ABSTRACT
In 1997, the ASEP leaders understood the importance of a vision. They had a dream, and they still believe in the dream. They believe new leadership will help produce new career opportunities for the students of exercise physiology, unify exercise physiologists as exercise medicine professionals, support the vision, standards of practice, teaching, research, and professionalization of exercise physiologists, and empower the members to serve the public good by making an academically sound difference in the application of exercise physiology concepts and insights. The ASEP leaders believe the lack of credible jobs can be reversed with the right leadership. They believe exercise science should be updated to exercise physiology, and an entirely new way of thinking about exercise should be that exercise physiologists are leaders in exercise medicine. This means that such thinking must be acknowledged by the chairperson and the faculty of the department. They must assume responsibility of providing an ethically sound academic degree. They must want to participate in the ASEP thinking that supports the exercise physiology degree and the ASEP Board Certification as prerequisite to practicing as a Board Certified Exercise Physiologist with the expectation to prescribe exercise medicine. This way of thinking is a dream and a vision. The truth is life is too precious to be lived in mediocrity and, fortunately, ASEP Board Certified Exercise Physiologists have an extensive scientific knowledge base supported by critical thinking skills and sophisticated hands-on laboratory skills to help them become an essential part of the healthcare practice. All that is needed now are more exercise physiologists who are willing to assert themselves and to think positive when working to overcome status quo and the dogma of academic institutions and the mindset of generic organizations.
