Precision Medicine for Longevity & Performance

Background & Philosophy

My path to longevity medicine might seem unconventional. I've spent over two decades as a bariatric surgeon, performing more than 4,500 procedures and helping thousands of patients reclaim their health. Along the way, I earned my MD from the University of Minnesota and later returned for my MBA at the Carlson School of Management—a combination that has proven invaluable in understanding both the clinical and systemic aspects of healthcare delivery.

As Director of Bariatric Surgery at Allina Health, I've had the privilege of building comprehensive care programs from the ground up. I'm honored to have been recognized as a Top Doctor by Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine for fourteen consecutive years, but what I'm most proud of is developing our Lifestyle Aftercare program—a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond surgery to address nutrition, movement, sleep, and metabolic health for long-term success.

This lifestyle medicine approach I developed for post-bariatric patients became the blueprint for Svendsen Medical. I realized that the same comprehensive, personalized protocols we used to maintain surgical outcomes could be applied proactively to prevent disease in the first place. Why wait until someone needs surgery when we can optimize their health trajectory years or decades earlier?

After years in the operating room, I've seen firsthand how metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and cellular aging drive so many of the conditions we treat. The same precision I bring to surgery can be applied upstream—using advanced diagnostics, biomarker tracking, and personalized protocols to optimize health before problems arise.

My work in artificial intelligence and machine learning (including certifications from Stanford and my role as Head of AI in Medicine at Washburn Technology) has only reinforced this belief. We now have tools to predict and prevent disease in ways that weren't possible even five years ago.

I've always believed that every patient is different. What works for one person may not work for another, which is why I take time to understand not just your labs and scans, but your goals, lifestyle, and what optimal health means to you.

My philosophy is simple: combine the best of traditional medicine with emerging technologies and evidence-based interventions. Whether that means hormone optimization, metabolic therapies, or advanced imaging, every recommendation is grounded in solid science and tailored to your unique biology. It's the same holistic, patient-centered approach I've refined over years of helping people transform their health—just applied preventively rather than reactively.

When I'm not seeing patients or diving into the latest research, you'll find me on the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mat or out cycling. Both sports have taught me valuable lessons about consistency, strategy, and respecting the body's remarkable capacity for adaptation—principles that directly inform my medical practice.

I'm also passionate about cooking and believe strongly that food is medicine. Having told thousands of patients "you can't out-exercise a bad diet," I practice what I preach in my own kitchen.

Background & Philosophy

When we set out to build a team that could truly transform how people age, Dr. Jen Ahlberg was exactly the kind of practitioner we knew we needed. With a PhD in Exercise Science from Baylor University and over two decades of experience optimizing human performance—from Division I athletes to 60-year-olds learning to overhead squat—Jen brings a rare combination of scientific rigor and real-world wisdom to our longevity-focused practice.

What makes Jen uniquely valuable to our patients isn't just her impressive credentials, though those certainly matter. It's her fundamental belief that having a capable, resilient body isn't reserved for elite athletes—it's a birthright that should be accessible to anyone willing to invest in their future self. This philosophy, born from her own journey through professional basketball burnout and rediscovery through sustainable wellness practices, perfectly aligns with our prevention-first approach at Svendsen Medical.

Expertise

Jen's expertise in biomechanics—the science of how bodies move—gives her an almost intuitive understanding of the movement patterns and physical adaptations that either accelerate or slow the aging process. Her post-graduate work in nutritional biochemistry and epidemiology adds crucial layers to her ability to see the full picture of what makes some people thrive well into their later decades while others struggle.

As the owner of CrossFit Edina and founder of The Key Academy, Jen has spent years translating complex exercise physiology into practical, sustainable programs that help people build what she calls "badass 80-year-old bodies." Her approach isn't about extreme interventions or unsustainable protocols—it's about understanding the minimum effective dose of movement, nutrition, and recovery that creates maximum long-term benefit.

Approach with Patients

What our patients love most about working with Jen is her ability to meet them exactly where they are. Whether you're a weekend warrior dealing with nagging injuries, a busy executive who hasn't prioritized movement in years, or someone already health-conscious looking to optimize further, Jen has an uncanny ability to design interventions that feel both challenging and achievable. Her background working with everyone from Olympic lifters to people regaining basic functional movement gives her a perspective that's both expansive and deeply practical.

Jen collaborates seamlessly with our medical team to ensure that movement, strength, and metabolic health are woven into every patient's longevity strategy. She's not just another trainer—she's a true partner in helping our patients build the kind of physical resilience that makes every other aspect of healthy aging possible.