UCF Recognized by Exercise is Medicine for Efforts to Create Culture of Wellness on Campus

The University of Central Florida is one of only 156 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by Exercise is Medicine (EIM) for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Events such as the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science Conference helped UCF earn Silver designation from the Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program.

EIM is a U.S.-based health initiative co-launched by the American College of Sports Medicine and American Medical Association. Of the 156 campuses EIM recognized this year, 73 received gold, 60 silver and 23 bronze. All gold, silver and bronze universities and colleges will be officially recognized on June 1 as part of the 2022 Exercise is Medicine World Congress, held in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting.

“The Exercise is Medicine On Campus program gives us an opportunity to highlight the resources, organizations, and academic units emphasizing health, movement, and physical activity at UCF,” says David Fukuda, a faculty member from the College of Health Professions and Sciences who leads the Exercise is Medicine work group. “We’re excited to receive the Silver-level recognition in our first partial year with this affiliation and look forward to further demonstrating our commitment to the program moving forward.”

UCF’s honor recognizes collaborative efforts from students and faculty across all colleges at the university, with especially dedicated efforts from health-focused areas, like College of Health Professions and Sciences, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, Student Health Services, and the Recreation and Wellness Center.

Other events that UCF has hosted or participated in to earn this recognition include the Healthy Knights Expo, Recharge to Charge On – Yoga for Faculty and Staff, the 2021 MidKnight 5K, Meditation Minutes, and the Mountain Biking Adventure Trip.

“We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,” says Robyn Stuhr, vice president of Exercise is Medicine. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in healthcare.”