2M Project


SD ACP Student Interest Group - Sioux Falls, 2009

The South Dakota ACP IMIG has had a huge resurgence in activity over the last two years. Our organization went from a few student members to 90 members, or 45% of the medical students at Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota. We have really been a fiery bunch lately trying to develop our organization beyond just our one-hour IMIG weekday lunch meetings or our 2-3 hour weekend luncheons.

In 2008 we sent one of the largest delegations of students and physicians to Leadership Day in Washington, DC. We have grown from a dwindling organization of a few student members to a thriving organization now actively involved in several projects for community service in the state.

In 2009 we have started The 2M Project, which stands for Muscles for Movement. The goal of this program is to improve the amount of exercise that patients participate in during their daily lives. Our hope is this project will decrease the number of patients suffering from diabetes and aid in the treatment of those already diagnosed. Some research has shown that exercise alone can aid in prevention and treatment of obesity-related diseases.

We will be implementing several arms of this project as we increase our funding and membership over the next several years. We have several target populations in mind:

  • Grade-school or middle-school age children who are still malleable and willing to learn and are not as set in their ways. We are in the process of setting up in school talks and programs with the local Boys and Girls Clubs in two communities.
  • American Indians on South Dakota reservations. This population is at a greater risk of many diseases in our state. We will work with the tribal leaders to education their members on the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
  • The adult patient clinic population. We will be asking ACP physicians across the state to talk with their adult patients about the benefits of exercise and ask them to sign a contract whereby they agree to exercise for their health.

The IMIG 2M Project medical students have devised a presentation aimed at our younger population. We are also in developing an exercise journal in which details pertinent educational facts on nutrition and exercise. We plan to monitor the success of our program via BMI measurements taken before the program and regularly afterwards. Results at the end of three years will be published.

The 2M Project is our largest project now and will hopefully be expanded to other states. We are happy to see the rekindling of ACP spirit at SSOM and will continue to grow with increased membership and projects. The SD ACP IMIG is an integral part of the SD ACP chapter

Page updated: 5/18/2009

What's New

Contact Information

South Dakota Chapter Governor: Richard P. Holm, MD, FACP

Kris Rahm
Executive Director
SD American College of Physicians
4904 S Sweetbriar Dr
Sioux Falls SD 57108
(605) 339-9804 - office
605) 321-1466 - cell
(605) 271-9227 - fax
Email: krisrahm@sio.midco.net

Laurie Braun
SD Chapter Administrative Assistant
605-331-6995
E-mail: lauriebraun@sio.midco.net