Clifford E. Brubaker, PhD
	Office Location 4029 Forbes Tower Office phone 412-383-6561 E-mail address cliffb@pitt.edu

Academic Appointments

Professor and Dean, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 1991–present
Professor, McGowan Institute Regenerative Medicine,  2001–present
Professor, Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, 1992–present
Professor, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, 2008-present

Education

PhD Exercise Physiology, University or Oregon, 1968
MA Physical Education, Ball State University, 1964
BA Physical Education Ball State University, 1961
Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1956–58   

Biographical Profile

Clifford E. Brubaker, PhD, has served as Professor and Dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh since 1991. He has professorial appointments in Rehabilitation Science, Neurological Surgery, Regenerative Medicine and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Brubaker is Adjunct Professor at the Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Peoples Republic of China. He is also Adjunct Professor of the Robotics Institute in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.  

Dr. Brubaker received his PhD degree in 1968 in Exercise Physiology from the University of Oregon. His scholarly work has been concentrated in biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering at the University of Oregon, University of Virginia (UVA) and University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). He has served as Director or Co-director of three Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers at UVA and Pitt from 1987 to 2004.

Dr. Brubaker is a founding member, Fellow and former President of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) and a founding Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and was inducted in the inaugural class of Fellows of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES).

Research Interests

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology

Recent Publications

Robert Barry, Amy C. Murcko, Clifford E. Brubaker, “The Six Sigma Book for Healthcare,” ACHE Management Series, Health Administration Press, 2002

Courses Recently Taught

“Leadership Skills Development” 

Awards and Honors

Awards and Fellowships

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Distinguished Service Award - June, 1988.

PVA Distinguished Lecturer, Seattle Veterans Administration Medical Center, March, 1989.

Sigma Xi. (full member) 1989.

RESNA Distinguished Service Award, June, 1990.

Elected Fellow (founding), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, February, 1992.

Elected Fellow, RESNA, 1992.

Elected President-elect of RESNA, June, 1992.  (President 1995, 1996)

Isabelle and Leonard H. Goldensen Technology Award, 1995 (United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation).

Robin Gray Fellowship, University of Western Australia, September, 1996.

Lifetime Achievement Award—The Pittsburgh Business Times 2002 Health Care Hero Award, March, 2002

Riland Memorial Lecture, American Osteopathic College of Occupational & Preventive Medicine, April, 2003

The Joe Award (Pittsburgh Employment Conference), August, 2003

Funding

Kinetic and Metabolic Analysis of Running, Office of Scientific and Scholarly Research, University of Oregon, 1971. Amount: $2000. Principal Investigator.

Biomechanics of Human Motion, Office of Scientific and Scholarly Research, University of Oregon, 1972.  Amount: $2000.  Principal Investigator.

Harmonic Reconstruction of Human Motion by Computer Simulation, Collins Medical Trust, 1973.  Amount $1400.  Principal Investigator.

Analysis of Normal and Abnormal Gait, Office of Sponsored Programs, University of Virginia, 1974.  Amount $4200. Principal Investigator.

The Art and Science of Sports Medicine (Conference), Rogan Foundation, 1974.  Amount $5000. Conference Co-Chair.

The Art and Science of Sports Medicine (Conference), University of Virginia Alumni Foundation.  $5000/Yr. 1975–86.  Conference Co-Chair.

Effects of Prolonged Exercise on Selected Physiological Variables (Study of Bike Centennial '76 participants), 1976.  Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Virginia Medical Center.  Amount $7500.  Principal Investigator.

Wheelchair Propulsion Studies Project of the University of Virginia Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Rehabilitation Services Administration, PHS, 1976–81.  $2.5 million.  Role: Co-Investigator. 

Wheelchair Propulsion Studies Project of the University of Virginia Rehabilitation Engineering Center, National Institute on Handicapped Research, U.S, Department of Education, 1982.  $700,000.  Role: Co-Investigator.

Wheelchair Propulsion Studies Project of the University of Virginia Rehabilitation Engineering Center, National Institute on Handicapped Research, U.S. Department. of Education, 1983–88.  $4.25 million.  Role: Co-Investigator 1983-1986, Principal Investigator 1987–88..

Predictive Model of Wheelchair Lever Propulsion Based on Muscular Function, Field Initiated Research Program, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, 1986–89.  $270,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Rehabilitation Engineering Center: Improved Wheelchair and Seating Design, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, 1988-1993.  $3.5million.  Role: REC Director and Principal Investigator. 

Evaluation of the UVA CAD/CAM Custom Contour Seating System, Amendment to Rehabilitation Engineering Center Cooperative Agreement, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, Sept., 1989, $120,000. Role: Principal Investigator.

Optimization of Seat Contour for the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Contract from Human Factors of CPC Div. General Motors Corp., October, 1989.  $25,348.  Role: Project Director.

Rehabilitation Engineering Center: Personal Transportation Systems for Individuals with Disabilities, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, 1990-1995.  $2.5 million.  Role: Co-Principal Investigator.

Long-term Training for Rehabilitation Engineers, Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education, 1990-1993.  $300,000.  Role: Principal Investigator.

Research Training in Rehabilitation Engineering, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, 1991-1994. $500,000.  Role:  Principal Investigator

Design and Development of a Wheelchair for Enhanced Access, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Spinal Cord Research Foundation, 1992-93, $100,000.  Role:  Principal Investigator.

Rehabilitation Engineering Center on Technology to Improve Wheelchair Mobility, The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 1993-1998.  $3.5 million.  Role:  Co-Principal Investigator.

Research Training in Rehabilitation Science with Special Emphasis on Disability Studies, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research,  U.S. Department of Education, 1997-2002, $750,000Role:  Co-Principal Investigator.

Rehabilitation Engineering Center on Technology to Improve Wheelchair Mobility II, The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 - 2003.  $4.5 million.  Role:  Co-Principal Investigator.

External Service and Assignments

Professional  Services

RESNA - An Interdisciplinary Society for the Advancement of Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology (formerly the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America)

Founding Member, 1979

Chair, Section on Wheelchair Propulsion, 1984

Chair, Scientific Program, 8th RESNA Conference, 1985

Editor, Proceedings, 8th Annual Conference, 1985

Founded program for RESNA Special Interest Groups, 1985

Chair, Committee on Special Interest Groups, 1985–88

Member, Awards Committee, 1986

Member, Nominations Committee, 1986–87

Board of Directors, 1986–98

Member, Long Range Planning Committee, 1987–94

Member, RESNA/ANSI Wheelchair Standards Comm., 1987–91

Member, Subcommittee on Seating, Positioning and Ergonomics, 1983–90

Member, Database subcommittee, 1988–90

Advisory Council, Manpower Training Project, 1987–90

Member, Quality Assurance Committee, 1988–98

Executive Committee, 1988–98

Treasurer, 1989–92

Chair, Management Committee, 1989–92

Chair, Finance Committee, 1989–92

President Elect, 1993–94

Chair, Long-Range Plan, 1993–94

President, 1995–96

Chair, International Committee, 1998–99 (AEMB)

Vice President for National Affairs, 1990–91

American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)

Committee on Bioengineering National Needs Assessment, 1992–94

Chair Bylaws Committee College of Fellows, 1992–95

Biomedical Engineering Society, 1991–present

Fellow, 2005

American College of Sports Medicine

Member, 1968–present

Chair, Regional Lecture Series Committee, 1976–77

Southeast Chapter, American College of Sports Medicine

Founding Member, November 1973

Board of Directors, 1973–75

Chaired Annual Meeting, October, 1974

International Society of Biomechanics, 1976–92

American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1967–present

American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, 1975–91

New York Academy of Science, 1978–90

Multiple Sclerosis Society, Blue Ridge Chapter, 1988–91

Chair, Subcommittee on Assistive Devices

Easter Seal Research Foundation (ESRF), 1990–94

Board of Trustees, 1990–94

Scientific Review Activities 1990–94

Peer Review (Editorial)

Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise (Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine).  Served as guest reviewer 1977-93.  Typically, reviewed from 2-4 manuscripts/yr.

American Journal of Sports Medicine (Journal of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine).  Served as reviewer 1978-88.  Typically review 1 to 2 manuscripts/yr.

Physician and Sports Medicine.  1978-1985. 

Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development (Quarterly Journal of the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service of the Veterans Administration. Typically reviewed from 3 to 5 manuscripts/yr. 1980 - 2000

Rehabilitation Technology Review (Quarterly RESNA Newsletter), Section Editor for Special Interest Groups, 1985-1988.

Assistive Technology (RESNA Journal).  New journal initiated in 1988.  1988 - 1996.

RESNA Press (Publishing Division of RESNA).  Editorial Board (as financial officer of RESNA).

Journal of the American Spinal Cord Injury Association.  Section Editor for Rehabilitation Technology.  Appointed 1989. Medical Design and Materials.  Editorial Advisory Board, 1990- 93.

Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development.  Editorial Board, 1991 - 1999

Journal of the American Society of Artificial and Internal Organs, ad hoc reviewer 1994

Peer Review (Grants)

Veterans Administration: Peer Review of Research Proposals. 1978 - 2002

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation  Research, U.S. Department of Education.  Peer Reviewer 1986 -  1996

Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America. 1984 - 2000

National  Institutes of Health.  Chair, SBIR Study Section on Orthopedics, 1988 - 1994  Member 1987 - 1994

National Institutes of Health.  Ad hoc review NIA,  1991.

Easter Seal Research Foundation Board of Trustees.  Member of review panel since 1990. – 1994

21st Century Fund, State of Indiana, 2004.

National Research Council of Canada (ad hoc) 1996, 1997, 2004.

UCP Research and Education Foundation 1999 -

Public Testimony and Research Advisory Activities:

National Workshop on Rehabilitation Technology Research, Sponsored by NIDRR, Alexandria, VA, October 3-4, 1990. (Chairman).

National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NICHD) - Recommendations on priorities on behalf of University of Pittsburgh, March 19, 1992.

Public Hearing on NIDRR Long Range Plan  (co chair) Washington, DC, October, 1995.

Other Service

Committees

Advisory Council Member, 1987 -  1992: Center for Rehabilitation Technology Services, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department, West Columbia, SC. NIDRR Rehabilitation Engineering Center for the Improvement of Service Delivery in Rehabilitation Technology.  Role: Review the Progress of the REC and prepare a report for submission to NIDRR, U.S. Department of Education.

Member: Steering Committee to establish an infrastructure for Bioengineering in the U.S. (resulted in the founding of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering [AIMBE]. - Sponsored by the National Science Foundation) 1989 - 1992

Member:  Advisory Council, Center for Assistive Technology, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1991

Member:  Commission on Assistive Technology, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1991 -  1994

Member: Southwestern Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Steering Committee, 1991-

United Way of Pittsburgh Committee on Social Services, 1991 - 1996

Member:  Advisory Board TECH-LINK. 1992 -   , Executive Committee -  1995-

Chair, NIDRR Steering Committee on Long Range Planning, U.S. Department of Education 1995-1997

Member, Committee on Assessing Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences,  Chair, Subcommittee on Education.  1996- 1998.  [produced the  IOM Report, Enabling America]

Member, Hiram G. Andrews Vocational Rehabilitation Center  Project Committee -  1997 - 1999

Member, Support Helps Other Use Technology (SHOUT) Committee - 

Member, Institute of Advanced Technology (IAT) Business Advisory Committee  - 1996 -

Member, United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Advisory Committee 1999 -

Member, Hiram G. Andrews Center Advisory Committee 2000 - 2003

Member, Advisory Board Coro Pittsburgh Health Sciences Fellowship – 2000 -

International Service

Member of U.S. Department of State delegation to Moscow, USSR.  Represented Bureau of Human  Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in meetings with Soviets.  March, 1990.

Delegation to Moscow, USSR, (Delegation Leader) to participate in Seminars on mobility technology in INVALTECH 90, an exposition on assistive technology, on behalf of the Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, U.S. Department of State.  April 16-21, 1990.

Chair for US/USSR Exchange Seminar on Design and Manufacture of Assistive Devices.  University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.  May 3-13, 1990.

Co-chair, Session IV: International Cooperation and Dissemination of Information on Rehabilitation Engineering; REHAB-1, The First International Workshop on Rehabilitation Engineering; Sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe and the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering, June 14-16, 1990, Washington, DC.

Chair, Session III: REHAB-2, Sponsored by UN ECE and IFMBE, Fagernes, Norway, May 12-15, 1991.

Chair, Instructional Program in Design and Development of Assistive Devices for Disabled Persons for Engineers from the Central Machine Building Institute of the USSR, May 28 - June 11, 1991. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

Chair, Section on Education, International Workshop on Rehabilitation Engineering, REHAB-3, Sponsored by UN-ECE and IFMBE, Trebon Spa, Czechoslovakia, May 23-27, 1992.

Member, Validation Panel for the Health Science Curriculum of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, November, 1994.

Member, International Board of Reference for The Interdisciplinary Centre for Musculoskeletal Bioengineering and Rehabilitation Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 1994–95

Member, Health Science Panel of the RAE, conducted by the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong, 1999–2000

Member, Departmental Assessment Panel, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 1999–present

Member, Advisory Committee for Faculty Area of Strategic Development, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 1999–present

Advisor to Indian Spinal Injury Centre, Delhi, India, 2000–03

Advisor and Consultant to Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO, Kanpur, India) on behalf of NIDRR, January 2001.