Northwest declares October as Exercise is Medicine month

Northwest President Dr. Lance Tatum signed a proclamation Wednesday to designate October as Exercise is Medicine On Campus Month at Northwest. He was joined by Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education Dr. Tina Pulley and, left to right in back, Applied Health Science Club members Lindsey Kelderman, Lauren Kohl and Tryce Floyd. (Photos by Lilly Cook/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to a national movement with the signing of a proclamation and a day of activities promoting healthy habits and well-being.   

In front of a crowd of students, faculty, staff and community partners at the Memorial Bell Tower, Northwest President Dr. Lance Tatum and Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education Dr. Tina Pulley signed a proclamation establishing October as "Exercise is Medicine On Campus Month,” continuing an initiative the University launched a year ago. 

Dr. Lance Tatum

Dr. Tina Pulley

Dr. Terry Long

“We know that incorporating exercise into our daily lives can have a transformative effect, not only on ourselves but on the college campus as well,” Tatum said. “That regular physical activity not only boosts individual health, but it also fosters a stronger sense of community. When faculty, staff and students engage in exercise together, it helps us build connections that actually enhance what we do on campus. By embracing the Exercise is Medicine initiative as a part of what we do on campus, we can create an environment that promotes holistic health and growth for everyone.”

The American College of Sports Medicine launched Exercise is Medicine in 2007 in collaboration with the American Medical Association to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere of all abilities. Exercise is Medicine is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care.

At Northwest, the School of Health Science and Wellness facilitates profession-based, practical applications for students while offering tools to help University students and employees establish and practice healthy habits within the framework of Exercise is Medicine.

Last spring, in recognition of its commitment to promoting physical activity as a vital sign of health and encouraging faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community, Northwest earned a gold-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine On Campus program.

“Exercise is Medicine On Campus fosters collaborative relationships with leadership and then additional relationships in the communities on college campuses and universities around the world,” Pulley said. “We’re part of a bigger program than just at Northwest, and we really want to share that message of physical activity on campuses.”

Added Dr. Terry Long, the director of Northwest’s School of Health and Wellness, “This is truly a collaborative effort, and well-being is something that takes a community commitment … Having a community that creates opportunities that support each and every one of us – for not only our individual well-being but our community and our campus well-being – that’s critical.”

Further enhancing the University’s commitment to the mission of Exercise is Medicine On Campus, students established the Applied Health Science Club this fall to support fitness activities on the Northwest campus.

Tryce Floyd, a senior applied health science major from Albany, Missouri, is the founding president of the Applied Health Science Club.

“By deeming October as Exercise is Medicine On Campus Month, we extend our hand to every single student, faculty and organization in hopes that we can all lead happy, healthy lives,” Floyd said. “As we know, exercise has many benefits holistically and can provide us some things that traditional medicine may not be able to.”

After the signing ceremony, student and staff representatives of Northwest’s Campus Recreation program facilitated fitness activities at the Bell Tower, and staff with the Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center led warm-up activities before a one-mile on the campus for students, employees and community members. Additionally, the Applied Health Science Club, exercise testing students and staff members with Mosaic Medical Center-Maryville hosted a one-mile walk on the Northwest campus.