The Grassroots
Leadership in Exercise Physiology
Tommy
Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC
Professor
and Chair
Director,
Exercise Physiology Laboratories
Department
of Exercise Physiolgoy
College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
This article is about exercise
physiology leadership, written for exercise physiologists. Most of
the material in the ASEP pages is written specifically for the exercise
physiologist, and a good bit of it has come out of my own experiences as
co-founder of ASEP. If I have learned anything in the past 6 years,
it is that there are few rules for starting an organization. I hope
this article will be read and interpreted as a general guide for others
who might have an interest in the exercise physiologist’s right to his/her
own professional organization.
I live in Duluth, MN, a city
and state that are cold throughout the year and especially during November
through May. Snow is generally on the ground for 6 months out of
the year. I have come to understand the weather somewhat, although
nobody really gets all that comfortable with it (regardless of what they
might say otherwise). In the time I lived in Minnesota, we have had
the coldest winter, the warmest year, the winter of the least snow, and
so on (record after record). Regardless, I like the extremes in the
weather and consider the snow, the cold, and the storms as challenges.
So, what is the point of
this article? It is about challenges! It is a sense of history,
and about organizing exercise physiologists to take responsibility for
themselves. It is not about research, however important. It
is not for those who already understand the need for unity to solve the
problems that face us. This is an article for exercise physiologists
who believe they have a right to their own professional organization.
It is about dignity, determination, and the desire to professionalize exercise
physiology. It is for those exercise physiologists that this article
is written. Those who believe deeply that the problems faced by the
non-Ph.D. exercise physiologist will be (can be) solved by exercise physiologists
working together.
This is not the first time
I’ve written on this subject, and it will not be the last. I am committed
for life. I have tried and lived the other way, and I have realized
the lack of meaning in the process. If there were other words to
use, I would state them. I would do whatever to help those in contemplation
to understand what I now know, what I now believe is true, and my experiences
on both sides of the issue. So, I hope that you will read this article
in light of my experiences and will come to terms with your thoughts and
ideas regarding ASEP. It is my pleasure and privilege to have the
opportunity to work with so many excellent, professional exercise physiologists
within ASEP. I would like to thank them all for believing the challenge
and for working to make a difference.
In 1993-94, just after arriving
in Duluth, my wife and I drove to the “Twin Cities” (that is what we refer
to as St. Paul/Minneapolis) to attend the AACPVR meeting. With full
of hope and expectations, we went to meeting after meeting looking for
answers. Even today, I am startled to remember one gathering in particular.
A lot of exercise physiologists were in attendance, many worked in cardiac
rehabilitation. They were like poor people politely asking and requesting
for help. In short, those who represented AACPVR said, “No, we are
not going to ‘create’ or assume responsibility for ‘starting’ a certification
program for “clinical exercise physiologists.” I believe that I now
understand why, given that a few of the founders of AACPVR were then (and
still are) loyal to ACSM. They didn’t want a competing certification
to get underway, especially since the sports medicine organization (through
its exercise physiology membership) had declared itself as “the” certifying
body of ‘exercise specialist’ or others who worked in cardiac rehabilitation.
What a waste! What selfishness that has resulted in considerable
downstream problems for non-Ph.D. exercise physiologists!
Those of us who stand outside
of the circle of sports medicine; those of us who gave up certain professional
growth and recognition according to the sports medicine way have pushed
forward regardless; those of us who are considered as outsiders, who are
even considered unprofessional for our beliefs know that black is not white
and white is not black. Sports medicine is not exercise physiology,
and exercise physiology is not sports medicine. Exercise physiologists
must come to terms with this point if they are to survive.
It is learning how to stand
on your own merit that is important. Other professionals understand
this point all too well. Why is it that we are so slow to grasp this
point? Unpopular as it might sound, existing outside the framework
of sports medicine is the only way we will be able to professionalize exercise
physiology. It is our one hope to make a difference in the future
of our students. Exercise physiology is first a career option for
those who choose it and, secondly, a research opportunity for the research
minded. Hence, it is logical to define and develop the foundation
that supports financial survival versus publishing in different journals.
ASEP is the genuine change
agent to learn how to take our differences and make them into a unified
strength. But, the process isn’t easy. It requires work, a
lot of work in fact. I began the process some 6 years ago and most still
have not heard of the ASEP goals and objectives much less the work that
has gone into it. At times I feel like a warrior in the struggle
against the continued exploitation of exercise physiologists by sports
medicine. I have learned how to fight, how to survive, and how to
make my dreams come true. But, I have also learned that the war can’t
be won by one person or by several dedicated fighters. Power to act,
to stand with strength, to feel good about the work, and to be able to
let loose of the emotions when the day is over requires strength that is
only good when blended with the strength of others. Seldom can one
or two people swing a nation from one direction to another.
Having said this, I still
believe in the power of one or two or three committed individuals.
I have always believed in the power of positive thinking, critical reflection,
and what is right from what is wrong. It is has enabled me to push
forward a bit further out on the limb even though I know it may break from
beneath me. At times, I would like to have someone close to me to
discuss these feelings but there isn’t anyone. This makes the challenges
even more intense. When I do take time to rethink what I have
done, and why I had to, I do understand the ‘importance’ and the ‘why’
of sharing the burden of creating an organization on top of everything
else. Except for a few brief moments of doubt from time to time,
I have never forgotten the reason for my original commitment. That
is, undergraduates and master-prepared students from good academic programs
(especially degree-offering programs in exercise physiology) deserve the
title, exercise physiologist. The freedom to call oneself an exercise
physiologist, given that the person has an undergraduate degree in exercise
physiology, or a strong academic concentration in the core courses of exercise
physiology, is not to say that one person is better than another person,
but to acknowledge with respect the academic journey itself. It is
drawing attention to the fact that, in some instances, undergraduate programs
have evolved to a level of academic credibility that is on the order of
some master programs. Not to acknowledge the reality of these programs
and the students’ right to the title is wrong. It is as simple as
that, and it really isn’t necessary to entertain other ideological points
of view.
This is undoubtedly one of
the hardest lessons for many Ph.D. exercise physiologists to accept.
I have heard time after time, “I worked for ‘my’ Ph.D. degree, and I’m
an exercise physiologist. Anyone without the degree and who is not
publishing research is not an exercise physiologist.” Many of these
comments are simply ideas and thoughts given to them by their Ph.D. professors,
who got the same message from their Ph.D. professor. At one point
in time, it was a reasonable interpretation because the undergraduate programs
were so mixed in subject matter that no one really knew what was what.
That is no longer the case today. Oh yes, there are still programs
that identify themselves as graduating exercise physiologists when in fact
they are graduates of a completely different degree. The department
chair and the faculty do not explain the differences between what they
offer and what the students think they are getting because it might make
a difference in the number of academic majors!
The reality is simple, however.
That which is untrue and misleading will eventually drop to the wayside.
Only those programs that actually teach the subject matter specific to
exercise physiology will survive the test of time and credibility.
It requires only a little foresight to understand the legal and moral implications
when the educational setting is purposely misleading, and above all, the
understanding as well that if not corrected, then the process will work
against itself. Hence, it is understandable that among reasonable
men and women that poorly organized programs of study will be reorganized,
if not by necessity, by a commitment to the students’ best interest.
Yes, this will require a great deal of work. It will nonetheless
take place once the reality is realized and accepted by both the department
chair/director, faculty, and the institutional administration.
Perhaps this is why I am
so moved by the members of ASEP, I, an exercise physiology teacher for
more than 30 years, a person who believes in the possible, and who
has published and understands the importance of research to exercise physiology,
not only have friends among sports medicine, but understand that we, exercise
physiologists, generally do the right thing. Whatever is right is
usually the path taken by most thinking persons and, so it is with exercise
physiologists who are good people. We learn from each other as we
share our concerns and beliefs about what we do and/or hope to do.
Also, we must appreciate at a gut level that those who are not reaping
the benefit of their hard work, however excluded and/or exploited, will
in the end win by their own sensible and true actions. Their collective
power will win over the hearts of others, and demand the change that is
but a dream today.
Interestingly, for many years,
I did not think this way. I, too, was under the power of sports medicine.
Truth is, I just didn't know any difference, which is the same problem
we continue to face within the exercise physiology community. Some
have listened to the ASEP message while others continue to resist.
The latter is not moved by the sincerity, dedication, and well-meaning
of the ASEP members. They just do not get the big picture and yet
there really isn’t a mystery. ASEP members belong to the Society
just like any other person might belong to sports medicine. There
are committees and other types of work that must be done, and their understanding
and dedication set the stage for effective changes, just as you might imagine
with any other organization. So, what is the difference? The
short answer is: It is all about professionalism. The decision to
belong to ASEP is based to a great extent on what ASEP can do for the exercise
physiologist, which is no different from expectations about a different
organization.
What can ASEP produce that
another organization can’t? This is the question. Why? Because
it defines the community of membership and why it functions. In some
ways, this is the essence of ASEP. Its purpose is everything to the
future of the exercise physiologist. For example, take professionalism!
Name one organization that is developing exercise physiology professionalism
(except of course, ASEP). What about national certification of exercise
physiologists? ASEP is the only organization dedicated to certifying
exercise physiologists based on specific academic core coursework.
Most other certifications can be obtained through the Internet or some
dedicated study, but without a specific academic preparation (concentration)
or degree. Similarly, what about accreditation? ASEP is the
only known community of exercise physiologists who have tackled the problem
and who have a proposal ready for implementation.
This is not to say that another
organization couldn’t have the same agenda. The point is, however,
that no other organization across several decades has even come close to
tackling these issues. The preparation, work, and dedication are
simply major amounts of work, aside from the existing agenda of an existing
organization. Frankly, it would have been possible for many of the
items of interest, as addressed by ASEP, to have been accomplished by a
much better know organization and one that has been around for some time.
Like it or not, good or bad, that was not going to happen. Again,
the reasoning is simple. If they, the other organizations that already
exist, are not going to correct the problem, then it was time to do so
by shared knowledge and experiences through a newly created organization.
Put bluntly, that is why ASEP exists.
Given the choice between
ASEP and the other organizations, then, there isn’t any race to decide.
The only logical approach to professionalism is to “know other exercise
physiologists” with similar interests and commitment. The power is
in coming together and in responding to the needs of the members.
This distinction is important because, as far as possible, this is the
mandate of ASEP especially once several key contacts were developed.
They, in turn, were used to develop other contacts within the exercise
physiology community. Clearly, the ASEP organization is only
as important as the ideas, the community sharing, the friendships, and
the leadership tactics that are considered imperative to achieving results.
It follows, then, that often
the organization that is on top is the organization of committed membership.
This means that the potential power of an organization lies in its members
and, as such, membership quality not quantity, defines the decision-making
process. This point is worth repeating, that is, quality membership,
members who are willing to walk the distance is the strongest thing that
an organization has going for itself. Needless to say, therefore,
ASEP is interested in leadership that flows from the grassroots up rather
than down from the top.
At this point, you may say
“But, I don’t have time.” If so, then, you may not realize what you
are missing. “I’m too busy” and “I already have the answer” are two
obvious attitudes that frequently keep people from trying new things, from
thinking differently, and from realizing their potential. I believe
it was Shakespeare who said “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and
women merely players; They have their entrances and exits; and one man
in his time has many parts.” If you would like to crank your activity
up in the ASEP organization, have you considered participating on a committee,
looking for new members, doing market research for new ideas, or making
a professional call to get another person interested? Now you may
ask yourself, “Is this idea any good? Will it give me the return
I want? Do I have the resources to make it happen?” Answers
to these questions are often found in “the doing”. Become an ASEP
believer and take your ideas into battle.
I once said to a “believer”
-- expect the unexpected and keep your mind open to possibilities.
He replied, “possibilities” and I replied, “Pay attention to
different kinds of body gestures and comments, and don’t miss the obvious.”
The curious thing about the conversation is that many people often overlook
the resources right in front of them. Even a simple phone call to
a colleague can have a big impact, especially when that person gets so
immersed in the business of ASEP and professionalism that his/her actions
cultivate new and creative possibilities. It may be an idea that
should be turned into reality. But, what about the risks? Downside?
Will it succeed? Every new idea has its risks, but as I read
somewhere once, “ships are not built to remain safe in port”. Playing
it safe isn’t smart. Grant Heidrich said it best, “If you spend too
much time warming up, you’ll miss the race.”
Putting an idea into action
is difficult for all kinds of reasons, but leaders have learned to take
responsibility for the idea and they do what it takes to implement it.
Their work is part of the change process that is inevitable when making
an idea into reality. As I have heard others say, “That person
has a fire in his belly.” The fact is, as entrepreneurs have known
for years, we make what we want for ourselves when we become dissatisfied
with everything as it currently exists. We develop skills that enable
us to achieve our objective and, in so doing, we learn that there is no
turning back.
There is no turning back
bears repeating, especially when individuals who don’t understand take
shots at your commitment to an idea, such as “It’s too contrary to the
way we have always believed.” It won’t work. It isn’t possible
without major players.” “It’s a radical and foolish idea.”
“It is just like so-in-so, unprofessional.” Such criticism is unfair
and often a result of the person feeling threatened by the idea of
something different. So, where possible, they shoot down the idea
as half-baked and stupid without realizing what they are doing. They
are also concerned and understand the strength and emotion in the following
expression, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence
and determination alone are omnipotent.”
ASEP is looking for leaders
at the grassroots level. Leaders who understand that things can and
will go wrong, but are driven to finding out why and then doggedly pressing
on. Leaders who are bold, have a plan, fire in their belly, understand
the goals and objectives of the ASEP organization, who can get started
and who can follow through with action; those who are persistent and determined.
If you feel motivated and/or driven to make a difference, contact an ASEP
Board Member and tell the person about your idea and its anticipated benefits
to the profession. If you are already a committee member, but feel
that the process is moving too slow. Let us know what your thoughts
are and how we can influence change faster.
Think about it. ASEP
exists for exercise physiologists, to unify their strengths, and to create
the ongoing efforts necessary to realize professionalism. With everyone
involved, and with leadership talent developed from within, we are guaranteed
success.
Copyright
©1997-2000 American Society of Exercise Physiologists. All Rights
Reserved.
ASEP
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