Shawn R. Eagle, PhD

Assistant Professor

Shawn R. Eagle, PhD, joined the faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh in January of 2022. Dr. Eagle has collaborated on Department of Defense (DoD) funded research through the University of Pittsburgh since 2013. He began focusing on TBI in 2015 when he began his doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh’s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory. Dr. Eagle extended his studies as a postdoctoral fellow in the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic from 2019 to 2021. His research interests are currently focused on mitigating risk for long-term sequelae following traumatic brain injury, with a specific focus on mental health issues. Dr. Eagle’s research has been supported by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research, and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Eagle has published over 150 papers in refereed journals and presented his research at local, national and international scientific conferences. Dr. Eagle serves the broader TBI research community as an assistant editor for Neurosurgery and Journal of Athletic Training, as a member of the National Neurotrauma Society (NNS) publication committee, serving on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) common data element working groups, and as a member of the Parkinson Foundation of Western Pennsylvania medical advisory board.

Dr. Eagle’s publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine’s publication database

Specialized Areas of Interest

Understanding how systemic health at time of injury impacts TBI recovery and long-term health; Improving implementation of new technologies for the assessment and management of TBI into clinical practice.

Board Certifications

Certified Athletic Trainer

Professional Organization Membership

International Initiative for Traumatic Brain Injury Research (InTBIR)

National Athletic Trainers’ Association

National Neurotrauma Society

Sports Neuropsychology Society

Professional Activities

Traumatic Brain Injury Subject Matter Expert, TBI Center of Excellence, Department of Defense.

Education & Training

BA, Athletic Training, Denison University, 2011
MAT, Athletic Training, Texas Tech University, 2013
PhD, Rehabilitation Science, University of Pittsburgh, 2019
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 2021

Honors & Awards

Young Investigator Award Finalist, Military Health Sciences Research Symposium, 2020
Neuromuscular Plasticity Scholar Award, University of Florida, 2018
Doctoral Student Award, International Congress on Soldiers’ Physical Performance, 2017
Mid-Atlantic Regional Doctoral Student Investigator Award, American College of Sports Medicine, 2016

Research Activities

Dr. Eagle received a Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) Health Services Research Award to improve implementation of the iSTAT Alinity Whole Blood TBI test in emergency departments.