Michael L. Boninger, MD

Dr. Boninger is Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is Associate Dean for Medical Student Research and holds secondary appointments in the Departments of Rehabilitation Science & Technology and Bioengineering. Dr. Boninger is a physician researcher for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Executive Director, UPMC Center for Assistive Technology (CAT). Dr. Boninger maintains active laboratory and clinical research programs in the areas of spinal cord injury and wheelchair technology and is instrumental in mentoring residents and pre- and post doctoral students while promoting their development and education as rehabilitation research physicians and scientists. He has lectured internationally on biomechanics of repetitive strain injury and assistive technology and its use in conditions such as ALS. He holds three U.S. patents. Dr. Boninger was elected as a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical Biomedical Engineering (AIMBE) in 2003. In 2002, he was honored with the Pittsburgh Business Times Health Care Hero Award for Innovation and Research. Under Dr. Boninger's supervision, medical students, residents, and graduate students have won over 35 national research awards. Dr. Boninger has over 100 peer reviewed publications.  (see publications)