Trustee Candidate: Medicine

Erik Adams M.D., Ph.D., FACSM
Sports Medicine Physician
Midwest Sports Medicine
Middleton, WI

1.  Please list your previous service to ACSM. 

ACSM has provided me with valuable direction and focus for my career, and the people I have gotten to know within ACSM have been my role models.  I have been grateful to have been able to serve ACSM in the following capacities:
Member since 1996, attended all annual meetings
Medical Education Committee, 2008-2012
Medical Education Committee liaison to Publications Committee
International Team Physician Course Faculty, Bogota, Colombia, Sept 2007
Review Panel Chair for ACSM’s Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Disease and Disability, 3rd ed, JL Durstine, Ed.
Review Panel Chair for Preventing Sudden Death in Sports and Physical Activity, D Casa, Ed.
Annual meeting contributions: multiple symposia, workshops, lectures, clinical case panel chair, clinical case panelist, case presentations
Developed and teach ACSM musculoskeletal ultrasound course in conjunction with Annual Meeting
Reviewer for ACSM’s Current Sports Medicine Reports

2.  What is ACSM’s greatest strength and how would you make that aspect of the organization even stronger? 

ACSM’s greatest strength is the depth of experience and knowledge of its members.  The membership of our College includes the best experts in a wide variety of exercise- and sports- related fields: clinicians, teachers and scientists.  Having a Ph.D. in Chemistry as well as an M.D. allows me to appreciate the value that both researchers and clinicians bring to our organization, as well as to “speak their languages.”  If we are to effectively combat the coming wave of chronic disease associated with inactivity, we will rely deeply upon the expertise of our members from all fields.  As such, we need leadership that can communicate with all facets of our organization.  I see my future involvement as consisting of the following:

• Explore new ways to bring together the research and clinical worlds within ACSM.
• Improve public recognition of the importance and validity of what we do within ACSM.
• Encourage excellence in our members’ work through collaboration within ACSM.  
• We need to find new ways to formalize collaborative relationships.

3.  ACSM works closely with many other organizations, including associations, companies, philanthropies, and governmental agencies. Indicate those organizations/companies/agencies for which you play an advisory, consulting, or leadership role.

Midwest Sports Medicine Institute, S.C. – Founder and Director
University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine: Faculty appointment, resident teaching
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM): organize, lead and teach musculoskeletal ultrasound courses
Appleton Medical Center, Appleton, WI: Ultrasound instruction

My role at Midwest Sports Medicine Institute allows me to appreciate the intricacies of running a health care business and to bring Sports Medicine advances to the public.  Teaching ultrasound courses keeps me connected to a broader clinical community and lets me be involved in changes and developments in this important clinical tool.