As I reflect on this extraordinary year serving as president of ACSM, one word continues to rise to the surface: connection. Connection to one another. Connection to our mission. Connection to the communities we serve and the future we are building together through movement, science, and service.
Throughout this year, I have had the privilege of meeting members across the country and around the world — students beginning their careers, longtime fellows whose wisdom continues to shape our profession, clinicians caring for patients, researchers advancing discovery, educators inspiring the next generation, and fitness professionals changing lives every day. In every conversation I was reminded that ACSM’s greatest strength is, and always will be, its people.
My presidential year focused on collaboration and strengthening partnerships that expand our reach and deepen our impact. Work continues in my Moving Together to Move Forward Task Force. Whether collaborating with international organizations, healthcare leaders, military and veteran communities, industry partners, or allied professional societies, we continued to demonstrate that ACSM is uniquely positioned to convene expertise and lead meaningful change. The challenges facing public health, physical inactivity and access to care are too large for any one organization to solve alone. Progress happens when we work together.
I am especially proud of the ways ACSM continued to elevate the importance of physical activity and movement across the lifespan and around the globe. We advanced conversations around healthy aging through EIM Active Aging, youth fitness, tactical athlete health, women’s health, and access to physical activity opportunities. We are also working on strengthened pathways for mentorship and professional development, ensuring that students and early career professionals feel welcomed, supported and empowered to lead. Investing in the next generation is essential to the future of ACSM and the future of our profession.
This year also reinforced the importance of innovation and adaptability. As science evolves and healthcare changes, ACSM must continue to lead boldly while remaining grounded in evidence, integrity and service. I have been inspired by the dedication of our Board of Trustees, volunteers, chapter leaders, committees, and ACSM staff who work tirelessly to move our mission forward. Their passion and commitment make this organization exceptional.
Serving as your president has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. I am deeply grateful for the friendships, collaboration and support I have experienced throughout this journey. Together, we have celebrated important accomplishments while continuing to build momentum for the future.
As you read this annual report, I hope you feel proud of what we have accomplished together and energized by the opportunities ahead. ACSM’s future is bright because of the extraordinary people who believe in our mission and live it every day.
With sincere gratitude,
Carrie A. Jaworski, MD, FACSM, FAAFP
ACSM President
Dear ACSM members, certified professionals, partners, friends, and supporters –
As I reflect on 2025, I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together at ACSM. This year was defined by transformation, progress, and a collective commitment to strengthening the future of our organization and the communities we serve.
Disruption and change seem to be a new normal. I like to think about change at ACSM as a tree. The roots of the tree are the core of who we are – ACSM’s values, mission, vision. Roots remain strong and enable the tree to bend but not break in the wind. Sometimes it is necessary to prune the tree, accept the changing color of the leaves in the fall and new leaves in the spring, or plant some new, complimentary trees that will feed into the root system. This analogy really resonates with me as ACSM continues to not only react to challenges, but to proactively drive change to meet the needs of our members, certified professionals, and all who count on ACSM for the support, education, and evidence-based resources needed to achieve our vision of movement for all.
It’s difficult to summarize a year of work in a short letter or report. Offering only a snapshot of ACSM’s accomplishments here, I encourage you to explore the Annual Report for a deeper look at the incredible work made possible by our Board of Trustees, hundreds of volunteer leaders and our exceptional staff.
ACSM’s success is driven by this extraordinary community you all belong to, and I am deeply grateful for your continued commitment and collaboration.
With gratitude and optimism,
Katie Feltman, CAE
Chief Executive Officer, ACSM
ACSM members and certified professionals are the lifeblood of our organization. Our main focus is to leverage their expertise and support their professional development to advance ACSM’s mission and vision. Through continuing education, networking, leadership development, professional opportunities, advocacy, research grants and more, ACSM is driven to deliver an unsurpassed customer experience for its stakeholders.
The primary goal of the ACSM Foundation is to support the mission and vision of ACSM by fulfilling fiduciary oversite and monitoring of all funds dedicated to research grants and travel awards. In addition, the long-term targets of the ACSM Foundation are to further optimize and grow existing funds, as well as identify new programs and funds which can further advance ACSM’s mission and vision and support ACSM members.
Most funds are restricted by the board to spending 4% of the gross reserves of that specific fund annually. A select number of funds will be spent in full and then sunset as determined by the fund’s initiating donor(s).
2026-2029 Priority Funds | Goal |
Autism Exercise Specialist Fund | $25,000 |
Lawrence A Golding Health & Fitness Fund | $15,000 |
Doctoral Student Research Fund | $1.25 Million |
Unrestricted | $500,000 |
President
Mark Hutchinson, MD, FACSM, University of Illinois – Chicago
Vice President
Walter Thompson, PhD, FACSM, Georgia State University
Treasurer
William Kraus, MD, FACSM, Duke University School of Medicine
Secretary
Katie Feltman, CAE, ACSM CEO
Directors
Direct queries/suggestions to Mark Hutchinson at mhutch@uic.edu or Gretchen Patch at gpatch@acsm.org.
ACSM’s evidence-based information informs public policy that encourages healthy lifestyles and the safe enjoyment of sports and other physical activity. Our members serve as expert resources for federal, state and community-level policy makers, ensuring that decisions are founded on the latest research. ACSM’s advocacy efforts are guided by the ACSM Board of Trustees, the Health and Science Policy Committee and all ACSM members.
ACSM Advocacy lobbies for bills that promote sports, health, physical activity, physical education and healthy lifestyles. ACSM works with the White House, Federal Agencies and the Congress to ensure that policies are in the best interest of ACSM and its stakeholders.
In pursuit of enhancing ACSM’s technological capabilities, a major step forward was the transition to a new, robust association management system (AMS), a newly built website (CMS), and a new learning management system (LMS) to house and deliver online learning. All systems launched on February 19, 2025.
Key accomplishments in 2025:
Total Certifieds
Exams Administered
Recertifications
Courses Offered
Online Learners
Revenue Generated
For more than 70 years, ACSM has been committed to advancing scientific research for the purpose of expanding knowledge, influencing behavior change, promoting safety and recovery and, ultimately, ensuring a better quality of life through the power of movement. ACSM is now established as the profession’s global scientific leader and continues to facilitate and distribute new research that champions the benefits of exercise for all people.
“American College of Sports Medicine Expert Consensus Statement: Blood Doping in Sport” December 2025 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®
“Physical Activity and Exercise Intensity Terminology: A Joint American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Expert Statement and Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) Consensus Statement” November 2025 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®
“ACSM Expert Consensus Statement: Considerations and Recommendations for Prescribing Exercise and Designing Physical Activity Programs for People with Disabilities” November 2025 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®
“The Team Physician Consensus Statement 2024 Update” May 2025 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise® and Current Sports Medicine Reports
Total Articles
Total Potential Reach
Total Articles
Total Potential Reach
Total Articles
Total Potential Reach
Total Articles
Total Potential Reach
This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts.
