BooneThink

Hello, hello — can anyone hear me? Is anyone out there? Anyone with their heads above the ground, perhaps, not buried in failed thinking or something? Frankly, I’m convinced that exercise physiologists are amazingly slow to catch on. For some months now I’ve posted information that isn’t mainstream exercise physiology and no one (NO ONE) is remotely interested in responding. Talk about indifference. Great job EPs, but the joke is on you. Your failure to look at things as they really are will bite you in the butt. It is just a matter of time. But, for all the doctorate EPs, before you feel the bite, your students will be consumed (i.e., if you care about students). That’s right, if you cared at all, because it seems to me if you did care, you would understand the need for professionalism in exercise physiology. I’ve been writing about it since 1998; in fact, maybe 2000 pages or so. But who is counting?

As to ethics, there are ethical ramifications of doing nothing. The water is rising, but those who sit in yesterday’s pool don’t sense how high it is rising. It is really strange because every other profession is working their little tails off rounding the wagons. They get it. They understand the power in numbers, and why a professional organization is a mandate to their success. The problem with the doctorate EPs, yes, they have doctorate degrees, is that they don’t care. You heard me right. As long as they get from their work what makes them happy, what’s the deal? And yet, students are sinking everyday right in front of their eyes.

Even some of the ASEP members, those in big time positions, aren’t working hard enough to change exercise science degree programs to exercise physiology. That…I just don’t get either. But, life is life and what can a person do? Everything I’ve written constitutes an ethical issue. Why? I regard an ethical issue as anything that creates circumstances that are unnecessary or problematic. Student problems after graduation with a degree in exercise science is problematic, and it is an ethical problem. The rat is out. Others get it. The only exercise physiologists are the doctorate prepared and they don’t give a rat’s butt about students. Well, that is true unless they need them to do their research projects.

College teachers have a huge responsibility to students that goes beyond lecturing in their one or two courses per semester. They have a big personal responsibility to students that goes beyond using them as subjects in the research. And yet, as I see it, they are not justified to continue teaching without doing something about the issues and concerns that are obvious to every graduate. And, yes, there are other problems too, like academic degree programs today that actually are physical education degrees without the traditional emphasis on a lot of activity courses. There are other issues, especially the fact that few students actually make it to financially stable jobs without changing “academic” careers or getting the doctorate degree. Of course the problem with the latter is they, too, become part of the same problem repeating itself over and over.

And what is very strange about what I’m writing is that none of it is controversial to academic EPs. This, I’m afraid, is truly the final breath to a sinking ship. Long story short, EPs simply lack the expertise (or will) to tackle this problem. Or, maybe they only enjoy doing what pleases them (which is really bad). Regardless, this piece is not about a set of rules or a “to do” list or a “not to do” list. It is not about me either. It is about students who are affected by the EP decision to do nothing about changing what is to something better.

Okay, I get that EPs are humans and that they differ as individuals. Actually, this point isn’t that hard to grasp. But, my posting isn’t so much about their likes and dislikes and so forth. Rather, it is about the principle of equality. Students have the right to a better education than they are getting. Under no circumstances is the exercise science degree worth the financial investment or the students’ state of mind when their eyes are fully open.

So these are the facts and emotions that run current with my thinking about EP tonight. If academic EPs fail to become part of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, if they fail to support the ASEP Code of Ethics, accreditation and certification efforts, and the professional perspective that undergirds the organization, when they have been encouraged to do so, thus allowing exercise physiology to wash about as though it were in a washing machine without purpose or direction, and failing to do anything about it, it would seem then their indifference is accompanied by not just disrepect and arrogance but plain and simple — selfishness.  You heard me right!  SELFISHNESS.

During their brief history, few have called upon exercise physiologists to think outside the box.  Few have even thought about exercise physiologists as entrepreneurs.  The reasons are many, but primarily because exercise physiologists have always been defined by the academic setting.

The majority of doctorate prepared exercise physiologists work in academic institutions.  Those who aren’t teachers usually work in cardiac rehabilitation or occasionally in research setting within a business.  And, those without the doctorate degree can be found in many different jobs.

Remember, there are thousands of graduates without the doctorate degree who are not exercise physiologists.  And yet, more often than not, they refer to themselves as exercise physiologists.  Naturally, they look for any job that is available to them.

Most employers aren’t aware that these so-called exercise physiologists frequently have a degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science!  They may also have a degree in exercise science or even physical education with a concentration in human performance.  Frankly, the combination of degree programs and minors is a mess.

As a result, many graduates of these programs are frustrated and angry.  The lack of a common exercise physiology major for all students, the emphasis on non-exercise physiology courses, and the decreased respect, autonomy and job security have taken their toll.

Exercise science majors and kinesiology majors, in particular, are experiencing a crisis of personal identity, often feeling powerless, due to low status.  Many are at forced to go back to school and get a different major (e.g., nursing or physical therapy).  These events have led some academic exercise physiologists to take a long, hard look at their programs.

There must be a better way.  To some, entrepreneurship is the way.  Circumstances, especially the existence of exercise science programs in traditional physical education (or now kinesiology) departments, compel exercise physiologists to seek another way.  And, unless the old gives way to the new way, students will never be part of a profession and they will never secure financial stability.

There is nothing like working part-time for $12 or $15 an hour after graduating from college.  It is madness.  And, if academic exercise physiologists can’t get their act together, then graduates will have to make their own decisions about career matters.  The opportunities for healthcare are many, but those who practice it must be qualified and credible.

This is why student must demand credible academic programs, especially if the faculty encourages graduates to call themselves exercise physiologists.  And if the academic degree title isn’t going to change, then students must convince the faculty to offer solid exercise physiology courses and hands-on laboratory experiences.

At least, then, the students will have a reasonable opportunity to challenge the Board Certification exam offered by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists in corporation with The Center for Exercise Physiology-online.  Having passed the EPC exam, these students can then refer themselves as “Exercise Physiologists.”

They will be held accountable to the ASEP Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice.  And, since they will be recognized as credible healthcare professionals, they increase their chances of financial stability upon venturing out on their own.  Their independence, freedom, and love of exercise will produce huge benefits, personally and professionally.

These EPC exercise physiologists are risk-takers and leaders.  They are self-disciplined, both in their healthcare practice and in their research projects, conferences, and consulting ventures.  They capitalize on integrating business skills and behaviors with their practice to help clients and patients stay healthy and/or get well.

This is the power of an independent practice.  Exercise physiologists will develop their own partnerships and corporations that offer a variety of exercise physiology services to clients at schools, home, healthcare and/or athletic clinics, hospitals, and everywhere exercise as medicine can be used to enhance health, wellness, fitness, rehabilitation, and sports training.

As entrepreneurs, the Board Certified exercise physiologists will assume increased roles of consultants, writers, therapists, holistic practitioners, managers, inventors, and specialists.  It will a good day.