As an American College of Sports Medicine Clinical Exercise Physiologist and a senior staff member of Wake Forest University’s (WFU) Healthy Exercise and Lifestyle Programs (HELPS), Salem College’s Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Carlo Davids, helps Salem students discover health leadership through the study of movement and how it impacts the health and fitness of the human body.

Professor Davids’ extensive experience in health and exercise science research and his own notable academic accolades, like receiving the Academic Excellence Award for Kinesiology from the University of Rhode Island and participating in world-renowned clinical research studies at WFU, creates a unique perspective that helps students studying exercise science at Salem learn about the core principles of the discipline.

“At Salem, I emphasize to my students the importance of learning the basic principles of exercise science to build a strong foundation of how the body moves and the effects of exercise on the body,” Professor Davids said.

“My goal for Salem’s program is to take the scientific understanding of exercise science and teach it to students through the practical lens of five health related components like learning about body composition, strength endurance, aerobic and muscular endurance,” he added.

Much like Professor Davids, who grew up in South Africa and moved to the U.S. after receiving a full academic and athletic scholarship, many Salem students major in Exercise Science because they love sports, however, the discipline is so much more than sports performance. Exercise Science at Salem is the in-depth study of physical activity and its effect on the health and well-being of individuals and their communities.

Students in the Exercise Science program learn the science behind the sport, physical activity and exercise while developing the expertise to prepare them for careers as physical therapists, coaches, exercise physiologists, personal trainers, and work in other exercise science fields. In Professor Davids’ courses, students develop a solid foundation in the science of how the body moves and skills to model and promote healthy behaviors and physical activities.

“One of my favorite classes to teach is our assessments class because it’s very practical and our students learn real-world skills through hands-on work that also teaches them how to assess, evaluate, and prescribe exercise programs,” Professor Davids said.

When you ask Professor Davids what makes Salem remarkable, he believes, “that there’s a strong sense of community at Salem where students have an opportunity to connect with faculty and develop relationships that support students’ academic learning and professional growth.”

Click here to learn more about Salem’s exercise science program.