Dr Victor Pinheiro is discussing the “Blazing New Technology: Future directions for online sport pedagogy and physical activity” at an international conference in Wyoming, USA.
Having excelled in athletics, hockey, football, volleyball and Kho-Kho in Goa and around India in his youth, Dr Victor Pinheiro turned to sports and administration with his first job at the Council of Sports in Goa.
He later moved to the USA to pursue his Doctorate in Sport Pedagogy/Biomechanics (1989) from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
UNIVERSITY
After completing his doctoral degree, Dr Pinheiro served as the Assistant Professor of Pedagogy of Sport/Biomechanics at the University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
He worked for 32 years in his capacity as a faculty member, administrator, and innovator, before retiring in December 2020.
From 2005 to 2009, Dr Pinheiro served as the Department Chair of Sport Science and Wellness Education, The University of Akron. Between 2010 and 2018, he was appointed Director of the School of Sport Science and Wellness Education, The University of Akron.
RESEARCH
During his tenure, Dr Pinheiro had an aggressive research agenda, publishing numerous refereed articles and abstracts in professional journals and book proceedings in the areas of motor skills diagnosis, decision-making and problem-solving in the field of coaching education, physical education, sport, health care and wellness education.
Through his research initiatives, he has successfully secured $1.7 Million in grants. His game-changing and landmark article, “An Operational Model of Motor Skills Diagnosis”, co-authored with Dr Herbert A Simon, Nobel Laureate (1978) has brought about profound changes in designing and implementation of curriculum in Teacher and Coach Education programmes around the world.
“Till today, I cherish the opportunity I had to learn and conduct research in decision-making and problem-solving under the tutelage of Dr Herbert Simon, while taking a course at Carnegie-Mellon University, USA,” recalls Dr Pinheiro.
He also mentored faculty in research and grant activities which generated many refereed publications and obtained competitive grant funding of $2 Million.
LEADERSHIP
As the School Director of Sport Science and Wellness Education, Dr Pinheiro introduced transformational changes using teamwork, effective managerial and leadership skills to provide a new vision.
“I had to provide leadership to successfully transfer the School from the College of Education to the newly created Inaugural College of Health Professions with the following schools: Audiology, nursing, social work, nutrition, counselling, allied health, and sport science,” said Dr Pinheiro.
He also directed interdisciplinary initiatives related to sport, health and wellness in the university, community (Summit County), and disadvantaged/underserved population.
Besides, Dr Pinheiro provided leadership to plan, implement, and evaluate STEM education through sport and health professions.
“Initiatives were designed to bring science, technology, engineering, and math components to a boys’ basketball camp, exposing 145 kids to the science behind the game.”
“The success of this teaching model was replicated at The University of Akron, Women Basketball Camp in February 2018 for 50 students. The teaching model was also implemented in the North High School, Akron Children’s Hospital Academy and also proposed for the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM School, which was entitled “STEMposium” in January 2018.”
Dr Pinheiro also provided leadership to bring expertise from different colleges, schools, and local community to work on initiatives with common interest and purpose.
“Various projects were planned, implemented, and evaluated for completion and success. Most of the projects completed were translated into refereed research articles and presentations. Additionally, students were served through experiential and service learning thus exposing them to their first elementary experience in Inter-professional Education,” said Dr Pinheiro.
PROJECTS
Dr Pinheiro oversaw the planning, design, and development of a $8 Million capital project for the new School of Sport Science and Wellness Education with state-of-the-art six clinical laboratories, classrooms, and offices for undergraduate and graduate degrees in Athletic Training Education, Sport Studies, Physical and Health Education, Exercise Science, in the newly constructed InfoCision Stadium.
“One of the labs houses the Hydro Worx pool with immersed treadmill and video to analyse biomechanics of gait/running and used for rehabilitation and training protocols. The Programme Coordinators are directly supervised along with eighty-five full and part-time faculty,” informed Dr Pinheiro.
He facilitated the development, organisation, faculty/staff hiring and operations of the school with a budget of $1.5 Million, initiated and facilitated inter-professional collaboration initiatives within programmes in the school, programmes in College of Health Professions and with other university schools.
Dr Pinheiro also played a key role in the design and development of Allied Health Technology, a $300,000 Radiologic Technology classroom/ laboratory with state-of-the-art Quantum DS-4 Radiographic System at the University of Akron 2017.
SPOTLIGHT
Dr Pinheiro has been a speaker at national and international conferences on various topics like sports science, health, and wellness professions, biomechanics of sports injuries, prevention and rehabilitation, sport medicine, exercise science and yogic science.
Dr Pinheiro has also received several awards from the University of Akron and was awarded the Leadership Award in 2007. He was also declared the Ohio Youth Soccer Association, Coach of the Year (2004).
