About the Academy
The Academy of Exercise Medicine is a non profit 501(3c) organization formed by a working group of 30+ clinician-scientists with backgrounds in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Exercise Science, and other disciplines.
Our Mission
To build, facilitate, implement, and disseminate innovative, flexible, and accessible pathways to competency and mastery in the clinical and scholarly discipline of Exercise Medicine, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics (EMD&T).
Our Vision
Fueled by research, clinical practice, and patient and community engagement, AEM serves clinicians, patients and communities by advocating for advanced training, practice competency, and innovation in EMD&T.
A Critical Gap in Medicine
Evidence connecting physical activity to health, longevity and improved disease management is well recognized. Over 9,200 PubMed citations between 2015 and 2023 alone document the role of exercise as medicine across dozens of clinical conditions. The NIH has invested more than $200 million in the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity (MoTrPAC) study. Yet, while eighty-six percent of providers believe exercise matters for their patients — only 16% actually prescribe it.
There is no dedicated, comprehensive, post graduate education program that trains individuals in the range of knowledge and skills defining exercise medicine diagnostics and theraputics, although elements are found in a number of subspecialty programs.
The Academy of Exercise Medicine was created to address this gap: to define the core competencies of this field, support the development of training programs, and grow the professional community that will make exercise medicine part of the standard of care.
AEM is working to create, nurture, and implement a core set of EMD&T knowledge and skills essential for clinicians across a wide range of medical specialties.
From Working Group to Academy
Working Group Formed
EMD&T National Working Group established with 30+ clinician-scientists across 15+ specialties.
Stakeholder Engagement
Outreach to ACGME staff, national societies, and CTSA hubs to build consensus and support.
ACGME Submission
Formal application submitted to ACGME in May 2024 for recognition of EMD&T as a new subspecialty.
Academy Formation
Working group transforms into the Academy of Exercise Medicine — a formal professional society and nonprofit enterprise.
Platform Launch
Digital platform launches for institutional recruitment, member engagement, and public education.
Working Group & Leadership
Over 30 clinician-scientists from 15+ specialties and subspecialties, representing the nation's leading academic medical centers.
Dan M. Cooper, MD
UC Irvine
Pediatric Pulmonology & Exercise Medicine
Founder & Chair
Kathy Sietsema, MD
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Officer
William Stringer, MD
Harbor-UCLA
Pulmonary & Critical Care
Board Member
William Kraus, MD
Duke University
Cardiology
Board Member
Peter Koenig, MD
Northwestern
Pediatric Cardiology
Board Member
Cemal Ozemek, PhD
University of Illinois Chicago
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Board Member
Ghazal Sieno
UC Irvine
Administrator
Jeremy Robbins, MD
Beth Israel-Deaconess
Cardiology
Board Member
Katherine Hansen, MD
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Pediatric & Exercise Cardiology
Board Member
Kendra Ward, MD
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Pediatric Cardiology
Board Member
Naomi Gauthier, MD
Boston Children's Hospital
Exercise Cardiology
Board Member
Dawn Ericson Woods, MD
Boston Children's Hospital
Pediatric Cardiology & Exercise Medicine
Board Member