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Editor-in-Chief
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MA, FASEP, EPC
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Values and Beliefs: A Lesson
Learned
Steve Jungbauer, MBA, FASEP, EPC
ASEP
President
Director of Kosciusko Community Hospital’s
(Warsaw, Indiana) Urgent Care, Occupational Health, Managed Care, Cardiopulmonary
Rehabilitation and Wellness Services
"Winning starts with beginning."
-- Anonymous
Introduction
Every so often, I experience a character
defining moment. I call it a character defining moment because, as I recall
these moments, some concept is learned or understood in such a way that
it redefines my character and actions. My guess is that others have similar
experiences. One of these moments occurred as I heard a story years ago.
The story goes something like this.
"In the early 1900s, there lived
a gifted high wire walker named Philippe. Growing up he developed a grandiose
dream of becoming the first person to traverse Niagara Falls by walking
a wire extended from the United State to Canada. For years, he trained
and made plans for attempting this unthinkable feat. Finally, the
day came when the wire was in place and a huge crowd had gathered to watch.
In the crowd was a group of reporters who were invited to report on the
success or failure of this young man. According to many of the reporters,
the only story here was an obituary for a foolish young man. Philippe
did not use the conventional pole while walking the high wire. For balance,
Philippe walked the wire while pushing a wheelbarrow containing over 200
pounds of bricks. Philippe stepped out onto the wire that day confident
in his belief that he would complete the dangerous and death-defying trip.
The slow walk to the other side started without a hitch. As Philippe approached
the halfway point, a wind came up and the wire started to sway. Philippe
began to lose his balance and the crowd below gasped in horror. Just seconds
from certain death, Philippe brilliantly recovered his balance and proceeded
to the other side where an unbelieving crowd of reporters met him shouting
question after question. For several minutes, reporters questioned
the high wire walker and Philippe patiently answered their questions on
the accomplishment of this unbelievable feat. Finally, Philippe turned
to one reporter and said, “You have been asking me many questions, now
it is my turn to ask you a question.” Philippe went on, “Do you believe
that I can walk back across that wire right now?” The reporter responded
with, “Well sure!” Philippe continued his questioning. “But do you really
believe that right now I can walk back across this wire to the place that
I started?” Again, the reporter said, “I just watched you walk across the
wire so I suppose you can walk back to the other side again.” In a very
insistent tone, Philippe asked a third time, “But do you really BELIEVE
that right NOW I can walk this wire back to the other side?” Without hesitation
the reported responded, “Yes, I believe you can walk this wire back to
the other side.” With that response, Philippe walked over to the wheelbarrow,
dumped out the bricks, and addressing the reporter said, “Get in!”
What are Your Values and Beliefs?
If you really believe in something, you
are often called into action. Take for example, the issue of health. If
you really value the benefits of good health and you believe that engaging
in regular exercise is essential to developing and maintaining good health
then you are called by your values and beliefs to participate in regular
exercise. A person’s values and beliefs are clearly identified by their
actions. You see if the reporter truly believed that Philippe could safely
make the return trip across the wire he would have jumped into the wheelbarrow
and taken the trip. Likewise if you really believe that regular exercise
is essential for good health then you will exercise on a regular basis
for the rest of your life.
The lesson learned here is applicable
to building the profession of exercise physiology. It requires only that
you consider your values and beliefs. Ask yourself some simple questions.
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Is working as an exercise physiologist your
calling or mission in life?
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Do exercise physiologists provide special
services to their clients?
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Is the exercise physiologist’s scope of practice
safe or is it at risk of infringement by other disciplines and professions?
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Is exercise physiology a profession and therefore
exercise physiologists are professionals?
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Do you believe that there is value in being
a part of an organized profession?
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What actions are required to demonstrate your
values and beliefs in the profession of exercise physiology?
Unite, Unify, Build, and Support the Profession
When exercise physiologists value their
academic training and jobs in addition to believing in their professional
mission, they are called to understand what it takes to build and advance
their professional standing in the work environment. They are called to
unite, unify, build, and support the profession.
The model for all professions is well established
and has several fundamental components. These components cannot be compromised
nor are they optional. The essential components of a profession include:
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Specific body of knowledge
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Self-governance through a national organization
exclusive to the defined profession
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A code of conduct and ethics
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Accreditation of academic programs
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Standardized credentialing of professionals
upon entry into the profession
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Continuing education
The American Society of Exercise Physiologists
was founded in 1997 to unity, unify, build and support the profession of
exercise physiology because the components of the profession had been compromised
by past generations of exercise physiologists. The basic premise of ASEP
is that the membership believes that there is value in establishing and
building the profession of exercise physiology. That value lies in the
benefits and support provided to all professional exercise physiologists.
Since these values and beliefs are inherent in membership, then all members
are called into action to meet the goals and objectives that move the profession
forward. Outside of the organization, exercise physiologists who believe
there is value in professional standing should not act to impede or compete
with the emergence of the profession.
Exercise physiologists within ASEP are
called to leadership positions because they have expressed and demonstrated
their belief in the organizational mission and they value the profession.
As leaders, they continue to demonstrate their belief in the organization
through their comments, support, and actions. These actions include but
are not limited to the following:
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Financial support through membership and conference
attendance
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Seeking organizational sponsorship
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Recruiting new members
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Seeking accreditation for their academic programs
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Hosting certification examinations
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Organizing student chapters
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Starting state organizations
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Chairing committees
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Presentations at state and national ASEP meetings
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Publishing in ASEP journals
If ASEP leadership fails to demonstrate their
values and beliefs through their comments and actions, the organization,
membership, and the profession suffer. Self-governance, which is central
to emerging professions, calls for strong leaders to make responsible decisions
that ensure the protection of the mission and scope of practice which are
central to what exercise physiologists value and believe.
Final Thoughts
For the past two decades, I have worked
in academia and in the field as an exercise physiologist. I am passionate
about the profession because I believe in the professional mission and
I value the benefits exercise physiologists provide to their clients. I
have grown weary of watching as my profession continues to be diluted with
worthless certifications from over 250 organizations whose hidden agenda
is only economic gain. The mission of all professional exercise physiologists
should be to unite, unify, build, and support the profession while working
to prevent the bastardization of our profession by individuals and organizations
that have lost touch with fundamental professional values and beliefs.
From the Editor-in-Chief:
To learn more about the ASEP President,
click here.
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