Students in UConn's online program in Exercise Prescription program help patients heal with a personalized approach to movement
Students in UConn's online program in Exercise Prescription program help patients heal with a personalized approach to movement ()
Ashkan Novin was looking for a program to bring together his love of martial arts and his research on cancer treatments. He is both a competitor and a coach in karate. As a researcher, he is the founder of Genesist, a biotechnology company focused on gene therapy to combat cancer. He found UConn's online Exercise Prescription graduate program to be the perfect complement to his interests because, for him, "exercise is not one-size-fits-all."
"In the traditional approach in the way we look at planning and prescribing activities, we had one group of exercises for everyone," says Ashkan. "After this program, it changed my mindset towards a more precision and personalized approach. Everyone has their own needs."
Exercise Prescription is offered as both an online master's degree and a graduate certificate program in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. The program is designed for working professionals and those interested in exercise science, sports medicine, kinesiology, personal training, exercise physiology, health and fitness, and others, with coursework 100% online.
Novin enrolled in the certificate program to augment his studies as a biomedical engineering student in a doctoral partnership program between UConn's College of Engineering and UConn Health.
One of the class assignments propelled him deeper into bringing together his martial arts passion and an exercise strategy to reduce negative impacts from cancer treatments.
"This program is great for whoever wants to upgrade their exercise knowledge to help their athletes, clients, or patients reach better outcomes," says Novin.
For Meghan O'Neil '23 (Neag), who is graduating from the Exercise Prescription master's degree program this spring, she says the program aligned with her career goals after earning a UConn degree in sports management
In December 2024, she joined Duke University as a Sports Performance Fellow. In this role she will assist with women's soccer, women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and men's and women's cross country, and volleyball teams. During her time at UConn, she was a student-athlete, playing five seasons as a pitcher on the UConn softball team.
"It is very important for me to be educated on how to help others live healthier lives," says O'Neil. "The knowledge I have gained will help me in the field of programming exercise routines in the correct way to my clients."
Novin and O'Neil said that even though the Exercise Prescription programs are online and asynchronous, they found each to be highly interactive.
"My experience working with the other students within the program has been great," says O'Neil. "The instructors do an outstanding job of allowing us to bounce ideas off each other, ask each other questions, and make connections."
"It was definitely one of the most effective virtual programs that I have ever experienced," says Novin. "I'm still in touch with some of my classmates, which means, at the end of the day, the interaction worked, and it was sustainable."
O'Neil suggests if the program is of interest to reach out to the faculty who head the program, Distinguished Board of Trustees Professor Linda Pescatello and Tori DeScenza, assistant professor-in-residence, both in the Department of Kinesiology.
"Speak with them about what your goals are and what you want to get out of this program. They are very big on communication and want to make your experience the most applicable for your future career."
This work relates to CAHNR's Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.
