ASEPNewsletter
Vol
2 No 12
December,
1998
ISSN
1097-9743
The ASEPNewsletter
is devoted to informative articles and news items about exercise physiology.
It is a monthly magazine of news, opinions, exercise physiology professionals,
and events that shape exercise physiology. While it contains views and
opinions of the Editor
who oversees the ASEP Internet Websites, visitors can have a voice as well.
We welcome interested practitioners, researchers, and academicians to e-mail
the Publisher their thoughts and ideas or to respond directly via the ASEP
Public Forum.
January
1999
Just
Thinking....by the Editor
Be
the voice of the profession
Exercise
physiology careers
UPDATE:
The Society is on center
Reflections
and goals
The
conversion from SM to EP
Being
prepared
Meet
the future
Be
the Voice of the Profession
The
ASEPNewsletter
is
seeking guest editorials -- brief commentaries on a wide variety of issues.
Everyone involved in health, fitness, rehabilitation, and sports, including
medical, business, management, psychology, teachers, and students -- is
welcome to share insights, concerns, points and counterpoints on any issue
that impinges upon the exercise physiology profession, including the following:
-
the changing
role of exercise physiology
-
professional
directions
-
clinical
workplace dilemmas
-
ethical
issues
-
politics
and organizations
-
licensure
and regulatory issues
-
certification
-
education
-
technology
-
professional
associations
-
mentoring
-
relationship
among exercise physiology professionals
-
healthcare
providers
-
healthcare
workers
To contribute
a guest editorial, send, FAX (218)723-6472), or e-mail (tboone2@css.edu)
an essay and a brief biography. Send your contribution to ASEP National
Office, College of St. Scholastica, Department of Exercise Physiology,
1200 Kenwood Ave., Duluth, MN 55811.
Exercise
Physiology Careers
Traditionally,
non-PhD exercise physiology (EP) professionals have found jobs in fitness
facilities and clinics as strength and conditioning instructors, personal
trainers, and clinical exercise physiologists. However, aside from going
back to school to get the PhD to teach in college, "Are there other untapped
opportunities as consultants, counselors, or specialists in new roles?
"
While
the PhD is the top of the line degree in the field, not everyone is interested
in getting the PhD degree! Also, if every student in the field got the
PhD degree, there simply would not be enough jobs. Without jobs, the profession
crashes and burns. Hence, the sky's the limit only to the extent there
are jobs for exercise physiologists.
Back
to the earlier question, "Are there other untapped opportunities....?"
While some professionals have benefitted from the advent of the computer
in requiring new roles and jobs, exercise physiology is not one of them.
Yet, what they do have in common with other society changes and concerns
is the ever-present issues of health and fitness (and yes, rehabilitation).
Aside
from the psychologist telling the patient that exercise relieves stress,
the nutritionist focusing on diet, the nurse addressing other more general
health issues, the physical therapist speaking about gait and rehabilitation
and so forth. The interesting point is that not one of the other professions
is as academically prepared as the exercise physiologist to address all
of the issues of health-fitness and disease interconnectedness.
Many
of the new roles of exercise physiologists will have to be generated from
within by the advent of national certification in the exercise physiology
profession. With increased professional recognition (i.e., one with credibility),
new forms of professional expertise and work will create different kinds
of jobs -- from business health-fitness specialists to analysis of the
same, for example, in sports apparel stores. As to the latter, it would
be interesting indeed to see exercise physiologists in the malls of America.
Why not? Why not have a complete testing laboratory set up in the store
where people can be tested for their cardiovascular ability as one would
for their eyes before purchasing glasses?
The
Society is interested in defining careers and professional roles for exercise
physiologists. Members believe that the climate is right and the demand
will increase and broaden for all types of rewarding and financially good
jobs. Exercise physiologists need to review what has been, where we are,
and leave ourselves open to possibilities. Going with the flow may open
up opportunities outside of the hospital setting. Assessing and advising
others about their health and fitness can and should take place beyond
the walls of the college laboratory.
The
message is a big plus for nontraditional types of jobs. My first reaction
then is to think outside of the back box. Ask questions and dream of new
challenges. Just because it has not been enough is not a reason to look
the other way. Together, we can create a whole new way of accessing unique,
gratifying, and challenging careers.
UPDATE:
The Society is on Center
In
1997, the Society was founded in the state of Minnesota at the College
of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN. The organization has been met with considerable
work on behalf of its members to lay the groundwork for a national Society
of exercise physiologists. It is in reality, the "Making of the next generation
of American Exercise Physiologists."
The
Society is building connectivity among exercise physiologists in the United
States as well as worldwide. Collectively, all exercise physiologists will
change what is to what can be! Planned certification of exercise physiologists
based on a successful completion of a national examination along with accreditation
of academic programs will improve the quality of the profession and client/patient
relationship and/or care.
With
better professional preparedness, the initial step in the process of professionalization
will be completed. Following this, other matters of excellence and opportunities
for improvement in regard to a successful integration into the public sector
will be realized with continued support of all exercise physiologists.
The
Society is on center! Just think, the Society has its first official
Student Chapter of ASEP at the University of New Mexico. Sharon
Griffin, a PhD candidate in exercise physiology at UNM put together the
documents. So, now we have the By-Laws and Constitution for developing
ASEP Student Chapters throughout the Colleges and Universities in the United
States. This is big!
The
Student Chapters should become one of the most important implementations
of the Society. The By-Laws and Constitution are on the ASEP Table of Contents.
If you are a student or a college teacher interested in developing an ASEP
Student Chapter at your college, please print the information from the
websites, confer with college officials, and get back to us, either Dr.
Robert Robergs or me.
ASEP
is on center!
Reflections
and Goals
With
the recent First ASEP National Meeting completed and everyone back at their
designated places, it seems the right time for a brief reflection. Up front,
the goal was to have a meeting of interested exercise physiologists. It
happened and, from it, certain individuals ended up accepted obligations
for future development of the Society. The opportunity for students to
meet with the academic and clinical exercise physiologists was great. Even
some rather serious brainstorming took place at the meeting, and also some
thinking was done a bit different from the thinking that usually takes
place at the traditional types of meetings.
While
an analysis of comprehensive list of future goals would be a nice discussion
for the members, the following list of future goals should be our first
priority:
-
Develop
a more highly effective internal and external communication system among
exercise physiologists.
-
Develop
a comprehensive communication and marketing plan to promote the Society.
-
Increase
student, clinically-based and academic faculty involvement in the advancement
of exercise physiology.
-
Identify
expectations of committee chairs and members to ensure that a continuing
development of ASEP issues is realized.
-
Identify
a list of specific and measurable outcomes for exercise physiology students
via a nationally arranged certification test.
-
Propose
an expansion of the Society to include exercise physiologists worldwide
and, in particular, the purpose of coming together every five years to
connect and join forces.
The
Conversion from SM to EP!
In
today's changing health, fitness, rehabilitation, and athletic environment,
there is now the opportunity to join an exercise physiology (EP) organization.
But, although this first-time ever offer exists, there are some exercise
physiologists who appear somewhat disenchanted with a changing exercise
physiology profession. They are still incline to substitute SM (sports
medicine) for EP!
Even
EPs who have come to understand that SM is not EP still have some hard
steps to take in joining the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.
They will take the steps, however, because the decision is right. It is
just a matter of time. The Society understands the exercise physiologist's
desire to professionalize the art, products, and programs of exercise physiology.
It brings together, therefore, the partnership and professional strength
other professions have achieved decades earlier.
In
defense of those who still refuse to see the light, I can understand to
some extent the challenge of giving up beliefs held for a long time. But,
that is exactly the turning point in finally making progress towards recognizing
the importance of professional development and giving it back to exercise
physiologists. Eventually exercise physiologists had to come forth on the
front-line to assume responsibility for credentialing requirements.
Society
members would appreciate hearing about your concerns and how we may help
you and others in accordance with ASEP objectives. Unification of exercise
physiologists is imperative to our quality, satisfaction, and achievements.
It also empowers us to continue the evolution of SM/ES/EP to a comprehensive
EP profession.
Being
Prepared?
In
an era of "not if, but when" essentially every professional responsible
to the public stands a chance of being accused of "something." And, any
allegation can be devastating to both one's professional reputation and
one's personal assets. Hence, the Board of Directors is expected to move
this issue to the front burner.
Making
a decision is big deal, however. The Board will have to determine who and
why we are willing to trust our professional reputation and personal assets
with. Soon it will start gathering information about different companies.
The goal will be to evaluate and make recommendations. There is a difference
among companies. Rather than moving too quickly on this issue, the Board
plans to pull together all aspects of how a company is responsible to ASEP
members.
Meet
the Future
What
is the reality of the future? How will concepts like profession, professionalism,
and professionalization evolve when the way in which exercise physiology
relate to one another changes dramatically? Is your profession in which
you work still exercise science and sports medicine, or is it exercise
physiology? Will your profession be defined by you and those like you who,
perhaps, belong to the Society, or will it be defined by others? The questions
may seem like silly questions to some, but they are important considerations
when we observe the way our profession has been defined.
Not
long ago the exercise physiologist's "life as usual" was not questioned.
People within the profession believed in the notion of sports medicine
first and exercise physiology second. The idea of reshaping the profession
just never seemed to surface much less be understood and, unfortuately,
that was our loss. Eventually, though, there had to be a reality of common
interest and access to ideas beyond sports medicine; ideas with the potential
to empower all who can get on board.
Meet
the future is a direct change in the way we have thought about what we
do as exercise physiologists. It is an expanding concept that communicates
positive feelings of hope and diversity. It appeals to a much larger audience
than before, and with it, is a major shift from "life as usual." Now, the
consensus within the profession and, to the credit of those who have evolved
with the process, is that a significant infrastructure exists to build
a major national force of change. It is no longer an experiment, but a
constituency to be contented with.
Ambitious.
Yes, but anyone with the drive and motivation to undertake the work of
providing a better future for all exercise physiologists is a valuable
resource. Unlike the past, we now know who we are, and the future is better
as recognized exercise physiologists who subscribe to the belief that what
we do is important.
ASEP
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