Exercise Medicine Is a Clinical Discipline — Not Just Fitness Advice
Exercise Medicine, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics (EMD&T) refers to the use of knowledge and skills in human performance biology in clinical medical practice. It is applicable to a wide range of primary disciplines ranging from the assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise prescription in primary care to the use of exercise evaluation in pre-operative risk stratification or as an aid to complex medical decision making in chronic disease populations.
Clinicians with expertise in EMD&T are equipped to assess exercise function using a range of validated instruments, design exercise prescriptions, conduct quality-assured exercise laboratory testing, and have specific expertise in the application of exercise assessments in the context of their training discipline.
Diagnostics
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing including data interpretation and laboratory quality assurance across diverse patients and conditions
Therapeutics
- Exercise prescription in health and disease.
- Disease-specific, evidence-based exercise prescription and supervised training for high-risk patients
- Incorporation of behavioral science as applied to the application of exercise prescription
Research & Innovation
- Exploring novel applications of exercise science in health and disease
- Advancing use of exercise variables in clinical trials
- Incorporation of exercise data in electronic health records
Quality & Equity
- Understanding and addressing disparities in exercise opportunities and access to clinical exercise medicine providers, and the impact of these disparities on health across a lifespan
Two Paths to Engage with AEM
For Institutions
Faculty at institutions interested in providing advanced training for clinicians in EMD&T can join our multidisciplinary providers at 16 academic centers as we continue to refine our AEM 1 year competency-based curriculum for training.
- Structured 6-EPA curriculum framework
- Cost-effectiveness evidence for program justification
- Synergy with existing subspecialty programs
- National organizational endorsement and support
For Clinicians & Researchers
Join a national community of physicians, clinicians, and scientists united by the clinical discipline of exercise medicine. Shape the future of EMD&T as a founding member.
- Professional network across specialties and institutions
- Curriculum standards and educational resources
- Research collaboration opportunities
- Credentialing pathway as the discipline formalizes
National Organizations Backing EMD&T
ATS
National Medical Society
“We firmly believe that the EMD&T fellowship will profoundly benefit our patient’s health by setting competencies in exercise medicine and mastery in physical fitness testing and monitoring for physicians.”
— M. Patricia Rivera, MD, ATSF — President
NASPEM
Professional Society
“We firmly believe that the EMD&T fellowship will profoundly benefit child health by setting competencies in exercise medicine, mastery in physical fitness testing, and monitoring for physicians.”
— Shannon Siegel, PhD — NASPEM President
CTSA Hubs
9 NIH-funded Research Hubs
“The goal of the proposed EMD&T to provide physicians with competency and mastery in exercise medicine for clinical applications synergizes with CTSA Hub efforts to increase the availability of clinicians with robust skills to contribute to clinical and translational research.”
— Principal Investigators of 9 CTSA Hubs