SUU Recognized by ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine® Program for Creating Culture of Wellness on Campus
Published: July 23, 2026 |
Author: Gabrielle Costello |
Read Time: 3 minutes
Southern Utah University (SUU) is one of only 193 universities and colleges across the world to be honored for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. The integration of physical activity screenings into student healthcare and robust campus wellness education helped SUU earn the Gold-Level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program, a community-impact initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
“Achieving Gold-Level status is a testament to what can be accomplished when we break down traditional campus silos to support student health,” said Brian Fullerton, Executive Director of SUU Recreation & Wellness. “Our program was proud to help facilitate the integration of the physical activity vital sign screening within the Student Health Clinic. Working alongside the Department of Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation, we were able to bridge the gap between healthcare and exercise professionals to meet individuals exactly where they are, providing a seamless network of care that champions lifelong wellness across our campus.”
SUU’s EIM-OC program was originally founded on campus in Fall 2021 by Dr. Marcus Lawrence and Dr. Merrill Funk from the Department of Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation alongside nursing faculty. Building upon its previous Silver-Level status, SUU earned its Gold-Level status by successfully implementing a physical activity referral system. Under the current leadership of Dr. Lawrence, Dr. Funk, Sam Tiul in the Department of Nursing, and exercise science student leaders Jason Wall and Elena Morena Cabrera, the program bridged the gap between campus medicine and fitness professionals.
Providers at the SUU Student Health Clinic now perform the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) screening on patients, providing brief counseling before referring them to the EIM-OC team. From there, undergraduate Exercise Science Club student leaders provide general physical activity counseling and guidance at the SUU Health & Wellness Center and PE Building
“We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Katie Feltman, CEO of ACSM. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care.”
This Gold-Level milestone was made possible through vital partnerships across campus. The EIM-OC leadership team extends a special thank you to Brian Fullerton and the Recreation and Wellness program, the Student Health Clinic, and the Health & Wellness Center for their essential involvement in establishing and maintaining this system. Alongside these clinical advancements, the program continues its popular Silver-Level community initiatives, including campus tabling events, the “Walk with a Doc” program, a virtual fitness challenge, and targeted educational seminars like “The Why and How of Lifting Weights” and “Women’s Lift Day”.
The EIM-OC team invites all students, faculty, and staff to work together to prioritize their health by visiting the official SUU EIM-OC website. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements, including planned educational seminars, tabling events, hands-on exercise and wellness advising sessions in the PE Building, and the return of the “Walk with a Doc” program
Contact Information
SUU Marketing & Communication435-586-5400kimberlysawyer@suu.edu
