PEPonline
Professionalization
of Exercise Physiologyonline

An international electronic
journal for exercise physiologists
ISSN 1099-5862

Vol 1 No 3 September, 1998

 

 I Know Your're an Exercise Physiologist, But What Do You Do?
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology
Director of Exercise Physiology Laboratories
The College of St. Scholastica
1200 Kenwood Office
Duluth, MN 55811

<>Exercise physiology is not a fundamental science. It is instead a combination of  basic and applied sciences that significantly influences a range of exercises, athletic, and human performance endeavors. Exercise physiologists are hired in all kinds of careers. Some have discovered new and important concepts and in formation about exercise, rehabilitation, and sports training. The PhD exercise physiologists use their critical reflection skills as researchers premarily in the colleges and universities in the United States. Others use their problem-solving skills in different laboratories, many of which are the health, fitness, and rehabilitation centers. As educators, trainers, managers, and entrepreneurs, they have given shape and meaning to preventive healthcare.

Exercise physiologists are also owners of health and fitness companies with hands-on practitioners who teach and  service the community including corporate, industrial, and governmental agencies. Some are specialized in their professional work, while others are more general with interdisciplinary application. Students who pursue an exercise physiology education discover that the course work provides a solid background for careers in other professions, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and nutrition. 

My sense of exercise physiologists is that they can make a difference. By setting exercise, fitness, and rehabilitative standards, goals, and prioriti and by establishing and nurturing a network of healthcare communications, they can make a difference in the daily performance of the general public. Exercise physiologists have enormous potential to influence the lives of people throughout society. They have the power to effect change and to inspire.

Yes, but what do exercise physiologists do? They work like everyone else! Take Allen M. Bostian, MS, for example, he is the Director of Health and Fitness Services, Virginia Beach General Hospital in Virginia, Robin L. Brothers, BS, who works as an exercise physiologist at DeKalb Rehabilitation and Wellness, Fort Payne, AL, or Lee Brown, MEd, the Director of Student Wellness Center at Florida Atlantic University, Davie, FL.

The ASEP Directory of Membership is full of examples of what exercise physiologists do. Charles W. Cortes, PhD, is a Program Administrator in Clinical and Research Programs at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Carlos Crespo teaches at the American University in Washington, DC. Donald C. Diboll, PhD, is an exercise physiologist in the Department of Physical Education, California State Unviversity, Bakersfield, CA, and Dr. Dorothy M. Diehl, also a college teacher in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Plymouth State College.

Karen S. Doy, MS, works as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehabilitation at Genesis Medical Center-East Campus in Davenport, Iowa. Eric Durak, MSc, is the Director of Medical Health and Fitness, Santa Barbara, CA. Hermann-J. Engels, PhD, is an exercise physiology college professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Irvin E. Faria, PhD, also a university exercise physiologist in California is the Director of the Human Performance Laboratory at CSU-Sacramento, CA. Ronald J. Franceschini, Jr., MEd, Clinical Coordinator of the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, Pomina, NJ and, similarly, Wayne W. Garrett, BS, who is the Director of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at Dekalb Baptist Medical Center in Fort Payne, AL.

Gary F. Gordon, PhD, PT, is an exercise physiology professor at the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN. Similarly, Dr. Deborah L. Johnston teaches exercise physiology at Baylor University in Waco, TX. Other well known exercise physiology professors are Drs. Douglas M. Kleiner (University of North Florida), Richard B. Kreider (University of Memphis), Charles P. Lambert (Eastern Michigan University), Lars Robert McNaughton (Kingston University), Paula E. Papanek ( Marquette University), Arlette C. Perry (University of Miami), Robert A. Robergs (University of New Mexico), Donald W. Rodd (University of Evansville), Petra B. Schuler (University of West Florida), Tom R. Thomas (University of Missouri), Serge P. von Duvillard (University of North Dakota), Davle R. Wagner (Southern California College), Joseph P. Weir (University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences), Tom Wells (University of Puget Sound), Darryn S. Willoughby (University of Southern Maine), John C. Wirth (Wayne State University), and Rachel A. Yeater (West Virginia University).

Dave M. LaBore, MS, is the Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at St. Lukes Hospital, Duluth, MN. Lea L. Lenahan, MPH, works in the Comprehensive Pain and Rehabilitation Center at South Shore Hospital, Miami Beach, FL. Likewise, many other exercise physiologists work successfully in several different hospitals, including Allison McGill, MEd, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (in cardiac rehabilitation), Tom Mendez, MSc (cardiac rehabilitation), Chris Pamp, MEd (cardiac rehabilitation), and Wesley A. Stafford, MS (cardiac rehabilitation).

In short, exercise physiologists with the BS and/or MS degrees usually work in health, fitness, wellness, and rehabilitation centers and clinics while those with PhDs usually teach in colleges and universities. 




Copyright ©1998 American Society of Exercise Physiologists. All Rights Reserved.