Exercise is Medicine Program Awarded Gold Status by American College of Sports Medicine

American College of Sports Medicine

From left, Exercise is Medicine founder Bob Sallis, associate professor of exercise science Erin Howie Hickey and Exercise is Medicine co-director Neil Peterson.

Since 2018, Exercise is Medicine On Campus at the U of A has worked diligently to educate students, faculty and staff about the many health benefits of physical activity.

The organization, which operates within the College of Education and Health Professions, was recently awarded "Gold Status" by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the highest honor awarded to schools working towards creating a culture of wellness on college campuses.

"We have been working towards Gold Level status since we were first recognized at the Bronze Level in 2018," said Erin Howie Hickey, associate professor of exercise science and faculty adviser for Exercise is Medicine On Campus. "We're thankful for the persistence and patience of our campus partners at Pat Walker Health Center and University Recreation; the support from our department heads in Health, Human Performance and Recreation; and the generous support from Dean Kate Mamiseishvili and the WE CARE initiative."

Achieving Gold Status is the product of many years of hard work. To earn Gold Status, a campus must have successfully implemented an exercise referral system, which helps members of the campus community assess their physical health and receive feedback to improve it.

The Exercise is Medicine team was formally recognized for its efforts at ACSM's annual meeting recently in Boston. At the same meeting, Kristin Jett, an exercise science graduate student, was appointed as the lone graduate student member to serve on ACSM's Exercise is Medicine national committee.

Jett, who is heavily involved in the U of A's Exercise is Medicine program and is currently researching physical activity promotion on college campuses and in workplaces, said this appointment provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with other schools.

"This recognition would not have happened without the work done by students before us, our current team and the guidance of Dr. Howie Hickey," Jett said. "I hope to not only share our story of Exercise is Medicine to help other campuses but also learn from the nation's leaders in Exercise is Medicine On Campus to enhance our program and its impact at the University of Arkansas."

Following a Bronze Status recognition in 2018, Howie Hickey's Exercise is Medicine program was awarded Silver Status in 2020. 

She credits the many students involved in the student organization and research side, as well as those in the U of A community who have participated in initiatives, for keeping the momentum going. Exercise is Medicine is also supported by the College of Education and Health Professions' WE CARE funding.

With the program continuing to innovate and work towards its goals, Howie Hickey believes Exercise is Medicine at the U of A is poised to become a national leader in improving health on campus.

"We've already started collaborating with other campuses to continue promoting and assessing the impact of [Exercise is Medicine On Campus]," she said.

The national Exercise is Medicine On Campus recognition program was launched in 2014 to honor campuses that encourage collaboration to improve the health and well-being of the community.

To learn more about Exercise is Medicine at the U of A, visit their website.