CSUSB President Terri Gómez signed a proclamation recognizing October as Exercise is Medicine On Campus Month and affirming the university’s commitment to promoting physical activity and student well-being. The proclamation highlights CSUSB’s commitment to supporting students’ health alongside their academic success.

That commitment is reflected in CSUSB’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus program, which has earned Gold-level status — the highest designation attainable — for eight consecutive years. In 2026, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recognized 148 campuses, including 99 that earned Gold, 32 that earned Silver and 17 that earned Bronze. CSUSB was among the campuses that earned Gold-level recognition.

Gold status recognizes campuses that routinely assess students’ physical activity during health visits and connect them with qualified exercise professionals and wellness resources. CSUSB has maintained the designation by documenting its continued efforts to promote physical activity.

Dr. Richelle Marracino Ghazal, medical chief of staff at the Student Health Center, and Jason Ng presented about CSUSB’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus program at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting at Salt Lake City in June.
Dr. Richelle Marracino, medical chief of staff at the Student Health Center, and Jason Ng, professor of kinesiology and adviser to CSUSB’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program, presented on CSUSB’s EIM-OC program at the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City in June.

Exercise is Medicine is a global health initiative launched by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association. Its mission is to encourage health care providers and exercise professionals to work together to use physical activity to help prevent and manage chronic diseases. Exercise is Medicine On Campus applies that mission to university communities by promoting physical activity as an important part of health care and overall wellness.

At CSUSB, the program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Kinesiology, Student Health Center and Student Recreation and Wellness Center to increase access to exercise-related resources. During health visits, Student Health Center providers ask students about their physical activity levels. Students who are not meeting recommended activity levels can be referred to exercise professionals, including kinesiology staff and student interns involved in the EIM program, for guidance and support.

The program’s leadership team includes Jason Ng, professor of kinesiology and adviser for CSUSB’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus program; Sonia Martinez, wellness supervisor with the Student Recreation and Wellness Center; and Dr. Richelle Marracino, medical chief of staff at the Student Health Center, along with student representatives. Together, the team supports CSUSB’s efforts to promote physical activity as a strategy for preventing and managing disease.