Walter R. Frontera, MD, PhD, is the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Physiology at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). Dr. Frontera completed his medical studies and a residency in PM&R in 1983 at the University of Puerto Rico and a doctoral degree in applied anatomy and physiology at Boston University in 1986.

After completing his training, Dr. Frontera returned to the UPR School of Medicine. In 1993 he became Chief of the Department of PM&R. In 1995 he spent a sabbatical year at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden in the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology studying the effects of aging on the biochemical and contractile properties of single human muscle fibers. In 1996 he was recruited to Harvard Medical School to establish the Department of PM&R at that institution. He was later appointed the Earle P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and Chairman of the Department of PM&R at Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. He was also the Chief of Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

His main research interest is the study of the mechanisms underlying muscle atrophy and weakness in elderly. Based on his studies of human sarcopenia, Dr. Frontera has developed rehabilitative interventions using therapeutic exercise to slow down and/or reverse skeletal muscle alterations associated with advanced adult age. His research has also included the study of skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with neuromuscular diseases and muscle function with exercise training in patients with HIV. Dr. Frontera has more than 200 scientific publications including more than 75 peer-reviewed articles and 10 edited books. Currently, Dr. Frontera serves as the Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of PM&R. He is a Board Member of the International Society for PM&R, charter member of the Kottke Society (an honorary society in rehabilitation medicine) and a fellow of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, the American Academy of PM&R, and the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also a member of the American Physiological Society and the AAAS. Dr. Frontera has presented more than 140 invited lectures in 41 countries and served as a grant reviewer and graduate research examiner for Universities in Canada, South Africa and Hong Kong. Active in international sports medicine he is President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS).

He has received several awards including Best Scientific Research Paper (3 times) presented by the American Academy of PM&R, the Distinguished Academician Award in 2005 presented by the Association of Academic Physiatrists, and the Harvard Foundation Award for his contributions to the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. He is an honorary member of the Aragonese-Spanish Society of Sports Medicine, the Chilean Society of PM&R, and the Euskalerria Society of Rehabilitation.