Vice President Candidate

Sandra J. Hoffmann, M.D., FACSM
Associate Clinical Professor and
Team Physician
Idaho State University
Pocatello, ID

1.  Please list your previous service to ACSM.

I have served on numerous ACSM Committeess including Chair, Medical Education Committee (current), Program Committee (current),  Board of Trustees and Administrative Council, Membership Committee, Ethics Committee, Medical Education Committee (member), and SHI for Aging. 

Additionally, in 2012 I was instrumental in  ACSM receiving "Accreditation with Commendation" (5 years) from the ACCME, the governing body that accredits physician Continuing Medical Education Programs.  This commendation ensures that CME programs offered by the College are of the highest quality.  I have also been active in giving presentations at Regional Chapter Meetings, the Annual Meeting, and International Team Physician Courses.

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

ACSM’s greatest strength is its interdisciplinary and international membership working toward improving global health through its “Exercise is Medicine®” (EIM) initiative.  ACSM is uniquely positioned as a professional organization to promote physical activity globally both for health promotion and disease prevention, because of its scientific, applied, and clinical membership.  As part of the leadership of the College as a member of the Board of Trustees (2006-2009), Administrative Council (2006-2009), and currently Chair of the Medical Education Committee, I support the continued growth and expansion of EIM including the sponsorship by the American Medical Association and other medical professional societies.  The expansion of EIM into a global initiative is highlighted by the “World Congress on Exercise is Medicine®”.

Through my networking and ACSM service (BOT, Administrative Council, Medical Education, Membership, Ethics, and SHI-Aging Committees), I was inspired to initiate and complete a federal grant to provide curriculum development and clinical training to Family Medicine Residents in physical activity, nutrition, behavioral change, and health promotion for persons of all ages.  This grant provided a model for a “Medical Home” in which physicians coordinate care with other healthcare professionals and screen patients in their clinic for referral to community resources.   As Vice-President, I would use the experience developed through this grant, as well as EIM, to strengthen the next phase of EIM, to disseminate best practices to physicians to help them promote physical activity within their clinical practices, particularly by referral to ACSM certified specialists as well as other community resources.

3.   What is a second area of ACSM that you would like for the College to make additional progress, and how could that best be done?

If I were elected Vice President, I would advocate for the College to continue to expand and strengthen its advocacy and public policy efforts.  As part of the College’s public policy efforts I fully support that certified healthcare professionals, including ACSM certified specialists, be reimbursed for education and professional services provided to patients.  I would advocate for ACSM to continue its relationship with Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology, and the promotion of increased financial support for translational research as it applies to physical activity, nutrition, health promotion, and disease prevention across the lifespan.

4.  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.

As a Vice-President I will bring skills and experience in healthcare delivery, financing, and healthcare reform to my role at ACSM through my leadership role in my local hospital Foundation Board.

In January 2009, I was appointed to serve on the Portneuf Healthcare Foundation Board.  This board was created in 2009 when Bannock County, a largely rural and economically depressed county in Idaho sold their local hospital to a for-profit hospital corporation, so the citizens of the County could ensure that quality and affordable health care would continue to be provided to its citizens.