You work hard to study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and other topics within the kinesiology field. Ultimately, you earn your certification and jump into the fitness world ready to change lives. But what's next? Dr. Barbara Bushman has spent her career educating students and fitness professionals on how to better communicate with clients, properly assess and program for them, and set them on the right path to find their own success. In this episode, Dr. Bushman discusses what it takes to have a successful career as a fitness professional. Learn more in her book, Fitness Professionals Handbook, Eighth Edition.

Fitness Professionals Handbook, Eighth Edition https://ecs.page.link/CLwLU

Barbara Bushman, PhD, FACSM

Barbara Bushman earned her bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University and her doctorate from University of Toledo. In 1995, she joined the faculty at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield; the university changed its name to Missouri State University in 2005. During her 27 years at Missouri State, she taught a wide variety of courses, both undergraduate and graduate, including anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, sports conditioning, research methods, and health appraisal and exercise testing. She retired as a full professor in 2022 and is currently a faculty emeritus.

Dr. Bushman is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and holds four ACSM certifications (Personal Trainer, Exercise Physiologist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and Program Director) in addition to the Exercise is Medicine credential. She has been very active within ACSM, serving ono the Membership Committee; Certification and Registry. Women, Sport, and Physical Activity Strategic Health Initiative; and Media Referral Network, among others. Within the Central States Chapter of ACSM she has served as president and secretary-treasurer and has served on several committees. 

Dr. Bushman has been involved in numerous book projects, including being the lead author of ACSM's Action Plan for Menopause; associate editor of ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer, Third Edition; senior editor of ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer, Fourth Edition; and editor of ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness and Health, First Edition, and ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness and Health, Second Edition. She has been an associate editor of ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal since 2011 and writes the "Wouldn't You Like to Know" column, which covers a wide range of topics of interest to fitness professionals.

Over her lifetime, Dr. Bushman has maintained a regular exercise program; she enjoys running, cycling, and resistance training. Leisure pursuits include hiking, open-water kayaking, and more recently, woodworking. She and her husband enjoy walks with their two German shepherds, who have been her faithful office companions during the work on Fitness Professionals Handbook, Eighth Edition.