Changing the Narrative Innovation in diabetes care By KATIE RAY
Coleman College of Business student Preston Poag ’21 has set a goal to change the narrative of the diabetic industry. As Chief Executive Officer of Appalach Medical, Poag has invented an auspicious product to do just that. Poag was interested in business at a young age. While completing two years of college in high school through dual enrollment, he also competed in Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) competitions. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. The 21-year-old finished his degree in business administration, with a management emphasis, at UPIKE in two years.
with diabetes, Leichte insisted he enter the KY Pitch competition.
“Preston was very self-motivated. I basically helped him flush out his original idea, reviewed his submission and gave him encouragement along the way,” said Leichte. “Students like Preston don’t need a lot of supervision. He knows what he wants to do and just needs me to keep him going in the right direction.” Poag says it was sheer luck and the right timing that his idea made it to the competition. “I really have to give all the credit to Dr. Leichte because I would not have known about the competition without him,” said Poag. “None of this would have been possible without his continued support and encouragement.”
Spending a great deal of time at his grandparents’ house with his type 1 diabetic grandmother, he says the idea actually came to him when he was 13-years-old.
Last October, Poag represented UPIKE in the largest “It seemed like she was always intercollegiate pitch competition having problems with sharp blood in Kentucky, KY Pitch, a program sugar drops,” said Poag. “She under KEENStart that offers would ask me to get her a Coke educational opportunities or candy from the pantry, then and programs around I would continue the cycle of entrepreneurship, design-thinking Preston Poag with his grandmother, Mona walking back and forth, bringing and innovation strategies. The her snacks, and watching her continue to check her blood KY Pitch competition is designed to inspire innovators sugar after eating.” and entrepreneurs by providing an inclusive platform for He noticed his grandmother had no clue how much future leaders to develop and pursue their ideas. sugar she was intaking and how the products she was As part of a New Venture Creation course taught by consuming would affect her blood sugar. Assistant Professor of Business Clarke Leichte, D.B.A., “She was always playing the ‘guessing game,’” said Poag. students are tasked to create a product or service of “The idea hit me sitting on the couch, and I will never their own. After hearing Poag’s idea of dissolvable forget it because eight years later, I am developing it.” glucose tongue strips to regulate blood sugar for people 22
UPIKE MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2021
