The Man Behind the Science

Dr. Chad Prusmack, Resilience Code

Dr. Chad Prusmack doesn’t talk about health in isolation. He talks about systems. At Resilience Code, he has built what he describes as “a fully integrated, data-driven health performance center,” one that brings together physical performance testing, biological and health data, and neurological assessments to establish clear benchmarks for each individual, what he calls “a digital twin.”

That data isn’t collected for its own sake. Known to patients as Dr. P, he uses it to guide goal setting and long-term care through a personalized, data-driven approach that helps people understand their health and learn to manage it themselves.

The relationship between physician and client is intentional and immersive. “We become like their health wife or spouse,” he says. “We enjoy the journey with them.” But the goal is not dependency. Dr. P wants clients to eventually understand their own health, how they can build on their performance, and how they can adapt their behaviors to achieve their goals.

That philosophy is captured in Resilience Code’s guiding principle: We unlock your code, own your outcome. Dr. P explains it simply through a car analogy. It’s like opening the hood of your car together, showing you what each part does, pointing out what’s broken, and then teaching you how to fix it so you can drive on your own.

That same approach now extends beyond Resilience Code through the Christian McCaffrey Foundation’s 23 and Troops program, work that is deeply personal for Dr. P. “To give back to those who have defended our country and protected my human rights,” he says, “that’s the reason why I want to do this.”

His involvement is also rooted in long-standing trust. Dr. P has worked with Christian McCaffrey for more than a decade, helping him with performance and cognitive solutions. When McCaffrey brought the opportunity forward, Dr. P immediately recognized the need.

“A lot of these individuals are considered perfect avatars of security and toughness,” he says, “but each of them also has neurological, biological, and physical irregularities, things that we can identify and help optimize in their health.”

While it’s a given that participants are genetically gifted, Dr. P notes that many have never undergone a comprehensive health evaluation outside the military system. The 23 and Troops program offers that opportunity, providing an in-depth assessment that looks beyond military readiness.

Retired Navy Seal Commander Jonathan Hulecki goes through his 23 & Troops intake process with Resilience Code Director of Performance Evan Schaller

His focus reaches well beyond short-term performance. “When we look at performance, we look at prevention to mitigate future illness, and look at the long game after war,” he says. It is clear to him that many participants carry unseen burdens. “They’re not ones to complain,” Dr. P adds. “So, I provide them a platform to speak earnestly about their past and their present, and how I can help affect their future to optimize their lives.”

Over time, distinct patterns emerge. “They have beautiful commonalities by design, intimidating, but also so fascinating,” Dr. P reflects. He finds that nearly all the participants of the 23 and Troops program are driven by a sense of duty that extends beyond themselves, oriented toward a cause, a mission, or the well-being of others. That outward focus, he notes, often translates into a deeply ingrained selflessness.

It also shapes the way they communicate. They tend to be highly organized thinkers, attentive listeners, and unusually articulate. Rather than directly asking for help, they present their experiences as narratives, stories that implicitly signal the need for support, a marked contrast to the complaints he commonly hears from his patients.

Their accounts are specific and focused on details. They often include timelines and clear descriptions of what feels wrong, which helps in understanding their condition. Even when discussing traumatic experiences, many speak calmly and factually, in a way that doesn’t fully reflect the severity of what they experienced.

That discipline carries over into the care itself.

“One of the biggest problems in America is compliance and adaptive behavior change,” Dr. P says. For example, going from not working out to working out, or from being overweight to losing weight, requires adaptive behavior change. “Once (the participants) are told what to do, they do it, and it helps us with the outcome.”

For Dr. P, success is simple. “Success for me is that they achieve their goals,” he says. At its core, the program is designed to help participants understand their health well enough to become their own advocates, developing the awareness and confidence to manage it independently. “I am truly so blessed to hear these stories because this is my passion, to ensure that these types of people get the best medical and performance care they can.”

Programs like 23 and Troops exist because of a shared belief: that those who have served others deserve long-term care, understanding, and opportunity once their service ends. Through partnerships with physicians like Dr. P, the Christian McCaffrey Foundation is helping ensure elite military and defense operators receive comprehensive health evaluations, education, and performance care, care that looks not just at recovery, but at the future.

Christian McCaffrey’s commitment to this cause was recognized when he recently received the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, an honor given to those who demonstrate exceptional efforts to support the military community. His work with Dr. P and the 23 and Troops program was a key factor in his selection for this distinction, highlighting the impact of their collaboration on the lives of those who have served.

By supporting the Christian McCaffrey Foundation, donors help expand access to programs focused on prevention, performance, and life after service, giving those who protected our freedoms the tools to understand their health, advocate for themselves, and continue leading with purpose.

To learn more about 23 and Troops or to support the Foundation’s mission, click here.