Student Involvement in the Northland Chapter
of ACSM
Michelle Gorman, Northland
Chapter
Many students have a difficult time
deciding where to invest their time and energy. In the Northland Chapter
of the ACSM students are finding all sorts of ways to participate in the
world of sports medicine that coincides with their particular interests
and goals and the only thing that is constant is that students are
finding very unique ways to become involved. Some participate through
their research, others through academics, and others with their
volunteer and work experiences.
Research, for example, is a valuable
experience and in the Northland chapter this is an opportunity for
students to present their research at our regional student conference,
which occurs each year in March. This is a great of experience for
students because they get practice presenting and defending their
research in a friendly environment and they also get the opportunity to
participate in a conference that is especially for them. Often there are
many experts in the field at our student conference, which make it a
good opportunity to form connections for future projects and
research.
At the University of
St.
Thomas, one student is
keeping current on the latest in sports medicine and exercise physiology
by participating in a monthly journal club that examines the various
research studies. This is a great way to be up to date on new trends and
methods, and also a good way to learn to improve your own research
design and presentation.
In South
Dakota, they are getting
their share of volunteer experiences through a club that they formed
called HEROH: Helping Everyone Reach Optimal Health.
Students of ACSM II: Participating Now to
Impact the Future
Matthew C. Kostek, A.B.D/Ph.D.
University of
Maryland
Once again, at the end of the semester,
the professor found herself looking over course evaluations completed by
the students. The University requires these and 76 out of the 80
students enrolled in the class completed the multiple-choice questions
as to the relevance of the material and promptness of the professor.
However, like every semester, the professor had asked the students to
write out some specific suggestions on how to improve the course for the
following semester. She asked them to include what was good about the
class and what didn’t quite work. And as is typical of these
evaluations, only two students provided any additional feedback. After
all, students are finished with the semester and don’t think that
their input would be heeded anyhow. The professor, realizing the course
could always use a little improvement, uses the feedback of the two
students and her own notes as to what worked that semester.
Consequently, two students out of 80 decide the path of the future. And
so it is with large organizations like the ACSM, a minority of members
provide much needed input and it shapes the future of the
organization.
Fifty years ago, eleven individuals
put their ideas together and founded the American College of Sports Medicine. This past year the last of these
distinguished leaders has passed away. Together with all ACSM members,
they have left a legacy of 50 years of ideas and service to the College
and to the field of exercise science and sports medicine. Yet, like the
professor, without input from students/members progress will not be
made. It took the initiative of individuals to step forward with their
ideas and willingness to lead that has formed ACSM and it will take
future students to become active members and leaders to continue this
endeavor.
Today’s student members must be the
future leaders of the organization. Many students take advantage of the
benefits of membership of the College, yet few actively participate. As
a student, this is the time to become a member of the College and keep
up to date with its development. As a student, this is the time to
provide your input and service to the College to decide the direction
the College will take in the future and what will be accomplished.
Anyone can start by becoming a member and attending conferences.
Conferences are the ideal forum to meet the current leaders in the field
and find out how to become involved with the organization. It is only
through the current and future student members that the organization
will move forward. You will shape the future of the ACSM by deciding
whether to be involved. Talk to a colleague, mentor, or professor about
their membership, becoming a member, and getting involved.
Take a moment right now to check out some
of the important links available through the ACSM website. Browse
the 50th anniversarymeeting section to see selected events
covering the history and chronology of the American
College of Sports
Medicine; log onto the new service: ACSM’s Graduate and Undergraduate programs
linkwhich is a wonderful
new benefit for students looking for colleges across the
U.S..
Remember to keep coming back to the link under “Office of Student
Affairs,” where you will find important information on research
awards, our annual student colloquium, job opportunities and quarterly
student articles.
Student Opportunities: Just around the
corner
Matthew R. Allen, Indiana
University School of Medicine
Student Affairs Committee Chair
"How do I get experience?", "How do I
build my resume?"
If one is conversing with a group of
undergraduate/graduate students, it doesn't take long for these
questions, and other like them, to arise. Answering them takes a bit
longer.
Although belonging to a professional
organization is a start, becoming involved is exponentially more
beneficial. It can sometimes be the difference in getting into
graduate/professional school or landing your first job. Despite the well
accepted benefits of professional involvement, many students are lacking
in this area, beyond simply being members.
ACSM, which takes great pride in
its benefits to students, provides numerous opportunities to become more
intimately involved within the organization. Over the course of the
coming year, the Student
Electronic Newsletter, published quarterly
right here on the website, will focus on opportunities to increase your
involvement, both within the ACSM organization and, more generally,
within the field of Exercise Science and Sports
Medicine.
Whether you are looking to be more
involved in ACSM committees, or are interested in gaining hands-on
experience through internships in your local area, this newsletter will
provide information to help you in the right direction. So, if you are
interested in learning about opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic,
or Texas areas, see
below. Then, check back periodically to see other regional information,
posted throughout the coming year. We, the Student Affairs Committee
(SAC), hope you find these articles informative and if you have any
questions feel free to contact the author of specific articles or myself
(matallen@iupui.edu).
Sport and Exercise Science
Opportunities in the Rocky Mountain
High State
By Scott Drum, RMACSM Regional
Chapter
Annually, the Rocky
Mountain American College
of Sports Medicine (RMACSM) regional conference is held
either somewhere on the Front Range (Denver,
Fort
Collins, Boulder, etc.) or
in the mountains. This year's RMACSM Chapter meeting will be held in the
mountains in Frisco,
CO,
the weekend of February 6, 2004. The keynote speaker will be Per-Olof
Astrand, Ph.D., who will speak about historical perspectives of exercise
physiology. Contact the current RMACSM president, Brian
Tracy, Ph.D., (tracybl@cahs.colostate.edu) of Colorado State University
in Fort Collins,
CO,
for details of the meeting.
The Rocky Mountain American
College of
Sports Medicine's (RMACSM) primary goal is to facilitate student
involvement during RMACSM meetings. For example, Doctoral and Master's
students routinely present posters of their current research. Each
poster session is full of discussion and debate about study designs,
statistical processes, and most notably study outcomes. Each poster is
carefully judged by a panel of RMACSM Board members, who volunteer their
time to review abstracts, initially, then the actual poster and
presentation of it at the regional conference. Annually, over $2000 is
given away to student presenters. Of interest, the top four posters vie
for the top money award by giving a 10-15 minute oral presentation about
their research. Therefore, all presenters are required to be ready with
a PowerPoint presentation prior to the meeting. Overall, the top six
posters receive a cash award.
To further facilitate student,
faculty, and professional development, a RMACSM Chapter sponsored fall
lecture tour is annually created to bring together scholars and
professionals from all over the Front Range of Colorado. This year the
Fall Lecture tour will be held from October 22-24. The featured speaker
is Bill Haskell, Ph.D., who will speak about "A Comparison of the Effects of Western Exercise
vs Tai Chi in Healthy Older Men and Women." Contact RMACSM president, Dr. Tracy, e-mail address noted
above, for further information.
In addition to RMACSM sponsored events,
local Universities offer degree opportunities in Sport and Exercise
Science. For example, a few of these programs include: the University of
Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, CO, which offers B.S., M.S., and
Ph.D. degrees; Colorado State University (CSU), which offers B.S. and
M.S. programs; and the University of Colorado-Boulder, which offers
B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. Search each of the above mentioned
university programs online for additional information.
As a cornerstone of B.S. and M.S.
programs, a variety of RMACSM Chapter schools offer internships. For
instance, UNC offers an internship in cancer rehabilitation at the Rocky
Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute. Students perform one-on-one
exercise training sessions with cancer clients in addition to collecting
physiological and psychological data during exercise assessments. The
opportunity for personal research on cancer rehabilitation is also a
possibility. CSU maintains an adult fitness program for the community
of Fort Collins that
provides graduate and undergraduate students with clinical
opportunities. Furthermore, many RMACSM chapter institutions maintain
relationships with community fitness, wellness, and medical centers as a
way to cultivate student professional development in addition to
providing real world work experience prior to
graduation.
All in all, the enthusiasm of faculty,
students, and region-wide professionals help to maintain the high
quality of RMACSM programs. Every annual meeting is full of current
research and provides students and others the opportunity to network
with members of the RMACSM. Because enthusiasm is contagious, more and
more people are helping to make the RMACSM Chapter a true rocky mountain
"high" experience.
Endeavor Alaska
By Jason DiGenarro
Alaska Chapter Student Representative
You've decided to pack up and continue
your academic endeavors in one of the most beautiful, untouched areas of
the world-Alaska. Perhaps you're an Alaskan student involved in studies
elsewhere, returning home during the summer to see your family and earn
some much needed money for the upcoming school year. Whether you
consider yourself Alaskan for three, nine, or all twelve months of the
year, there are many opportunities to get involved around the
state.
Unfortunately, the major
universities in Alaska (Universities of
Alaska Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Southeast) offer few programs directly relating to
exercise and sport science. Alaskan students wishing to pursue degrees
at out-of-state colleges in this and related fields are welcome to apply
for a Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship. This program
provides financial support for students who achieve and maintain high
levels of academics by paying a large portion of the difference between
resident and non-resident tuition. Similar programs are available
through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
Education (WICHE) and
can be found by accessing their website at www.wiche.edu.
If your research or personal
interests take you on a less-beaten path in sports medicine, you'll find
yourself right at home in the presence of a variety of unique athletic
events. Past university research has focused on the training and
performance of athletes involved in the Alaskan Native Olympics,
Iditarod, and more sporting events unique to the climate and terrain of
this wild state. Research endeavors in Alaska are
supported by funds from many sources. For example, the Experimental
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) sets aside fellowship
stipends and grants to help promote novel research studies conducted in
the state. For more information, contact EPSCoR at epscor@alaska.edu.
Opportunities in the Lone Star
State
Joshua Wooten, Texas Woman's
University
The objectives of the
Texas chapter are
to facilitate the promotion and support of student involvement in
educational and research endeavors and introduce students to ACSM.
The Texas chapter of
ACSM provides students a unique and valuable exposure to a broad variety
of disciplines such as exercise physiology, sport psychology, nutrition,
athletic training and rehabilitation, and medicine. The diversity of
programs in the Texas chapter allows both undergraduate and graduate students the
option to study at one of over 25 programs. Additionally, students have
the option to pursue either an internship or research study track at
many of the institutions in the Texas chapter.
Institutions in the
Texas chapter
provide students internships in, but not limited to, athletic training,
sport and clinical nutrition, cardiac rehabilitation, wellness and
corporate fitness, and physical and occupational therapy. Corporate
fitness internships are available at some of the countries leading
Fortune 500 companies such as Texas Instruments and
Compaq/Hewlett-Packard. Students with a clinical interest can pursue
internships at the Cooper Institute (www.cooperinst.org/intrn.asp) or at one of the many hospitals throughout
the state of Texas. Further information on internships can be obtained from the
internship coordinator at your university.
Research study tracks provide
students the opportunity to develop critical skills such as
problem-solving and critical thinking in a variety of exercise-based
sub-disciplines. The Texas chapter
provides students over $2000 in funding for research development grants,
manuscript awards, and awards for poster presentations at each annual
meeting. The chapter's primary goal is to provide students an
opportunity-rich environment for growth and development as future
professionals. Additionally, annual meetings focus on student oriented
presentations and workshops. Applications and information on deadlines
for submissions of abstracts for poster presentations, research
development grants and manuscript awards can be obtained at the
chapter's website or by contacting your local TACSM student
delegate.
Students who wish to become active
in the chapter can do so by volunteering as a student delegate for their
university's program. Student delegates represent a cornerstone for the
chapter, providing a link between the chapter and student's interests at
your respected institution. Additionally, undergraduate and graduate
students can also become involved in the chapter's annual meeting by
presenting research posters and/or attending the student-lunch meeting
to voice opinions, suggestions, or concerns. The chapter is presently in
demand for new student delegates for many of the institutions in
Texas and is
welcoming either undergraduate or graduate volunteers. If you would like
more information on this opportunity, please feel free to contact me at
anytime (jwooten2@twu.edu). The upcoming TACSM annual meeting will be
February 27-28, 2004 at University of Texas-Tyler, in Tyler, TX. For more
information on the Texas chapter, membership,
and a list of links to all the institutions in the state of
Texas, visit the
chapter's new website at www.tacsm.org.
Opportunities right on the
MARC
Summer Baldwin, Syracuse University
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter (MARC)
of the ACSM provides several great opportunities for both undergraduate
and graduate students. Although often thought about only when the
regional meeting draws near, the MARC works year-round to increase
student involvement and promote scientific professionalism in the field
of exercise physiology.
Students presenting research at the
regional chapter meeting can gain excellent experience through positive
feedback and constructive critiques. Every student presenter at the
conference is also eligible for various undergraduate and graduate
student investigator awards totaling over $1500 in prize money. This
year the conference will be held at Fernwood Resort in Bushkill, PA.
The itinerary for the conference includes a wide range of
topics from student centered issues like finding the right graduate
school and interviewing for jobs to various presentations regarding
nutrition, cardiac rehabilitation, strength and conditioning and
exercise physiology. This year's conference stands out from years past
as MARC is collaborating with the National Strength and Conditioning
Association (NSCA). Fitness demonstrations and hands on experience are
likely to take place and researchers, fitness professionals, coaches and
clinicians can gain useful knowledge about strength and conditioning.
The student raffle at the annual MARC conference should be exciting as
well. Not only will students have the opportunity to win some of the
newest textbooks around, but NSCA is likely to donate some special
prizes.
If you have yet to visit to the
MARC website, you're missing out on a valuable informational tool even
if you're not a chapter member. By visiting www.marcacsm.org, you will
find links to valuable websites utilized by all students and
professionals in the field of exercise and health science. For example,
click on the word Academia and you'll see links to
human anatomy atlases and several exercise physiology journals. Click
on Employment
Information and you'll find a listing of your
dream jobs in sports medicine and exercise science. Student Resources provides links to websites about professional writing while the
link for Tests and
Measurements can bring you to the Electronic
Statistics Textbook and various physiological calculators. Do you want
to know about how many calories you burned during your exercise session?
If so, you should click on the Activity Calorie Counter. There are also
other calculators that can make mathematical conversions simple and
fast. The website is continually updated so keep checking back for more
useful information.
All in all, the Mid-Atlantic Region
of the ACSM goes above and beyond their mission statement to "To foster
the professional and educational development of students and to promote
the dissemination of health and exercise related information from ACSM
National through the scientific resources within MARC." With the
increasing student enrollment and greater faculty participation, the
MARC is sure to leave its mark on the ACSM.
QUARTERLY SPOTLIGHT
- "ACSM and All It Has to Offer"
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