Rachel Hibbs is an Assistant Professor and Director of Continuing Education in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, she provides clinical care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Center for Assistive Technology and the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. She earned a BS in Rehabilitation Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology Professional. Her clinical and research experiences include working with individuals with neurological disorders and the use of wheeled mobility and assistive technology to improve quality of life. She has specific research interest in quality improvement and outcomes in wheeled mobility device provision, exercise and fitness for individuals with physical disability, posture and seating systems, and upper limb preservation in primary wheelchair users. Her specific graduate teaching responsibilities are in the area of clinical applications of wheelchair seating and mobility and functional and medical aspects of disability. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, and the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals where she has served as Co-Chair of the Early Career and Trainee Support Committee for the past 4 years.
Dr. Hibbs is also active in the adaptive sports community as an advisory board member of the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers, a classifier for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, and a member of the medical team for the Pittsburgh Marathon Handcycle Assistance Team.