What sets ACSM apart from other sports medicine schools or programs across the country?

Our name can be a bit deceiving. We’re actually not a “college” in the traditional sense of the word, but rather the world’s largest professional sports medicine and exercise science organization. We also certify health and fitness professionals such as personal trainers, registered clinical exercise physiologists, and more. It is our breadth and scope that sets us apart from other similar associations. We pride ourselves on our 35,000 members and certified professionals, who provide the best research, science and practice in the industry today.

How competitive is acceptance into your certification program?

Each of our certification programs has different eligibility standards to enable one to sit for the exams. For instance, to qualify for our Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist designation, an individual must hold a bachelor’s degree in an allied health field and a minimum of 600 hours of clinical practice. In addition, the exams for all ACSM certifications are rigorous and are considered the “gold standard” for the certification industry. These aren’t the types of certifications that one can obtain simply by going online and signing up. They require studying and a deep knowledge of health and fitness.

How do you go above and beyond NCCA guidelines for accreditation?

Accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies is all about process, not the content upon which an organization is basing a certification. Meeting these rigorous NCCA process standards is an accomplishment in and of itself. But ACSM is the standard-setter for the certification industry, so that aids our credibility when added to our strict adherence to the NCCA guidelines.

What do you think is the most important factor in keeping ACSM ahead of the curve?

Our members are the ones who deserve the credit for maintaining our status as the biggest and the best. Every day, they’re performing laboratory research; treating patients in the clinics or on the sidelines; teaching future generations in university classrooms; and much, much more. In addition, our conferences are a great way for us to reach out to even more practitioners and professionals. Our Annual Meeting, held each year around the beginning of June, is the largest sports medicine and exercise science conference in the world. More than 2,000 study abstracts are presented, giving attendees the latest and greatest research.

Your website claims that your members make ACSM the largest, most respected sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, what would you say is the most notable accomplishment/achievement of the past year?

It’s difficult to choose just one accomplishment because of ACSM’s multidisciplinary nature and the wide array of successful programs and initiatives we have. However, one great achievement is our Exercise is Medicine™ (EIM) program, which we launched in 2007 with the help of the American Medical Association. This program encourages all health care providers to talk to patients about their physical activity levels at each doctor’s office visit. Patients themselves are also encouraged to view exercise as an essential part of health care. It can prevent and treat numerous chronic diseases and conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and many more. EIM is now represented in multiple countries around the world, from Italy to Tanzania to China.

Since your inception in 1954, ACSM has grown to more than 20,000 professional members across the country, how have you ensured that your members are professionals with a deep interest in advancing sports medicine rather than looking to pad their own credentials by affiliating with ACSM?

Our members truly put their affiliation with ACSM to good use. They are part of committees, task forces and interest groups that further the goals of the College (and, by way of their work, the public and its collective health). Becoming a Fellow of ACSM requires a certain level of service. Also, ACSM’s reputation precedes itself in the sports medicine and exercise science community. Those who join ACSM know of the high standards of the organization and what being an ACSM member truly means for their professionalism and practice.

Are all of your members ACSM certified or is it also made up of independent specialists who simply want to further their education in sports medicine?

Our members and our certified professionals are two relatively distinct groups. Professional members are usually M.D.s or Ph.D.s practicing or teaching sports medicine or exercise science in some form. They are clinicians, researchers, scientists and educators. Certified professionals are working in the health and fitness fields as personal trainers, group exercise leaders, clinical exercise physiologists, or similar fields. Although there is some overlap between our professional members and certified individuals, their scopes of practice are generally pretty different.

The ACSM Foundation has awarded grants for furthering sports medicine research since 1989. How competitive is this program? How many applicants do you generally see a year?

To date, we have funded 360 grants for roughly $2 million – that’s a lot of new science and a lot of emerging professionals whose careers have been aided by ACSM! Last year, we received 81 proposals. Our grant program has come a long way. In 1989, we had just five grant applicants. In 2008, we had 97 – and with this much interest, the program is obviously pretty competitive. With the addition of two more funding categories, we believe that our future numbers will be even higher. We’re proud to be funding great science year in and year out.

Would you say that the success, and generosity of your members has been fueling the almost yearly increases in grant awards?

Yes. The success of our grant program is due largely in part to our members’ dedicated giving. They know they’re fueling programs that not only help investigators, but also honor the legacies of past ACSM leaders. In addition, we have corporate and organizational grant sponsors – like NASA – whose generosity demonstrates their understanding of the importance of science and research.

Sports medicine programs, even in prestigious institutions, across the country often don’t receive the same amount of attention as other disciplines. Why has your organization achieved so much success?

Since it was founded more than 50 years ago, ACSM has been able to cement itself as the premier professional society for those working in sports medicine and exercise science. We’re able to maintain this reputation through the work of our members and certified professionals. Their efforts allow us to keep our status as the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science organization – programs, initiatives, committees, media coverage and more.