Session Proposals

ACSM25 Annual Meeting Session Proposal Information

The session submission site for the 2025 annual meeting is now closed. All session submitters will receive an email status notification in late September.

2025 Annual Meeting Spotlight

The Global Power of Movement: Translating Lab Bench to Park Bench

ACSM’s vision is to “extend and enrich lives through the power of movement” and ACSM believes striving towards a powerful vision requires many elements including key partnerships. ACSM’s strategic partners in this work include membership in the Physical Activity Alliance whose mission is to lead efforts to create, support, and advocate policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives and in the Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity which supports physical activity for the entire population. In support of these critical efforts to make the world a healthier, more active place, ACSM’s 2025 Annual Meeting Spotlight will focus on the intersection between basic, applied and/or clinical science as it relates to their collective impact on the effects of movement on individuals, populations and society.

Special Note: Prior to submitting your proposal on-line, please take the time to have all submission information available, as only complete proposals will be accepted.

Session Title
Session Presentation Format – In-person only, Virtual only, Hybrid (in-person and virtual), Flexible
Area of Interest and Audience – Applied Science; Basic Science; Medicine; or Integrative and target audience
Translational Science – indicate if the session is translational research
Topical Category – see listing below
Diversity and Inclusion – Does this session include substantial content about groups who are nationally underrepresented in science in the United States? If yes, provide explanation.
Session Description – 150 words or less
Learning Objective and Needs/Gaps in Performance
Session Submitter, Speaker, Chair information: First name, Last name, Organization name, City, State, Country, Zip, Phone, Email, ACSM member?, ACSM Fellow member?
Relevant Financial Relationship Disclosure: Only collected for the Submitter at this point in time. If the session is accepted, each speaker will provide any relevant financial relationship disclosures at a later date.
Session Speaker Information:
- SYMPOSIUM – 2 HOURS: min. of 3, max. of 4 speakers; 1 required Chair
- SYMPOSIUM – 90 MINUTES: min. of 2, max. of 3 speakers; 1 required Chair
- TUTORIAL LECTURE, COLLOQUIUM, CLINICAL WORKSHOP: min. of 1, max. of 3 speakers
Accessibility Needs

Clinical/Medicine, Exercise is Medicine (EIM) and Integrative Submissions

(Non-clinical submitters will indicate N/A)

What are the problems sports medicine physicians are facing in their practice? (practice gap) Please explain in 100 words or less.
What is the underlying cause of the problem/practice gap? Why do these problems exist? Is it a lack of knowledge, need to improve competence and or performance? Please explain in 50 words or less.
How did you determine the practice/gap need? (e.g. new or existing guidelines, latest advances as reported in the literature, discussions with peers, quality or patient safety issues. Please cite the sources used to determine the need/gap.) Limit 1200 characters
Prepare ONE learning objective for your proposed presentation. Remember to write it in terms of what you want your learners to put in to use following your session, not what you will teach. Please note character limit (including spaces) is 250.
List one or two changes learners should be able to make following your session, based on the learning objectives you provided.

Optional Field for all Session Types

Is the session submitted on behalf of an ACSM Interest Group? If yes, indicate the Interest Group.

FOR SYMPOSIUM ONLY

Presentation times in minutes – Please make sure that all presentation times (including Introduction and Discussion times) add up to either 120 minutes (or 2 hours) or 90 minutes, depending on the Symposium type you are submitting.
Individual presentation title for each speaker

Session with a 2-hour format:

Symposium: These sessions are in-depth, scientific, and state-of-the-art lectures in important areas of research and clinical practice. Symposia include 1 chair and 3-4 speakers with time allotted for an introduction and overview and overall discussion.

Session with a 90-minute format:

Symposium: These sessions are in-depth, scientific, and state-of-the-art lectures in important areas of research and clinical practice. This session should include 1 chair and 2-3 speakers with time allotted for an introduction and overview and overall discussion.

Sessions with a 50-minute format:

Clinical Workshop: These sessions are hands-on small group demonstrations of current examinations and treatment modalities of sports medicine problems. Space in the meeting room is available on first arrival.
Colloquium: Colloquia are interactive discussions on topics or issues in sports medicine, exercise science or clinical practice.
Tutorial Lecture: These lectures are critical reviews and analyses of the current state of knowledge in a field in sports medicine, exercise science or clinical practice. The lecture should familiarize attendees with the basics of a subject and progress to current issues, questions, problems, and the frontier of knowledge.

Fitness Assessment, Exercise Training, and Performance of Athletes and Healthy People

101 fitness assessment of healthy people

102 exercise training interventions in healthy people

103 sport science

104 ability status assessment

105 pregnancy/prenatal/post-partum assessment

106 other

Cardiovascular, Renal, Immune, and Respiratory Physiology

201 cellular/molecular

202 cardiac

203 vascular function/blood flow

204 acute exercise

205 disease

206 renal

207 respiratory

208 oxygen uptake kinetics

209 immune function

210 other

Skeletal Muscle, Bone and Connective Tissue

301 skeletal muscle physiology

302 physiology and mechanics of bone and connective tissue

303 cellular and molecular physiology related to these systems

304 ability status

305 genetics

306 other

Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement

401 ACL injury, rehab, prevention

402 running gait, performance, injuries

403 sport biomechanics

404 sports equipment, apparel, footwear

405 aging

406 posture/balance

407 motor control

408 movement disorders

409 clinical biomechanics

410 musculoskeletal mechanics/modeling

411 methods, validity

412 other

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

501 epidemiology of physical activity and health

502 epidemiology of injury, ability status, and illness

503 physical activity assessment

504 population-based surveillance

505 biostatistics/research methodology

506 meta-analyses

507 genetics

508 other

Physical Activity/Sedentary Behavior/Health Promotion Interventions

601 interventions

602 programming

603 policy

604 built environment

605 other

Nutrition, Metabolism, and Endocrinology

701 carbohydrate metabolism

702 fat metabolism

703 protein and amino acid metabolism

704 energy balance and weight control

705 nutrition assessment and intervention

706 vitamins and minerals

707 dietary supplements and ergogenic aids

708 nutrition and chronic disease

709 age group and gender

710 endocrinology

711 appetite regulation

712 disordered eating

713 other

Psychology, Behavior and Neurobiology

801 mental health

802 cognition

803 mood, affect, and emotion

804 perception (RPE, pain, fatigue)

805 behavioral aspects of physical activity

806 neuroscience

807 other

Environmental and Occupational Physiology

901 heat stress and fluid balance

902 cold stress

903 hyperbaria

904 altitude and hypoxia

905 space physiology and microgravity

906 occupational or military physiology and medicine

907 climate change and pollution

908 other

Athlete Care and Clinical Medicine

1001 athlete medical evaluation and care

1002 athlete trauma evaluation and care

1003 age group and gender

1004 chronic illness and special populations

1005 adaptive sports/ability status

1006 clinical translation – focus on improving health outcomes through the integration of evidence-based medicine and quality improvement initiatives

1007 other

Clinical Exercise Physiology and Chronic Disease

1101 clinical exercise testing

1102 cardiovascular diseases

1103 pulmonary/respiratory diseases

1104 cancer

1105 obesity/diabetes

1106 musculoskeletal/neuromuscular diseases

1107 other

Exercise is Medicine

1201 EIM on campus

1202 physical activity training for healthcare providers and exercise professionals

1203 physical activity integration into health systems

1204 physical activity integration into community health settings

1205 health economics of physical activity

1206 physical activity promotion with patients in under-resourced communities and health systems

1207 other

Health Equity

1301 aging

1302 pediatric

1303 rural/urban

1304 race/ethnicity

1305 socioeconomic status

1306 ability status

1307 other

Professional Development/Organizational Information

1400 Professional Development/Organizational Information

Annual Meeting Speaker Remuneration Policy

Consideration of remuneration for ACSM non-member speakers will be upon request by the submitter at the time of submission: limited to two nonmember speakers per Symposium (2-hour or 90-minute) and one nonmember speaker per Tutorial Lecture, Colloquium, or Clinical Workshop. The Program Committee will have final approval.

There are two remuneration package options to choose from:

Option 1-Expense Reimbursement – Partial funding requests are appreciated to maintain costs.
Option 2-Flat Honorarium includes complimentary registration and $1,000 provided post-event and submission of receipts are not required.

ACSM member speakers are responsible for paying all expenses in connection with attending and presenting at the event.

Local nonmember speakers are expected to select Option 1-Expense Reimbursement. Option 2-Flat Honorarium will not be approved for local speakers. Mileage to the meeting location and return home will be reimbursed at the IRS mileage rate in place of the economy class airfare. A local speaker is defined as being no more than two hours from the meeting location.

ACSM Non-Member Accepted Speakers

Option 1 – Expense Reimbursement (full or partial requests from a-d below)

a. Complimentary registration to attend and present at the in-person Annual Meeting.

b. Round-trip advance-purchase economy class airfare for approved non-member speakers to the Annual Meeting purchased through ACSM’s official travel agency.

c. Up to two nights of hotel accommodation during the Annual Meeting for approved non-member speakers at a hotel within ACSM’s room block not to exceed the headquarter hotel rate, based on availability. Speakers are responsible for all other hotel costs, including incidentals. Submission of hotel receipt post-event is required for reimbursement.

d. Reimbursement for meals and required ground transportation for two days at the Annual Meeting not to exceed $55.00 per day. Submission of receipts post-event is required for reimbursement.

Option 2 – Flat Honorarium (includes a & b below)

a. Complimentary registration for the Annual Meeting

b. $1,000 post-meeting

ACSM recognizes the desire and value of non-member experts participating in the program; however, we must be prudent by following these guidelines: 1) only use a non-member speaker when a comparable ACSM member expert is unavailable, 2) when possible, use non-member speakers from the city where the meeting is held, 3) use non-member speakers from North America unless there is compelling need to go elsewhere.

If a non-member speaker approved to receive remuneration cannot present due to an extenuating circumstance and is replaced by another non-member, this policy will be transferred to that non-member. Depending on the location of that non-member replacement, adjustments to the approved remuneration may be made by ACSM. If a non-member speaker approved to receive remuneration cannot present due to an extenuating circumstance and is replaced by a member, the member speaker will be responsible for paying all expenses as mentioned above. If the speaker is not replaced, the remuneration will be voided.

A non-member can only be paid for approved expenses (or portion of expenses) one time in a 5-year cycle; however, can receive “complimentary only registration” within that same 5-year timeframe. If the individual is recommended as a “named lecturer,” within the 5-year cycle, this would be exempt from the 5-year cycle. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Chair of the Program Committee and the Director of the Education Department.

Proposals submitted by non-ACSM members will be treated as members with regard to financial remuneration; therefore, all will be responsible for paying their own expenses in connection with the meeting, which includes paying the registration fee for the meeting.

ACSM Member Speakers

ACSM member speakers participating in a session are responsible for paying all expenses in connection with attending and presenting at the event, including the registration fee. (This does not include presentation for Named and President’s lectures.)

ACSM members with lapsed dues are considered members and will need to bring their dues to current status. ACSM membership must be current within the previous 5-years of the meeting year.

ACSM reserves the right to make exceptions to terms and conditions outlined. Submission of your registration constitutes an agreement on your part to accept these terms and conditions.

ACSM is committed to diversity, and values and seeks diverse, equitable, and inclusive participation within the fields of exercise science and sports medicine. As you plan your submission, please be aware that the ACSM Program Committee, as part of its evaluation for acceptance, considers the inclusion of underrepresented groups as participants in session proposals. Accordingly, please actively implement inclusive representation in your session proposals.

The Program Committee reserves the right to approve or not approve recommendations for programming. We would appreciate it if you would not make a commitment to those people you recommend for participation until after you receive notification. We do ask that you have contact with all the speakers you have proposed, assuring their availability to serve on your panel should your session be approved for placement on the program.

Notifications regarding the status of your submission will be sent electronically in fall 2024 to the Chair and/or submitter (not individual speakers). For those accepted proposals, all speakers will receive electronic notification in December 2024 with presentation date/time and other meeting details. Please be sure all e-mail addresses are accurate.

Should you have questions, feel free to contact the ACSM Education Department at breed@acsm.org.