Jimmy Oñate is the new dean of Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

James “Jimmy” Oñate, an international leader in human movement assessment and injury prevention, will join the Pitt health sciences leadership team as dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), effective June 1.

“Beyond his extensive accomplishments in movement assessment, injury risk mitigation and human performance optimization, Dr. Oñate is recognized for his people-centered leadership, focus on collaboration and development, and a strong commitment to advancing student, faculty, staff and research infrastructure,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine, in a May 4 announcement.

Oñate’s career spans clinical practice, research, teaching and senior academic leadership. He joins Pitt from The Ohio State University, where he currently serves as interim vice dean for health and rehabilitation sciences, interim director of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and professor in the Division of Athletic Training. He is also a proud first-generation college graduate and certified and licensed athletic trainer. His leadership has been widely lauded by peers, staff members and students for emphasizing passion, joy, service, reflection and meaningful action.

Consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Special Operations Command and other leading funders in his fields, Oñate’s research has helped shape injury prevention and patient care across athletic, military and first responder populations. His scholarship includes more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and eight book chapters, and his work has played a foundational role in shaping integrated human performance and sports medicine models.

Oñate is a fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), current vice president of research at NATA Research and Education Foundation and a founding chair of the foundation’s Athletic Training Research Agenda Committee. He also serves as associate editor of the Journal of Athletic Training. As an educator, Oñate has guided development and accreditation of a Master of Athletic Training program and has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students and faculty and staff members. He earned his master’s degree in exercise science and his PhD in human movement sciences with an emphasis in motor learning and biomechanics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Shekhar extended a special thanks to interim SHRS dean David Beck for his valuable stewardship of the school through a time of transition. He also thanked Amy Seybert, dean of the School of Pharmacy, for leading the search committee as well as all committee members for their service.

About SHRS

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is home to more than 500 world-class faculty members across nine departments and more than 30 eminent health care programs, several of which rank in the top 10 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, including occupational therapy (No. 1), speech-language pathology and audiology (both No. 6) and physical therapy (No. 8). Also ranked No. 6 in National Institutes of Health funding to Schools of Allied Health Professions, SHRS’ mission is to advance science and clinical care that helps people across the lifespan live better and fuller lives.

SHRS is also a national leader in the successful design and implementation of online and hybrid learning, increasing access to Pitt’s high-quality, hands-on health care education and training to students across the country and around the world. With access to clinical rotations at more than 2,300 clinical partners nationwide and a wealth of independent study, research and service opportunities, SHRS students make meaningful impact in their fields before they even graduate.