American College of Sports Medicine


The American College of Sports Medicine, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a large sports medicine and exercise science membership organization. Founded in 1954, ACSM promotes and integrates scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life. Members of the ACSM work in a wide range of medical specialties, allied health professions, and scientific disciplines, and are committed to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sports-related injuries and the advancement of the science of exercise. International, National and Regional chapter members hail from more than 80 countries around the world.
ACSM also offers certifications and continuing education for fitness professionals as well as clinicians.
Strategic initiatives include: Exercise is Medicine, ACSM American Fitness Index, , and .

Leadership

The current ACSM elected offices are held by:
The founding meeting of the "Federation of Sports Medicine" took place in New York City at the Hotel Statler on April 22, 1954, as part of the afternoon program of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. The following year, the American College of Sports Medicine was officially incorporated, and 11 individuals were designated as founders. This group was composed of seven men and one woman with careers in physical education, and three physicians. The physical educators were Clifford Brownell, Ph.D. Ernst Jok, M.D., Peter Karpovich, M.D., Leonard Larson, Ph.D. Grover Mueller, M.S., Neils Neilson, Ph.D, Josephine Rathbone, Ph.D. and Arthur Steinhaus, Ph.D. Although they had training in physical education or were employed in departments of physical education, Jokl, Larson, Karpovich, and Steinhaus were primarily involved in research dealing with the physiology of exercise. The physicians were Louis Bishop, M.D., Albert Hyman, M.D., and Joseph Wolffe, M.D. All three were practicing cardiologists.
The ACSM national headquarters moved to Indianapolis in 1984, joining organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and national sport-specific governing bodies.

Membership

ACSM members represent more than 70 disciplines in sports medicine and exercise science. ACSM membership is offered in four categories:
ACSM has 12 regional chapters throughout the United States that ensure easy access to regional educational meetings.
The American College of Sports Medicine has a publishing program made up of books and journals dating back to 1975. The five journals, several books and various multimedia resources serve ACSM's diverse audiences.

Journals

ACSM's five leading scholarly journals provide access to cutting-edge research, relevant clinical reports and recent health-and-fitness information.
ACSM publishes several books and multimedia resources to serve a variety of readers across the spectrum of students and teachers, researchers, M.D.'s and clinicians, public health professionals and those in the health and fitness industry. ACSM is best known for , first published in 1975.
Some of ACSM's most popular titles include:
ACSM offers eight different certifications for fitness and clinical exercise professionals.
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The American College of Sports Medicine Foundation is a 501 nonprofit organization affiliated with and developed to support the American College of Sports Medicine, Inc. Each year the ACSM Foundation awards approximately $100,000 in research awards and scholarships. To sustain and build these funds, the Foundation conducts ongoing fundraising efforts.