows.
During the Workshop
DEXA Scan — Full body composition analysis including bone density, lean muscle mass, and visceral fat levels.
CIMT Scan — Carotid intima-media thickness, a non-invasive assessment of cardiovascular risk that can detect issues years before symptoms appear.
Strength, Power & Movement Assessment — Using clinical-grade force plates and dynamometers, this assessment measures lower body power, jump performance, balance, grip strength, range of motion, and left/right asymmetry across major joints. Grip strength alone is one of the most well-researched predictors of longevity. This gives you a detailed picture of your physical capacity and where to focus.
VO2 Max Estimation — VO2 max is widely considered the single most powerful predictor of cardiovascular health and all-cause mortality. We use a validated, sub-maximal protocol specifically selected for safety and accuracy at Santa Fe's 7,000-foot elevation, providing a reliable estimate of your cardiovascular fitness without the risks of maximal exertion testing.
Blood Panel and Biomarker Analysis — A comprehensive blood draw completed on-site, then sent to the lab for full analysis.
After the Workshop
Your complete results — every scan, every marker — are sent to Humanaut Health. You'll then schedule a dedicated virtual consultation with their longevity physicians.
This isn't a surface-level review. They'll walk you through your full picture, provide a clear clinical assessment of where you stand, and identify your top priorities for action.
It's a pathway: collect the data, learn to navigate it, then receive expert clinical interpretation from physicians who specialize in exactly this.
The MEA Santa Fe Experience
MEA's Santa Fe campus sits on 2,600 acres of high-desert landscape in northern New Mexico.
Wide skies. Open land. A quiet that most people haven't experienced in years.
There's something about being in a place this expansive that changes how you think. The questions get bigger. The noise gets quieter.
Your days will be full — classroom sessions with Barbara and Derek, hands-on diagnostics, and the kind of conversations that only happen when you put the right people in the same room. Evenings are for meals together and rest.
The food deserves mentioning. Our chef sources locally, and the meals are designed to demonstrate that eating well doesn't require deprivation. It's one of those details that matters more than you'd expect.
You'll also have access to the ranch's trails, outdoor spaces, and wellness amenities. Horseback riding is available as an add-on.
Investment
This includes:
Common Questions
How is this different from other longevity programs?
Most programs hand you protocols. This workshop helps you design a personalized Longevity Lifeplan that fits your biology, values, and everyday reality. You’ll use Barbara’s Seven Lifestyle Levers self-assessment and the “Study of One” approach to cut through noise, choose a high-impact focus, and turn metrics into decisions you can live. Derek brings practical guidance to make the plan doable and sustainable.
I’m already deep into biohacking. Will this still challenge me?
Yes. If you’re feeling plateaued or overloaded by tracking and conflicting advice, this is where you shift from protocol piles to precision. You’ll refine what actually moves the needle for you, shed what doesn’t, and build a plan aligned to your values so results compound without burnout.
I’m in my 40s and 50s. Is now too early?
It’s the perfect time. Barbara is a lifestage expert – if you’re still raising a family, launching a business, leading a company this workshop is for you. The sooner you align daily choices with where you want to go, the more benefit you bank for later. You’ll build rhythms that support performance now and carry you through seasons, transitions, and pivots, so you’re investing in a longer, better life while thriving today.
Should I attend solo or with a partner?
Both work beautifully. Couples leave with shared language and rhythms they can practice together, while solo participants create a plan tailored to their own priorities. Either way, you’ll learn how to weave relationships and support into your plan because longevity is easier (and more joyful) with a strong circle.
What do you mean by “Third Span”?
The Third Span is Barbara’s framing for what comes after lifespan and healthspan: the flourishing factor. It’s a mindset and design approach – at any age – that prioritizes energy, connection, and meaning. Instead of planning only to avoid decline, you’ll design for a life you want to grow into, through every chapter and change.
I’m managing health challenges. Will this still work for me?
Yes. Your plan starts from your current reality and adapts with you. You’ll set a doable focus, pace your experiments, and integrate input from lab work, wearables, and your care team. This workshop isn’t medical care – it’s a practical, evidence-informed way to tailor everyday choices so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Medical Disclaimer
This workshop provides education, assessment, and planning support for your longevity journey. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The diagnostic assessments and Humanaut consultation provide information about your health markers, not medical advice. If you have health concerns, please consult your physician.
Results vary based on individual factors including genetics, lifestyle, and follow-through.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
In four days, you'll step back from the noise and come away with something rare: real data about your body, the tools and knowledge to advocate for your own health, a plan built around what's actually true for you, and a post-workshop physician consultation with 90 days of group support to tie it all together.
Your best years aren't behind you. They're ahead — waiting to be designed with intention.
Longevity by Design Mar 1-5, 2026 | Santa Fe, USA
Includes lodging, meals, all diagnostics, workshop curriculum, post-workshop Humanaut Health physician consultation, and 90 days of group support.
Space is limited to ensure personalized attention.