The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine is proud to announce the official designation of April as Exercise is Medicine Month, reinforcing the College’s commitment to whole-person wellness and preventive care.
For nearly five years, ICOM has been recognized by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as an Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) institution. This national recognition highlights ICOM’s ongoing dedication to integrating physical activity into healthcare education and practice – an approach that aligns closely with the core principles of osteopathic medicine.
“Movement is a powerful form of medicine,” said Dr. Tracy Farnsworth, ICOM President. “By proclaiming April as Exercise as Medicine Month, we are reaffirming our responsibility as healthcare leaders to not only educate our patients about the benefits of physical activity, but to model those behaviors in our own lives.”
As part of this initiative, ICOM will introduce new Exercise Carts later this month – mobile wellness stations designed to make physical activity more accessible throughout the day. These carts will be strategically placed in high-traffic areas across campus, including the library, main student area, and the off-site administrative office, offering convenient opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to incorporate movement into their routines.
The effort is led by ICOM’s dedicated Exercise is Medicine on Campus team, whose leadership continues to drive innovation in campus wellness, including: Sarah Davis, DO; Ron Garner, PhD; Katherine Osborne, OMS-II; and Cameron Botten, OMS-II.
Their work has helped foster a culture where physical activity is not only encouraged, but embedded into the daily life of the campus community.
By pairing the April proclamation with the launch of the Exercise Carts, ICOM aims to create both awareness and action, bringing the concept of “exercise as medicine” beyond the classroom and into everyday practice.