The gavel officially passed at the 2025 ACSM Annual Meeting when Carrie Jaworski, MD, FACSM became the 69th president of ACSM. Having hit the ground running, we asked Carrie about her vision for the next year, what she hopes to accomplish, what’s she’s excited about and more.
How long have you been a member of ACSM?
I’ve been an official member since 1999. Although, I was using many of the tools and guidelines from ACSM for years before that as a fitness instructor throughout high school, college and medical school.
What have you enjoyed most about being an ACSM member?
Without a doubt, the best part of being an ACSM member has been the opportunity to be mentored, to mentor, and to develop lifelong friendships with people from all over the world who share my passion for the promotion of movement for all. Nowhere else would it be possible to meet such a diverse group of people all focused on the many aspects of sports and exercise science; this includes ACSM members and staff alike!
What do you find most gratifying about being elected president of ACSM?
The most gratifying aspect is the opportunity to give back to the organization that has given me so much over my career. ACSM has been my professional home from the start. It has been where I have learned the translational science that helps me in my work as a sports medicine physician and where I gained a true appreciation of the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration. ACSM has also brought me countless memories and friendships through mentorship and teaching opportunities. To be entrusted by our members to now lead this incredible organization is truly an honor. I am looking forward to paying it forward throughout my term as I work to ensure that others are given the same opportunities to experience ACSM as I have.
What personal or unique experience, skills and/or abilities will you look to apply to your presidential leadership?
My training in family medicine has taught me the value of first listening to my patient’s history and then developing a treatment plan together with them that takes into account the entire person. I plan to utilize a similar approach with my presidential leadership, recognizing the importance of knowing the history behind a situation and listening to the many stakeholders within our organization before making decisions and recommendations. My sports medicine training has taught me the importance of the team and that to achieve great success the best leaders learn the strengths of those around them and use that to reach the greatest outcomes.
What are your vision and priorities for your term as president?
The vision for my term as president is to work to align our efforts both internally and externally to ensure that ACSM remains the leading sports and exercise science organization for decades to come. We need to recognize those areas within the college where we can streamline processes and enhance communication between committees to remain nimble and relevant within our ever-evolving world. Externally, we need to align ourselves with likeminded organizations so that we can advocate together to achieve greater successes. My priorities center around reconceptualizing the member experience by creating pathways in the areas of research, education, advocacy and mentorship so that members can access and contribute to these areas in ways that are meaningful to them at their particular stage of their career. To do this, we must look critically at our governance and committee structure along with what the goals of the college are related to the next iteration of our strategic plan. I plan to engage with members across all disciplines and age groups to understand how we can improve not only our members’ experience but also the lives of all those we serve through our research, education, advocacy, and mentorship efforts.
What excites you most about ACSM’s future?
Our members are what excites me the most. They are our future and why we do what we do. This was exemplified at our annual meeting in Atlanta where I was able to witness our members’ shared excitement for ACSM. From interacting with our student researchers in the exhibit hall, to learning the latest science in packed lecture rooms, as well as gaining insight on the state of the union from our past presidents during hallway conversations, the enthusiasm for ACSM was contagious! Now we must harness that energy for positive change moving forward. I have several ideas on how to do this, so stay tuned!
Have a question, comment, idea or concern you want to share with President Jaworski? Submit them here.
