Founder’s Story - Barry Moore
Dublin To Indianapolis…
After graduating Dublin City University (DCU) in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science & Health, Barry moved to the United States to pursue further education and experience in adapted physical activity. Barry pursued a master’s degree in Kinesiology, received a full scholarship and was nominated as a candidate for Kinesiology graduate student of the year across participating colleges in the US. During his studies at Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana, Barry worked with Dr Katie Stanton-Nichols; a top professor in the US in the sphere of adapted physical activity/exercise and disability awareness & advocacy. During this time, Barry taught 4th year undergraduate students how to develop and implement lesson plans for adults/children in physical activity, swimming and fitness and then supervised these sessions in a large group setting.
Discovering A Passion…
Barry’s desire for further learning experiences led him to an internship at NeuroHope of Indiana; a leading neuro recovery centre in Indianapolis offering rehabilitative services for people with spinal cord injury, stroke, brain injury and other neuro diagnoses. As part of his internship, Barry took on the responsibility of researching, designing and implementing a holistic wellness program for people to access fitness solutions as well as emotional and social support options. This program has become an integral part of NeuroHope’s offerings and Barry was invited to present his work at the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2019.
New Perspective, New Growth…
Once graduated, Barry was hired as a full-time employee at NeuroHope as the Wellness Program Coordinator and Neuro Recovery Exercise Specialist. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barry returned to Dublin to renew his VISA and worked at the An Saol Foundation, serving people with severe acquired brain injuries as an exercise specialist and participated in a short work-exchange program with the Therapiezentrum Burgau, in Burgau, Germany. Upon his return to NeuroHope at the start of 2022, Barry began implementing community programs at NeuroHope and began exploring further education in neurological recovery. He was promoted to Lead Neuro Recovery Exercise Specialist in 2023.
A Big Detour…
With his eyes set on returning home to Ireland at the end of 2024 to start Vitality Neuro Rehab, Barry made a 6-month detour to Bend, Oregon on the west coast of America. Here, he took a position at Zebrafish Neuro; an innovative company leading the way in person-centred spinal cord injury recovery, offering coaching for clients as well as education to professionals. As a Level 3 Coach with Zebrafish, Barry led remote, in-person and group coaching sessions, as well as 1-week intensive programs. On the educational side, Barry assisted the CEO in delivering in-person training courses for professionals in the US, Canada, and Australia, plus numerous webinars for a variety of groups.
Back Home In Dublin…
Aside from his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, Barry proudly holds a certification through the American College of Sports Medicine as a Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer and has pursued and self-funded numerous shadowing opportunities, visits to other recovery centers and hospitals as well as continuing education courses in neuro-recovery from providers such as the Neuro-Development Treatment Association, Zebrafish Neuro, The Neuro Studio, and others across the US and Australia.
Being so driven to bring his experience and learning back to Ireland, Barry set his sights on opening a comprehensive recovery centre for those with neurologic diagnoses to provide a holistic and functional approach that is so desperately needed in the continuum of care in Irish healthcare.