The Role of the ASEP National Office in Transforming and
Renewing Exercise Physiology
Tommy Boone
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
THE GROWING DIVERSITY of job opportunities for exercise physiologists
brings new challenges. Each week, at the ASEP National Office, we receive
phone calls regarding everything from locating an exercise physiologist in
a specific region of the country to what are the salaries for exercise physiologists.
The people making these calls are not usually concerned whether the exercise
physiologist has a doctorate degree. With what little information they
have, it is not uncommon for them to ask questions like: “What is an exercise
physiologist?” Or, “Where can I locate one?”
Because of the aging population, emphasis on fitness and
physical appearance, and all kinds of health issues, a revolution is taking
place in the field of exercise physiology. A new kind of healthcare
professional with a strong understanding of scientific research who can guide
clients through their concerns is evolving. The revolution is both
ASEP and customer driven with a truly collaborative opportunity that is making
a difference. Each week, we try to answer questions from writers of
newspapers, TV shows, and electronic publications. At times, we are
successful and those who seek our expertise are grateful. Every question
is a challenge because the answer must be right and acceptable to exercise
physiology in general. This is not always an easy task to achieve for
obvious reasons.
What we try to do is give direction, provide (where possible)
a scientific base for the answer and, if necessary, direct the caller to
an expert source within the ASEP organization. These activities take
up more time than you might realize. But, following through with each
call is important. The integrity of the Office is upheld when the staff
demonstrates the ability to answer questions and/or to provide a direction
to find the answer. Similarly, providing information about salaries
for exercise physiologists is not only productive but a sharing responsibility
too. Traditionally speaking, there is a mind-set among many employers
of exercise physiologists that conflicts with our careful effort to provide
accurate information.
On one hand, we understand all too well the likelihood of
low salaries that associate with the public’s view of exercise physiologists
as physical educators or even as coaches of different sports teams.
On the other hand, it is obvious that some of our callers have experienced
a shift in their thinking about exercise physiology. Their mind-set
is more consistent with the ASEP perspective. It would be good if everyone’s
beliefs and understandings were consistent with salaries of recognized healthcare
professions. Changing the public’s exercise physiology paradigm (mind-set)
is not easy. We try to facilitate change, where possible. That
is, we are facilitators as well as risk takers when speaking with the public.
A key to an effective communication with the public is information
sharing or, more specifically, salary sharing. Without the right information,
employers cannot identify the right salary ranges for our students when they
graduate. The world is changing, however. The public is increasingly
interested in finding the right professional who can help rethink a personal
situation (like reducing weight or building muscle), manage a dysfunction,
or rehabilitate a diseased condition. Hence, there is a new way of
viewing exercise physiology today. The new paradigm is based on a new
philosophy and a new belief in the exercise physiology standards of practice.
This new hope centered on exercise physiologists is an increasingly global
shift in the public’s growth and transformation regarding the field.
It is a shared vision of what exercise physiology will look like, including
its practice, and its meaning to the public in making public-based decisions.
The ASEP National Office is always pushing the infrastructure
of the organization. The staff is devoted to the members of ASEP.
They serve the organization, and the vision of all ASEP exercise physiologists.
It is run on the same principles that any other business is, because we think
that’s the right way to reengineer the evolving profession. Open communication
and sharing of information are important, especially when the public’s beliefs
and ideas are changing about what exercise physiology is? The information
itself is also a force for shaping the public’s sense of what an exercise
physiologist is. Knowledge and acceptance are being diffused both within
and among the public and exercise physiologists as never before.
The sharing of information and the myriad of other responsibilities
from the mounting challenges with the ASEP web sites (e.g., www.css.edu/asep/ or the www.asep.org/ ), numerous updates of sites
(e.g., www.exercisephysiologists.com/
), and documents on a regular and even semi-regular basis (i.e., the ASEP
electronic journals), along with management of the membership directory, certifications,
and a flow of occasional letters to members are important functions of any
national office. Hence, it is not enough to answer the phone.
As a cyberspace office, increasingly more new ideas enter its doors seeking
answers. For an example, there is nothing to lose and everything to
gain to post advertisements on the ASEP web site. Today, ASEP
is again posting products and services. Collectively, these functions
and others continue to represent the National Office as a viable and economically
healthy environment on behalf of the ASEP members and the public.
The hours that go into managing the ASEP contact page are
similar to advertising a product. Here, the product is “exercise physiology”
with the goal to influence the consumers’ feelings about the profession.
The site is also the organization’s attempt to influence politics, safety
issues, disputes, and policies that are critical to everything from professional
and ethical matters to certification, licensure, and practice issues.
The fundamental values that characterize the ASEP organization can be understood
through the daily operations of the ASEP National Office. ASEP is about
providing a competitive edge for board certified exercise physiologists.
The ASEP National Office uses its technology to market board certified exercise
physiologists.
Hence, it is obvious that, where appropriate, we always argue
on behalf of exercise physiology even when we are approached by professionals
from other fields of study. Frequently, they are the stimulus for our
students to change their academic major (i.e., when they are convinced to
do so). This is a fairly common understanding among those of us who
teach at the college level. As a result, we try very hard to keep consistent
with the following statement: “There is nothing to be gained and much to
be lost by leaving exercise physiology.” Of course, regardless of the
importance of the statement itself, we still have students who are concerned
with the perception of exercise physiology as a profession and the self-image
of exercise physiologists in the public.
It may seem strange to the reader for me to write it this
way, but bear with me. The ASEP National Office expects to hear one
day with consistency a statement like the following: “I was educated
at a college, and then delivered to the public sector by my professor(s)
who are members of ASEP. As a certified exercise physiologist among
many with whom I work, I was taught the meaning of professionalism, ethical
conduct, and professional credibility. In a sense, I was a professional
before graduation since I understood the path to professionalism. We
were students in courses about professional development, leadership, and
career opportunities. I can remember thinking how great it was that
I was enrolled in an academic major in exercise physiology. Life as
an exercise physiologist has opened new vistas for me.”
My work as the primary person who oversees the ASEP National
Office is to structure email and phone conversations to benefit exercise
physiology. It is not always easy to anticipate each and every inquiry.
In addition to our responsibility to ASEP, we have numerous other administrative,
professional, and personal responsibilities. Nonetheless, we give it
our very best shot to educate the public, which brings me to our basic beliefs:
1. We feel very strongly in the importance of a credible
academic degree as the foundation for exercise physiology.
2. We are convinced that exercise physiology is a healthcare
profession with major implications throughout the public sector.
3. We have the opportunity, through our ASEP web pages, to
instantly demonstrate professional documents highlighting our highest respect
and quality of work with patients, clients, athletes, and others.
4. We believe that the ASEP Board of Directors is doing everything
possible to help exercise physiology evolve as a credible profession, and
5. We work at engaging anyone in a conversation about exercise
physiology, especially if the emphasis is on the dream of what is possible.
