Hello, my
name is Tommy Boone.
I was
the first President of the
American
Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). As an exercise physiologist,
I am the Chair of the Department of Exercise Physiology at The
College of St. Scholastica in Duluth,
MN. The department is located in the Science
Center just in front of the Tower
Hall. For an overview of the campus, click on campus.
For more information about CSS, click on the College.
The
department has around 45 to 50 undergraduates and 25 graduate students.
The undergraduate academic program is a
Bachelor
of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in either athletic
training, sports psychology, clinical exercise physiology, sport management,
or research. The graduate program is a Master
of Art degree in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in either cardiopulmonary
rehab or exercise physiology research.
The
department has three exercise physiologists, four laboratories (Kinesiology
Laboratory, Anatomy
[cadavers] Laboratory, undergraduate
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, and a graduate exercise physiology
lab). The EP labs are well-equipped to study cardiovascular physiology;
each has its own CardiO2 Medical Graphics metabolic analyzers, treadmills,
bikes, online computers, and the other typical EP equipment.
I have
been a college teacher for many years. If you want to see my Curriculum
Vita, perhaps, to get an idea of my professional and/or research interests.
No problem, you may also refer to one of the ASEPNewsletter
pages.
If
you want to know why I think the American Society of Exercise Physiologists
(ASEP) is important
to exercise physiology, the reason is simple. I believe exercise physiologists
need their own professional organization to address the professionalization
of exercise physiology. I am convinced that it cannot (and will not)
be done by individuals interested in sports medicine. Instead, exercise
physiologists must come together and work through what is meant by a profession,
professionalism, and professionalization (intellectual concerns, the EPs'
body of knowledge and their education, and peer accountability to mention
just a few).
Is exercise
physiology a semiprofession, if so, what are we doing about the quest for
professionalism?
What is
the process of professionalization, and does anyone understand the challenge
of professionalization (and the concerns for specialized knowledge, autonomy
in exercise physiology, monoploy over services, and buying into the various
types of exercise physiology research)?
What does
the public think about exercise physiologists?
Why don't
we have a standardized education for exercise physiologists?
Who are
we accountable to, and what are our credentials?
What is
our credibility.
Why do
we need a new image, common values, and visionary thinking to move us collectively
into the next century?
These
are but a few of the very important questions that exercise physiologists
must face as well as all of the very important research, clinical, and
athletic questions yet to be addressed.
So,
I wrote the ASEP
Charter, put it on the Internet along with the other ASEP Internet
pages. I am the WebMaster (if you can believe it). I edit the Internet
pages on a daily basis. I started the ASEPNewsletter,
the Journal
of Exercise Physiologyonline,
and
the Professionalization
of Exercise Physiologyonline
for no other reason except to help our students with the transition towards
professional growth and stability and to produce a electronic journal for
exercise physiologists.
Our
students need our support, planning, and understanding, and it is important
to me that, after all these years of working as an exercise physiologist,
that I stop working for me so much and work for my students. By this, I
mean that ASEP exists for the student and professional exercise physiologists.
It goes beyond the effort all of us have made for years as a college teacher.
Now, we must walk the walk and be there to support our students and to
help them access jobs. We need to help our students learn leadership skills
because employers look for candidates who can listen, communicate, and
work well with people. Our students need problem-solving skills, too. They
must be able to demonstrate the ability to think critically and quickly
on their feet and not just while running or lifting heavy weights. We need
to help them build their confidence, avoid career pitfalls, and access
relevant hands-on experiences that convey to employers their worth, dependability,
and professional demeanor.
Unfortunately,
there is no easy way to do these things. Our academic programs are not
as flexible as we would like, and there is no magic formula to land the
college graduate a job as an exercise physiologist. Finding the right thinking
in building our academic programs will not happen overnight and it would
be a huge mistake thinking so. The real benefits of ASEP will not be fully
realized for years to come, but the demand is now and thus the process
is underway.
Although
ASEP is significantly short-staffed (and I was the President, by default),
it is constantly defying the odds of never getting off the "what if " way
of thinking. It does exist. It is a legal non-profit organization, and
there are members who are focused to setting into place strategic plans
for change. Sure, it won't be easy, but jogging isn't either for me or
the 1000s of others who work at it but do it anyway. ASEP is a start, and
good one at that, especially if you are searching for others to talk to
when the job market isn't hot and options seem very few indeed. Networking
is vital, and exercise physiologists need to get out there and make contact
with as many people as possible.
Well,
that is a little bit about me and my concerns. I believe in ASEP because
it is my hope (and maybe yours) of a new image for exercise physiologists.
I think it will elevate all of us to a better position as each one of us
puts his/her part in the Society. Thanks for your interest in ASEP. I can
be reached at my office (218)723-6297 or FAX (218)723-6472.
ASEP
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