The Neglected Culture of Professionalism
“The crisis of a young man’s life may be reached exactly when he half-realizes that he is fatally overcommitted to what he is not.” — Erik Erikson [Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History, p. 43]
The neglected theme in exercise physiology is the culture of professionalism. Indeed, one could conclude that essentially no one in the field is writing about the professional development of exercise physiologists. Outside the context of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, professionalism per se remains undefined. Unfortunately, too many colleagues believe that doing things that support the fitness professional is sufficient work that defines professionalism. It’s not. The professionalization of exercise physiology got its start in 1997, although academic exercise physiologists have been doing their thing for some 50 years. However, regardless of the work of the academics, just as the first “World” Series was played in 1884, the first “board certified” professional exercise physiologist was not defined until 2000. In other words, professional recognition as an educator and/or researcher by itself it not enough to define a profession. A higher standard of education, graduation, and expectation, among other criteria, are important to creating the culture of professionalism. There are more elaborate rituals that define and support a theoretical body of knowledge from which the practitioners are recognized as having the authority and respect to practice throughout society. The ASEP leaders recognize that exercise physiology is no longer a discipline or an occupation. Rather, exercise physiology has become a profession with a “code of ethics.” Now, the opportunity exists to properly merge one’s education with a defined healthcare career. In fact, the first really important step at the professionalization of exercise physiology waited until the development of the ASEP “board certification” and career-driven “standards of practice.” Fortunately, exercise physiologists are no longer muddling along. The professionalization process is in full swing; it is establishing the direction and the culture of the future of exercise physiologists as healthcare professionals.