Philip Anton | SIU

Exercise Science, Human Sciences

Dr. Anton is an Associate Professor of Exercise Science and is Undergraduate Exercise Science Program Director. His primary focus of training and study is in the sub disciplinary area of exercise physiology and he serves as the Director of the SIUC Cancer Rehabilitation Laboratory and the Exercise Program Director for the 
Strong Survivors Exercise and Nutrition Program for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers

Dr. Anton’s research interests are in the area of cancer rehabilitation, specifically the use of exercise as a therapeutic tool to help cancer survivors and caregivers maintain/improve their quality of life during the treatment and recovery period. Special attention is paid to the performance of activities of daily living. Numerous data points are collected and tracked on the Strong Survivors participants. 

In addition to being an avenue for important research, Strong Survivors a valuable free service for the southern Illinois community. Participants receive exercise prescriptions that are individualized to their medical/fitness status and quality of life goals. These prescriptions are created and supervised by undergraduate and graduate SIUC students. Students who participate on the Strong Survivors staff receive a professional and personal experience that is truly unique, and this provides them with many benefits post-graduation. 

Dr. Anton’s teaching duties at the undergraduate level include coursework required for exercise science, physical education teacher education, and physical therapist assistant majors and include Exercise Physiology (KIN 320), Principles of Skeletal Muscle Action (KIN 421), and Exercise Programming for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers (KIN 402 - the Strong Survivors staff training course). 420 and 402 are also elective courses at the graduate level and Dr. Anton also teaches an exclusively graduate course, Medical Aspects of Exercise (KIN 506). He was named the 2012-2013 SIUC College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) Outstanding Teacher of the Year. 

Dr. Anton has served his profession as member of the American College of Sports Medicine (Board of Directors member for the Midwest Region Chapter of ACSM) and the Simmons-Cooper Cancer Institute at SIU. He has reviewed for multiple journals, including Cancer and Supportive Care in Cancer. He has been a member of a variety of SIUC committees, including serving as the chair of the COEHS Academic Affairs and COEHS College Advisory Committees, as well as the SIUC Gerontology Certificate Program Advisory Board. He also serves as the Head Saluki Spirit Liaison for the Saluki Spirit Committee (see their Twitter page @SalukiSpirit). In the community, he serves on the Southern Illinois Healthcare Institutional Review Board and coordinates fitness screening for the Southern Illinois Women's Health Conference and Southern Illinois Men's Expo. Dr. Anton was reward for his service and leadership in 2015 with the SIUC Lindell W. Sturgis Memorial Public Service Award and the Southern Illinois Leaders Among Us Award (Southern Illinoisan Business Journal).