It has been my honor and privilege to serve as president this past year. As I reflect on our great ambitions and impressive successes, I am humbled to be a part of the ACSM community and the collaborative efforts that are driving us toward a powerful future. Let me share a few highlights from the president’s seat.
We cast a vision by developing a new strategic plan that will guide our organization and serve members and certified professionals for the next several years. The comprehensive plan consists of a new vision statement, updated mission statement, organizational values, bold goals and supporting initiatives. The plan was approved by the ACSM Board of Trustees on June 3, 2023. I want to acknowledge and thank Bill Kraus, M.D., FACSM for his incredible work as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.
We also welcomed William Roberts, M.D., FACSM as ACSM’s new chief medical officer. Recognizing the critical role our clinicians play within ACSM, and the critical role ACSM plays in the sports medicine profession, we made it a priority to establish this new role. Bill has hit the ground running, and his leadership is already having an impact.
Publishing scientific journals and books is part of our DNA. We continued to solidify our leadership in this area by introducing a new journal, Exercise, Sport, and Movement, and publishing two scientific pronouncements on the topics of Physical Activity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Exertional Heat Illness: Recognition, Management, and Return to Activity.
Finally, we maintained our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and made significant progress in engaging members and infusing them into new leadership positions. More than 350 members applied to be on ACSM committees, more than tripling last year’s number. Their fresh perspectives and untapped skills and abilities will serve us well and move us forward into the future.
Of course, these highlights just scratch the surface, and you’ll learn more by reading the rest of the report. As president, I am grateful for the trust and confidence you put in me, and I never took that lightly. Just as I’ve cherished my ACSM membership over the years, I will also cherish my year serving you as president. Thank you for the opportunity.
Anastasia Fischer, M.D., FACSM, President
American College of Sports Medicine