UMaine earns Gold Level Status in Exercise is Medicine On Campus initiative

The University of Maine has been recognized with Gold Level Status for the Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) initiative. This is the highest level of recognition that can be earned for the initiative, requiring the university to facilitate collaboration between multiple groups to implement the EIM-OC goals.

Cutler Health Center and Campus Recreation in collaboration with the College of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) refer patients to the recreation center to be matched with KPE student interns who serve as personal trainers or physical activity mentors to patients. Students in the KPE program made considerable contributions to programming and forming a student organization.

Caitlin Caserta, assistant director for fitness at the New Balance Student Recreation Center, also played a large role in coordinating the efforts.

“The students’ goal is to meet the client where they are at in their fitness journey and make physical activity part of their daily routine. In addition, we educate the community on the benefits of physical activity through tabling around campus and eventually hosting our own events,” Caserta says.

The initiative also included collaboration with the offices of President Susan J. Hunter and Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Robert Dana to host the program’s kickoff celebration. President Hunter also signed a proclamation declaring October Exercise Is Medicine on Campus Month.

The program aims “to establish physical activity as a vital sign within the health care system and link health care professionals to fitness professionals to provide a referral system for appropriate exercise prescription,” according to its website.

UMaine will receive official certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, which sponsors the initiative and related challenges, following the ACSM annual meeting May 29–June 2.