WVU Exercise Physiology graduate awarded $10K from West Virginia Business Plan Competition
Chase Rowand, a 2022 graduate of the Exercise Physiology program at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, has had his business plan selected for a $10,000 grant through the West Virginia Business Plan Competition.
Rowand developed a product called the Passive to Active Bar, or PA Bar. Rowand decided on aquatic therapy as his area of emphasis in the major and said he came up with the idea for the PA Bar following a session he attended for class.
“I participated in a Bad Ragaz Ring Method therapy session, which utilizes flotation rings to support the patient and then requires a therapist to help them move in in the pool,” Rowand explained. “I couldn’t help but think, ‘there has to be an easier way to do this exercise.’”
Thus, the inspiration for the PA Bar was born. The PA Bar is a T-Bar shaped object that goes in the pool and allows patients to do various exercises and essentially mimic the movements of Bad Ragaz. Rowand said the goal of the bar is to give patients more independence.
After formulating the idea for the PA Bar, Rowand approached Lori Sherlock, an associate professor for the Exercise Physiology program who oversees the aquatic therapy area of emphasis, to get her feedback on the idea. Sherlock provided resources and contacts in the aquatics industry to help him grow the idea. She said she was more than happy to provide Rowand assistance because of the incredible passion he shows for using the aquatic environment for exercise and rehab.
“It was so much fun to see him work through the various iterations of the product and see him continually thinking about how the concepts we discussed in the classroom and explored in the pool could be used in conjunction with the PA Bar,” Sherlock said. “It was a true pleasure for me to be able to watch Chase grow his idea and immediately apply what he was learning to his business plan.”
After getting feedback from Sherlock, Rowand and his business partner approached Anne Jones, a business advisor for the Morris L. Hayhurst Launch Lab, who encouraged them to enter the West Virginia Business Plan Competition.
The competition consists of several rounds where students must gauge consumer interest, create a business plan, estimate costs, develop a prototype and finally, present a full pitch for the product.
After winning the competition, Rowand and his partner were presented with a $10,000 grant, which he says they are investing into product development in hopes of growing the business. He credits the Exercise Physiology program for providing him with the foundational knowledge he needed to pursue this this opportunity.
“I owe a lot to the Exercise Physiology program here,” Rowand said. “We get the opportunity to learn hands-on and work with physical therapists who make it fun and easy to learn. I had great professors, such as Lori Sherlock, who always pushed me and helped me get the most out of my education.”
Rowand hopes to get a job in the physical therapy field while he continues to grow his business. To learn more about the Exercise Physiology program at the WVU School of Medicine, visit medicine.wvu.edu/exercise-physiology.