WVU recognized with gold status for 'Exercise is Medicine On Campus'
The West Virginia University School of Medicine has been awarded gold status, the highest level attainable, for its membership in Exercise is Medicine®, a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) is a program that calls upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:
- Making movement a part of the daily campus culture
- Assessing physical activity at campus health visits
- Providing the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime, campus-wide
- Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription.
WVU was recognized with gold status for meeting all these priorities, primarily through programs offered through the Division of Exercise Physiology.
In addition, gold status was secured because WVU Medicine has incorporated the physical activity vital sign assessment as part of electronic medical records within EPIC. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that coverage will be provided for physical activity assessments in the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule.
West Virginia University has been an official member of EIM-OC since 2019 and has achieved gold status since 2020.