Russell Van Maele, DO
Longevity Clinician · Lifeforce
Osteopathic internist with a hormone-optimization and functional-medicine focus, delivered telehealth across nearly every US state
About
Russell Van Maele, DO is a Lifeforce Longevity Clinician and one of three clinicians spotlighted on the active treating panel. He trained at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Class of 2017) after a B.S. in Physiology at MSU, then completed internal medicine residency at Western Michigan University School of Medicine and practiced in Holistic Primary Care. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and describes his clinical frame as osteopathic and holistic; mind-body-spirit healing anchored in sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress, layered with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical interventions. His career has threaded through several of the largest US telehealth longevity platforms: founding-team member at Wild Health, HRT platform launch at LifeMD, and a senior medical-operations role at Lifeforce. He also runs his own faith-led telemedicine practice, Black Sheep Health, serving executives and high performers.
What to Know
Signature approach
Van Maele describes his practice as osteopathic and holistic; the body's inherent capacity to heal through mind, body, and spirit. The four pillars are sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management, and he layers in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical interventions; hormone replacement therapy, testosterone optimization, and functional-medicine workups; when labs and symptoms call for them. The frame is preventive and performance-focused rather than reactive.
What sets them apart
- Telehealth-native career. Licensed across 40+ US states per Doximity; a footprint consistent with his self-described all-50-states practice at Black Sheep Health, and unusually broad even among longevity telehealth clinicians.
- Repeat builder at longevity platforms. Founding team at Wild Health (precision medicine), led the launch of LifeMD's HRT platform, and a senior medical-operations role at Lifeforce; where the company operates a California professional corporation in his name.
- Osteopathic framing in a mostly-MD field. DO training paired with functional-medicine posture on hormones, metabolic health, and preventive care. Most Lifeforce-peer longevity clinicians are MDs.
Before You Book
- Care focus. Hormone optimization, functional medicine, and broad telehealth follow-up.
- Access. Book through Lifeforce membership; his separate Black Sheep Health practice is a different pathway.
- Medication rules. Ask during intake if TRT or another controlled medication is central to your plan, because state rules can vary.
Expertise
Focus areas
Patient types
Protocols & technologies
Credentials
Education
BS, Physiology
Michigan State University
DO
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (2017)
Board certifications
Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
The standard board certification for physicians trained in adult medicine; diagnosis, chronic condition management, and preventive care across organ systems.
Residency
Internal Medicine
Western Michigan University School of Medicine
NPI
1821527292
Affiliations
Staff Physician
Thought Leadership
Media Appearances
- How the Move from 'One-Size-Fits-All' Testosterone Treatments Is Benefitting Men of All Ages · Press feature (via Doximity) · 2025-06-04
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