When Chris Fahs, PhD, first started lifting weights in high school, his goal was simple: become a better football player.
While football didn’t become his career, the experience sparked something even bigger in a lifelong fascination with how the human body responds to exercise.
Today, Dr. Fahs brings that passion to Logan University as a professor in the Master of Science in Sports Science & Rehabilitation (MSSSR) program, where he teaches Exercise Testing, Exercise Prescription and Biomechanics. Since joining Logan in 2019, he has helped students bridge the gap between scientific theory and real-world application.
“I hope every student leaves my courses with practical knowledge they can apply immediately,” Dr. Fahs said. “Whether that’s improving their own health, helping a patient or coaching an athlete.”
Dr. Fahs earned his master’s in Kinesiology at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and doctorate in Exercise Physiology from the University of Oklahoma, where his research focused on the neuromuscular and vascular effects of blood flow restriction resistance training, an emerging area of research that has application to rehabilitation and performance. His work has contributed to the growing body of evidence surrounding blood flow restriction training and one of his publications has been cited more than 180 times, earning him the 2026 High Citational Award at the Trainology X Conference.
Before joining Logan, Dr. Fahs built an impressive academic and research career. He served as laboratory coordinator for the Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, where he helped coordinate studies examining the cardiovascular health of firefighters during live-fire training exercises. He later spent five years teaching exercise science while mentoring undergraduate students in research focused on strength training and movement performance.
That hands-on research experience continues to shape how he teaches today.
“My experiences in the laboratory and with research impact how I teach,” he said. “When I taught in person, I aimed to provide students with an opportunity to utilize lab equipment and get hands-on experience whenever possible. In the online environment, I aim to provide students with that same experience whenever possible using applied assignments that require putting knowledge into practice.”
One of Dr. Fahs’ greatest professional rewards has been mentoring student researchers. Recently, he worked alongside an undergraduate student whose research was published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, providing valuable experience while contributing to the field.
Looking ahead, Dr. Fahs is excited by research that makes exercise more efficient and accessible.
“Recently I’ve been interested in how we can help people get the greatest health and fitness benefits from the least amount of time and effort, as well as how to optimize strength training without unnecessary fatigue,” he said. “If we can identify efficient, evidence-based approaches to training, we can make exercise more accessible and sustainable for more people.”
For Dr. Fahs, preparing the next generation of professionals goes beyond teaching scientific concepts. His goal is to equip students with the ability to critically evaluate research and confidently apply evidence-based practices throughout their careers.
He sums up the future of the profession simply: “Working hard and being kind to people.”