ACSM’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) bring together passionate educators, researchers, clinicians, practitioners, and students who are advancing a particular interest area of sports medicine and exercise science in meaningful ways. Since launching the SIG of the Month series last December, we have highlighted the Combat Sports, Exercise Science Education, Cancer, and Pregnancy and Postpartum SIGs, which truly demonstrates the breadth of ACSM’s membership and how anyone can find their home in our community.
Check out the SIGs featured from December 2025 through March 2026, and the incredible contributions each one is making across ACSM and beyond.
December: Combat Sports SIG
Watch Roman Fomin, PhD, SIG Chair and Jessi Warner, ACSM’s Director of Partnerships and Sponsorships, at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas where Dr. Fomin discusses how his SIG brings ACSM members of all disciplines together to advance the performance of combat sports athletes. The Combat Sports SIG hosted a collaborative, invite-only summit bringing together experts from multiple disciplines to explore cutting-edge research and practical applications.
January: Exercise Science Education SIG
Led by Rachele Kappler, PhD, FACSM, ACSM-CEP; Juliana Marino, MS, ACSM-CEP; Jonathan Howard, PhD, ACSM-CEP, ACSM-EP; and Diba Mani, PhD, this group empowers educators to deliver innovative, impactful teaching to exercise science students. From producing a webinar on using AI in your teaching to providing resources for integrating ACSM journals into your curriculum, this SIG is shaping the future of exercise science education.
February: Cancer SIG
The ACSM Cancer SIG aims to promote the study of physical activity to address cancer, bringing members of all professional backgrounds together, from clinicians and basic scientists to exercise physiologists and applied practitioners. Each February, this SIG partners with ACSM to provide substantial resources for members who work with cancer patients or individuals recovering from cancer. The Cancer SIG shows how ACSM thrives when multiple disciplines come together to deliver well-rounded subject matter expertise. Learn more about what the Cancer SIG has to offer from its leaders, Melanie Potiaumpai, PhD, MPH, ACSM-EP; Erik Hanson, PhD, FACSM; Lia O’Connor, ACSM-EP; and David Bartlett, PhD
March: Pregnancy and Postpartum SIG
The Pregnancy and Postpartum SIG, led by Rachel Tinius, PhD, FACSM, ACSM-EP; Sara Santarossa, PhD; and Margie Davenport, PhD, brings together experts across disciplines to advance safe, practical exercise recommendations for pregnant and postpartum individuals. The SIG plays a key role in shaping research that informs ACSM guidelines and educational content. What began as a research-focused group now includes multi-disciplinary practitioners, strengthening the real-world application and impact of this emerging body of evidence.
ACSM’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are a forum for focused discussion, activity, and debate among ACSM members with similar, specific interests across the globe. SIGs are free to join for ACSM members, including students. Join a SIG today!
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