Physical activity promotion is a consistent theme in all the CHHM research programs and knowledge translation efforts. Nothing is more central in our DNA. This was evident in Dr. Heather McKay’s earliest paediatric bone studies (1990s) and Dr. Karim Khan’s Osteofit study (2000). Of the 15 PhDs who have graduated from CHHM programs, the common thread has been the study of physical activity.

Leading this community engagement initiative is Professor Karim Khan.  A favourite quote is that ‘physical activity is the most powerful single health promoting therapy - it’s time for doctors to prescribe it more often. He is the only Canadian member of the ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine Education Committee and he gave the Opening Keynote Lecture at the 2nd World Congress in Exercise is Medicine in Denver, Colorado in 2011. In his role as Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) he spearheaded the special theme issues ‘Physical Activity is Medicine’ in January and February of 2009. He is also the physical activity representative on the BMJ editorial board and he consults to the BMJ’s GP education platform - BMJ Learning on this topic. The BJSM is considered ‘the leading voice in social media’ in this regard with over 2300 Twitter followers seeking advice on Exercise is Medicine. The BJSM has podcasts freely accessible on the role of physical activity prescription for health and these can be accessed here from the CHHM website.

Key CHHM partners in the CHHM’s Exercise is Medicine initiative include ACSM and Exercise is Medicine (through Robert Sallis, MD), Everybody Walk (and Kaiser Permanente), the UBC Department of Family Practice, Exercise Works (UK). We have strong connections at the Department of Health in the UK, the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney, Australia (Professor Adrian Bauman) and the Arnold School of Public Health in South Carolina (Professors Pate and Blair). We are partners in GAPA - Global Advocacy for Physical Activity - the Advocacy Council for the International Society of Physical Activity and Health.