Michael L. Boninger Affiliate Faculty

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Biography

Dr. Michael Boninger is Professor and UPMC Endowed Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. He has joint appointments in the Departments of Bioengineering, Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. He is Senior Medical Director for Post-Acute Care for the Health Services Division of UPMC and Vice President for Medical Affairs for UPMC Community Provider Services (CPS). CPS is the umbrella organization that oversees and manages all of UPMC’s clinical programs in community-based and post-acute settings. These programs include Home Health, Senior Communities and eldercare, speech, occupational and physical therapy, UPMC’s specialty, retail, infusion, and institutional pharmacy businesses, and Community Supportive Services programs. Dr. Boninger earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and his medical degree at Ohio State University. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan Medical Center, where he became the chief resident. He came to the University of Pittsburgh when he won a postdoctoral fellowship in engineering and rehabilitation technology in 1994. Dr. Boninger has an extensive publication record of over 250 peer-reviewed papers and has receive substantial funding from numerous agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.  His central research focus is on enabling increased function and participation for individuals with disabilities through development and application of assistive, rehabilitative, and regenerative technologies. His team’s work has been featured on 60 Minutes and recognized by Popular Mechanics. Dr. Boninger also has extensive experience and publications related to training researchers and served as Associate Dean for Medical Student Research in the School of Medicine for a number of years. Dr. Boninger’s students have won over 50 national awards. Dr. Boninger holds 4 United States patents and has received numerous honors, including being inducted into the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Science.