Around 25-30 student organizations and community groups came together on the Academic Quad at West Chester University on Wednesday, April 22, for the annual Exercise Is Medicine Day (EIM) event. From 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, the quad buzzed with energy as attendees enjoyed free health screenings, giveaways, snacks, and interactive activities — all aimed at promoting wellness and the power of staying active.

The vision of Exercise Is Medicine, a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine, is to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere and of all abilities.

Exercise Is Medicine On Campus calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff, and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:

• Making movement a part of the daily campus culture;
• Assessing physical activity at every student health visit;
• Providing students with the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime; and
• Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription.

This year’s Exercise is Medicine Day featured a lively mix of activities and partnerships that kept attendees engaged throughout the event. Guests enjoyed lawn games, connected with the WCU Student Recreation Center, and participated in a “wellness passport” program, visiting tables and booths for a chance to win gift cards and prizes. The Office of Wellness Promotion brought its popular “Be Well Hut,” while speakers, activities, and information sessions offered valuable insights into healthy living. The event was organized with support from the College of Health Sciences Dean’s Office.

The event also welcomed a strong lineup of community partners and wellness providers, including the Fit Truck from the YMCA, West Chester Chiropractic, HOTWORX, Playa Bowls, Elite Therapy Solutions, Forever Strong Physical Therapy, Kinetic Physical Therapy, and Kinetic Reimagined — each offering resources, demonstrations, and opportunities for attendees to connect.

Melissa Reed, Ph.D., Professor of Kinesiology and Leader of WCU’s Exercise is Medicine initiative, highlighted the university’s ongoing commitment to health promotion. She noted that WCU has been an Exercise is Medicine On Campus registered school since 2018 and has maintained Gold Campus status — the highest designation — since 2019. Reed also serves as an American College of Sports Medicine Exercise is Medicine Ambassador.

Reed is credentialed as a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist and has earned a Level III Exercise is Medicine Credential, both through the American College of Sports Medicine. She is also a Centers for Disease Control Certified Lifestyle Coach (DPP Program). She was recently named executive director, Mid-Atlantic Region, for the American College of Sports Medicine.

About Our Partner

West Chester University

West Chester University exists to help students become who they’re meant to be. With top-ranked programs, a thriving campus scene, and deep roots in one of the region’s most vibrant communities, WCU is where ambition meets opportunity and where students from across Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area come to make their mark.

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