Michael Boninger, MD

  • Distinguished Professor
  • Pronouns: he/him/his

Dr. Michael Boninger is a Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. He is also the Chief Medical Sustainability Officer for UPMC. He has joint appointments in the Departments of Bioengineering, Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute as well as the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. He is President of UPMC Innovative Homecare Solutions (UIHS). UIHS is a not-for-profit UPMC company designed to implement innovative post-acute and community-based programs that provide high-value care while improving the patient experience.  UIHS works within the UPMC integrated delivery and finance system structure with the goal of transforming clinical care and creating new community-based programs to better serve our patients.

Dr. Boninger earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and his medical degree at The Ohio State University. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan, 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 290 peer-reviewed papers and has receive substantial funding from numerous agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, 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.

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.

Board Certifications
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Research Interests: Assistive technology, biomechanics, neuroprosthetics, spinal cord injury, wheelchairs, regenerative medicine, teaching research, community based care, sustainability

Dr. Boninger's publications are indexed on PubMed

 

Education & Training

  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 1985
  • MD, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 1989
  • PM&R Residency, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 1993
  • Research Fellowship, Engineering and Rehabilitation Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA