James Rimmer, Ph.D.The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s James Rimmer, Ph.D., the Lakeshore Foundation Endowed Chair in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation Sciences, has been named Chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Science Board. His one-year term begins January 1, 2016.

When he was initially named to the Board in late 2014, Rimmer had this to say:

“There is a lack of representation of people with disabilities across the spectrum of health, wellness, exercise and nutrition and I believe society is starting to recognize the value that exercise and good nutrition have on improving the health of every member of society, including those with the least access to it,” said Rimmer, a professor in the UAB School of Health ProfessionsDepartment of Occupational Therapy. “This administration has a tremendous interest in physical activity, sports, recreation and obesity reduction so this is a good time for people with disabilities to get on board the train.”

Rimmer is the first researcher with a focus on the fitness of people with disabilities to be named to the prestigious post.

Under his leadership, he says the board will review scientific evidence – both new and old – and then make recommendations and presentations to the Council based on their findings.

“Our role is to make sure that whatever is recommended goes through the filter of scientific integrity,” said Rimmer.

Rimmer is director of two federally funded centers – the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability funded by CDC and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Interactive Exercise Technologies and Exercise Physiology for Persons with Disabilities funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). He is also the Primary Investigator on the NIDRR-funded Disability Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) on Obesity and Obesity-Related Secondary Conditions in Youths and Young Adults with Disabilities.