James Rimmer, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Disability and Human Development of the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and adjunct professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He is Director of two federally funded Centers, the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (funded by CDC) and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Recreational Technologies and Exercise Physiology Benefiting Persons with Disabilities (funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research).

Dr. Rimmer’s research has focused on the effects of physical activity and nutrition on reduction of secondary conditions, including obesity and deconditioning, in adults and youth with physical and cognitive disabilities. He has published over 90 manuscripts and book chapters and given over 100 invited presentations to national and international audiences on topics related to physical activity, health promotion, rehabilitation engineering, secondary conditions and disability. He is also principal investigator of a 5-year NIH clinical trial examining the impact of the built environment on obesity in people with mobility disabilities. He has received over $23M in federal funding since 1997.  Dr. Rimmer was recently appointed by HHS Secretary Leavitt to the Scientific Board of the Coordinating Center on Health Promotion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and was one of 13 members selected to the HHS Physical Activity Scientific Advisory Committee.

Biosketch

Honors

Allan Meyers Award for research, teaching and advocacy to improve the health and quality of life for people with disabilities,  American Public Health Association, November 2007.

G. Lawrence Rarick Research Award - National Consortium on Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities, July 2007.

Excalibur Award for Teaching Excellence – May 2007.
Professor of the Year - College of Applied Health Sciences (UIC), September 2006.

Mary Slaughter Award - University of Virginia Distinguished Researcher in Exercise Science, March 2006.

Best Effective Practices Award – National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, National award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, July 2004.

Commencement Speaker, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, May 2004.

Delegate for the Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to the Greek Ministry of Health to prepare the Paralympics International Summit on Exercise Physiology for People with Disabilities, November 2003.

Distinguished Alumni Award, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, May 2003.

Lois Halverson Award for research and scholarship in the field of disability and physical activity, National Kinesiotherapy Association, September 1996.

Mabel Lee Award, a national award given by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, April 1990.

Appointed Advisory Panels

2008-2012        

National Institutes of Health, National Center on Medical Rehabilitation Research.

2008-2012        

CDC Board of Scientific Counselors, Coordinating Center on Health Promotion.

2007-2008       

Federal Advisory Committee, Appointed to the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee by HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, 2007-2008 (one of 13 expert panel members).

2007-2008        

National Academy of Sciences - Keck Futures Initiative on Aging and Longevity.

2005-2009        

CDC Health Disparities Advisory Panel to the Director of CDC.

Editorial Board

2007-2010        

Journal of Disability and Health

Selected peer-reviewed publications (in chronological order).  

(Last 34 out of 92 publ. bet. 2001 – present)

1. Rimmer JH, Riley, B, Rubin, SS. (2001).  A new measure for assessing the physical activity behaviors of persons with disabilities and chronic health conditions: The Physical Activity and Disability Survey. Am J Health Promot. 2001;16: 34-45.
   
   

2. Rimmer, JH, Riley, B, Creviston, C, Nicola, T. Exercise training in a predominantly African-American group of stroke survivors with multiple comorbidities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;32:1990-1996.
   
   

3. Rimmer, JH. Physical fitness levels of persons with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2001;43:208-212.
   
   

4. Rimmer, JH, Nicola, T, Riley, B, Creviston, T. Exercise training for African-Americans with disabilities residing in difficult social environments. Am J Prev Med. 2002;23:290-295.
   
   

5. Heller, T, Hsieh, K, & Rimmer, JH. Barriers and supports for exercise participation among adults with Down syndrome. J Gerontol Soc Work. 2002;38:161-178.
   
   

6. Rimmer, JH, Silverman, K, Braunschweig, C, Quinn, L, Liu, Y. Feasibility of a health promotion intervention for a predominantly African-American group of women with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educ. 2002;28:571-580.
   
   

7. Rimmer, JH. Health promotion for individuals with disabilities. The need for a transitional model in service delivery.  Dis Managa Health Outcome. 2002;10:337-343.
   
   

8. Heller, T, Marks, B, Rimmer, JH. Determinants of exercise in adults with cerebral palsy. Publ Health Nurs. 2002; 19:223-231.
   
   

9. Rimmer, JH, Braddock, D. Health promotion for people with physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities: An emerging national priority.  Am J Health Promot. 2002;16:220-224.
   
   

10. Looney, MA, Rimmer, JH. Aerobic exercise equipment preferences among older adults: A preliminary investigation. J Appl Meas. 2003;4:43-58.
    
    

11. Rimmer, JH, Heller, T, Valerio, I, Wang, E. Improvements in physical fitness in adults with Down syndrome. Am J Ment Retard. 2004;109:165-174.
    
    

12. Braunschweig, CL, Gomez, S, Sheean, P, Tomey, KM, Rimmer, JH, Heller, T. High prevalence of obesity and low prevalence of cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk factors in urban community dwelling adults with Down syndrome. Am J Ment Retard. 2004;109, 186-193.
    
    

13. Heller, T, Hsieh, K, Rimmer, JH. Attitudinal and psychosocial outcomes of a fitness and health education program on adults with Down syndrome. Am J Ment Retard. 2004;109:175-185.
    
    

14. Rimmer, JH, et al. Physical activity participation among persons with disabilities: Barriers and facilitators. Am J Prev Med. 2004;26:419-425.
    
    

15. Rimmer, JH, Riley, B, Wang, E, Rauworth, A. Development and validation of AIMFREE: Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments. Disabil Rehabil. 2004;26:1087-1095.
    
    

16. Cress, ME, Buchner, DM, Prohaska, T, Rimmer, JH, et al. Physical activity programs and behavior counseling in older adult populations. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36:1997-2003.
    
    

17. Rimmer, JH. Exercise and physical activity in people aging with a physical disability. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2005;16:41-56.
    
    

18. Block, PM, Skeels, SE, Keys, CB, Rimmer, JH. Shake-It-Up: Health promotion and capacity building for people with spinal cord injuries and related neurological disabilities. Disabil Rehabil. 2005;27:185-190.
    
    

19. Rimmer, JH. The conspicuous absence of people with disabilities in public fitness and recreation facilities: Lack of interest or lack of access? Am J Health Promot. 2005;19:327-329.
    
    

20. Rimmer, JH, Wang, E. Aerobic exercise training in stroke survivors. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2005;12:17-30.
    
    

21. Rimmer, JH, Wang, E. Prevalence of obesity among a Chicago group of residents with disabilities. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:1461-1464.
    
    

22. Rimmer, JH, Riley, B, Wang, E, Rauworth, A. Accessibility of health clubs for people with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. Am J Public Health. 2005;95:2022-2028.
    
    

23. Faulkner, MS, Quinn, L, Rimmer, JH, Rich, BH. Cardiovascular endurance and heart rate variability in adolescents with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Biol Res Nurs. 2005;7:16-29.
    
    

24. Rimmer, JH, Yamaki, Y. Obesity and intellectual disability. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2006;12:22-27.
    
    

25. Rimmer, JH, Schiller, WJ. Future Directions in Exercise and Recreation Technology for People with Spinal Cord Injury and Other Disabilities: Perspectives from the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Recreational Technologies and Exercise Physiology for People with Disabilities. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2006;11:82-93.
    
    

26. Rimmer, JH. Use of the ICF in identifying factors that impact participation in physical activity among people with disabilities. Disabil Rehabil. 2006;28:1087-1095.
    
    

27. Rimmer, JH, Rowland, JL, Yamaki, K. Obesity and secondary conditions in adolescents with disabilities: Addressing the needs of an underserved population. J Adolesc Health. 2007;41:224-229.
    
    

28. Rimmer, JH, Wolf, LA, Sinclair, LB, Armour, BS.  Physical activity among adults with a disability--United States, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56:1021-1024.
    
    

29. Liang, H, Chen, D, Wang, E, Rimmer, JH, Braunschweig, CB. Different risk factor patterns for metabolic syndrome in men with spinal cord injury compared with able-bodied men, despite similar prevalence rates. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88:1198-1204.
    
    

30. Fowler, EG, Damiano, DL, Thorpe, DE, Morgan, DW, Brunstrom, JE, Coster, WJ, Henderson, RC, Pitetti, KH, Rimmer, JH, Rose, J, Stevenson, RD. Promotion of physical fitness and prevention of secondary conditions for children with cerebral palsy: Section on Pediatrics Research Summit Proceedings. Phys Ther. 2007;87: 1495-1510.
    
    

31. Riley, BB, Rimmer, JH, Wang, E, Schiller, WJ. A conceptual framework for improving the accessibility of fitness and recreation facilities for people with disabilities. J Phys Act Health. 2008;5:158-168.
    
    

32. Rimmer, JH, Wang, E, Smith D. Barriers to exercise in persons with stroke. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2008;45:315-322.
    
    

33. Rimmer, JH, Rowland, JL. Physical activity for youth with disabilities: A critical need in an underserved population. Dev Neurorehabil. 2008;11:141-148.
    
    

34. Rimmer, JH, Rowland, JL. Health promotion for people with disabilities: Implications for empowering the person and promoting disability-friendly environments. Am J Lifestyle Med. In press.

Projects

NCPAD, Principal Investigator

RecTech, Center Director and Co-Investigator (R3)

PEPRx, Principal Investigator and Project Director

HEZ, Principal Investigator

DRRP, Principal Investigator

RRTC, Principal Investigator

IDHP, Principal Investigator

Recent Publications

James H. Rimmer, PhD, Amy E. Rauworth, MS, Edward C. Wang, PhD, Terry L. Nicola, MD, Bernadette Hill, MS, RN (2009). A Preliminary Study to Examine the Effects of Aerobic and Therapeutic (Nonaerobic) Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Coronary Risk Reduction in Stroke Survivors, Arch Phys Med Rehabil, Vol 90.

 
James H. Rimmer, Amy Rauworth, Edward Wang, Paul S. Heckerling, Ben S. Gerber (2009). A randomized controlled trial to increase physical activity and reduce obesity in a predominantly African American group of women with mobility disabilities and severe obesity, Preventative Medicine, 48(5), 473-479.

James H. Rimmer & Jennifer L. Rowland (2008). Health promotion for people with disabilities: Implications for empowering the person and promoting disability-friendly environments, Am J Lifestyle Med. In press.

Rimmer, J. H., Wang, E. & Smith, D. (2008). Barriers Associated with Exercise and Community Access for Individuals with Stroke, Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 315-322.

Rimmer, J. H., Rowland, J. L., & Yamaki, K. (2007). Obesity and Secondary Conditions in Adolescents with Disabilities: Addressing the Needs of an Underserved Population, Journal of Adolescent Health, 224-229.

Rimmer, J. H., & Rowland, J. L., (2008).  Physical Activity for Youth with Disabilities: A Critical Need in an Undeserved Population, Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 141-148.

Rimmer, J.H. (2006). Building Inclusive Physical Activity Communities for People with Vision Loss, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, Special Supplement, 863-865.