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PEPonline
Professionalization
of
Exercise Physiologyonline
An
international electronic
journal
for exercise physiologists
ISSN
1099-5862
Vol
4 No 10 October 2001
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"New President’s
Address"
Directions for
the Future
Richard B. Kreider, PhD, EPC, FACSM
Professor and Assistant
Department Chair
Director, Exercise and Sport
Nutrition Laboratory
Department of Human Movement
Sciences and Education
The University of Memphis
106 Elma Roane Field House
Memphis, TN 38152-3480
I would like to thank the ASEP Board for
their nomination and confidence in asking me to serve as ASEP’s 4th President.
It is with great honor that I accept this nomination and begin to work
towards advancing the mission and goals of ASEP into the future.
The purpose of this message is to describe why I accepted the Presidency
of ASEP, overview my impressions of the state of ASEP, and to describe
what the leadership and members of ASEP can do to move ASEP forward.
A Decision to Serve
As many of you know, I have been involved
in ASEP almost since its inception in 1997. I became involved in
ASEP because I agree with the founders of ASEP that there was a great need
to establish exercise physiology as a profession in a similar manner that
our colleagues have professionalized athletic training, physical therapy,
occupational therapy, dietetics, and nursing. There is a great need:
(1) to provide a collective voice
for exercise physiologists;
(2) to develop accredited academic programs;
(3) to provide a legally recognized board
certification;
(4) to move towards licensure in order
to receive reimbursement for exercise physiology services; and
(5) to assist exercise physiologist in
securing high paying jobs on par with other similarly prepared professionals.
As a professor who has trained scores of students
for careers in exercise physiology over the last 15 years, I have all to
often seen my students lose job opportunities or be paid less than board
certified and/or licensed professionals with less academic training in
exercise physiology despite being “certified” by various organizations.
Although I am or have been a member of a number of organizations (i.e.,
ACSM, NSCA, AACVPR, NWA, etc) and have served on a number of committees
involving certification and professional issues, I have found that there
has been little political will to advance the exercise physiology profession.
Consequently, I have been a proud member of ASEP and have attempted to
serve ASEP by contributing articles to the Journal of Exercise Physiologyonline,
serving on various committees, providing input regarding the written "Exercise
Physiologist Certified" (EPC) exam, serving as an examiner for the EPC
practical exam, and attending the ASEP national meetings. I have
done so with the hope that these efforts will one day help exercise physiology
become a fully recognized profession. Although I am extremely busy
with teaching, research, and professional obligations, when I was approached
by the ASEP Board of Directors and asked to serve as President of ASEP,
I felt the least I can do for my profession was to answer the call to service.
After all, those who want to change our profession must be willing to serve
it.
State of ASEP
As I prepared remarks for the “New President’s
Address” at the 4th ASEP Annual National meeting in Memphis, I decided
to take a look at the current state of ASEP. My rationale was simple.
If I want to move ASEP forward, I need to know what has been done and what
is needed to improve. Although ASEP is a young organization, it is
my view that there are a number of strengths that members of ASEP can take
great pride. For example, ASEP has a history of committed leadership.
Under the direction of Dr. Tommy Boone, Dr. Robert Robergs, Dr. LaGary
Carter, and numerous ASEP committee members, a strong organizational structure
has been developed, including:
(1) well defined goals and objectives;
(2) a clear purpose and mission;
(3) a code of ethics for exercise physiologists;
(4) guidelines to establish student chapters
and state ASEP organizations;
(5) a well-defined leadership manual;
and
(6) a description of standards and scope
of practice for exercise physiologists.
In addition, ASEP represents the only exclusive
exercise physiology organization. Under the leadership of Dr.Dale
Wagner, it has developed the only academic accreditation for undergraduate
programs in exercise physiology, the only board certification program for
exercise physiologists (EPC), the only "electronic" online peer-reviewed
journals in exercise physiology (Journal of Exercise Physiologyonline
and Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline),
and the only online "professional forum" by an organization for exercise
physiologists. Although leaders and members of ASEP are often impatient
with the progress of professionalizing exercise physiology, it is my view
that significant progress has been made. Although more needs to be
done, these accomplishments have allowed ASEP to distinguish itself among
other organizations and to attract a growing and committed membership.
In light of these many accomplishments,
it is my view that there are also some weaknesses that need to be addressed
if we are to make additional progress. If ASEP is going to move forward
as fast as the leadership desires, we need to build on our strengths and
encourage professional engagement and membership. We need to inform
and challenge exercise physiology faculty and administrators to seek accreditation
of their academic programs. We need to inform and challenge exercise
physiologists to become EPCs and to list EPC at the end of their academic
credentials and on their published works. We need to find ways to
work and/or collaborate with other professional and state organizations.
We need to improve the financial status of ASEP so that more can be done
to promote the exercise physiology profession. Finally, we all need
to get involved in helping ASEP move forward. We simply cannot continue
to watch key leaders of ASEP work tirelessly to advance the mission of
ASEP without our help. We all must work together to make a difference.
Future Directions
During my address, I described several
leadership and member challenges. My first goal as President will
be to evaluate the activities and goals of existing ASEP committees in
order to provide direction and to determine whether additional committees
are necessary. Several new initiatives were discussed at the ASEP
national meeting and several members have already submitted proposals and
suggestions for follow-up. For example, we discussed the:
(1) need to increase awareness
of ASEP;
(2) EPC exam;
(3) academic accreditation program among
exercise physiologists;
(4) administrative procedures;
(5) professional organizations;
(6) need to establish more student and
State chapters of ASEP;
(7) developing a method of having experienced
exercise physiologists submit credentials in order to qualify for the EPC;
and,
(8) developing a more detailed study packet
and/or book to help candidates prepare for the EPC exam.
I have also proposed developing a committee
that can respond in a timely fashion to current issues and controversies
raised in the media in relation to exercise physiology. In my view,
the purpose of these endeavors will be to increase awareness of ASEP to
our students, our colleagues, and to the general public.
However, in order to advance the mission
of ASEP, we need your help. My challenge to our members is
to serve as an ASEP ambassador at your university or institution.
Encourage involvement of colleagues, students, and interns in ASEP.
Challenge them to join ASEP, start student chapters, develop state ASEP
affiliates, and seek academic accreditation. Take an active role
in ASEP by submitting articles, participating in the exercise physiology
forum, serving on committees of interest, becoming an EPC, and listing
EPC with your professional credentials. Consider starting an exercise
physiology interest group in the other organizations that you may belong
in order to provide a voice for exercise physiologists. Communicate
with the ASEP leadership to provide ideas and/or suggestions for future
development and growth. Finally, make plans now to attend the next
national ASEP meeting. If we do our part, we will see ASEP grow significantly
in size and stature over the next year.
Final Challenge
In my view, our choice is simple.
We either let exercise physiology remain an undefined academic area leading
to jobs under the umbrella of other professional groups and/or organizations
or we take steps to create our own destiny and profession. ASEP has
laid the foundation over the last few years so that we can build a better
future for exercise physiology. Now it is up to us to make it happen.
I ask for your support and service to ASEP during my tenure as President.
Together we can make a difference.
Copyright
©1997-2001 American Society of Exercise Physiologists. All Rights
Reserved.
ASEP
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