Rebecca Stearns

Associate Professor In Residence, Department of Kinesiology | Chief Operating Officer, Korey Stringer Institute

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Rebecca Stearns currently works as the Chief Operating Officer of the Korey Stringer Institute within the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. During her time at Connecticut, Dr. Stearns has published more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and provided over 50 local or national presentations on subjects related to exertional heat stroke, heat-related illnesses, enhancing athletic performance in the heat, preventing sudden death in sport, and hydration.  Dr. Stearns has been a co-author on numerous sports medicine inter-association task forces and position statement pertaining to sudden death in exercise including: The National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement on Preventing Sudden Death in Sports, the Inter-Association Task Force For Preventing Sudden Death In Collegiate Conditioning Sessions as well as in Secondary School Athletics Programs.  In April 2010, Dr. Stearns became one of the founding members of the Korey Stringer Institute and continues to work towards the KSI mission of serving the public to work towards preventing sudden death in sport by means of education, advocacy, public policy change, research, media outreach, and publications.

Titles:

Assistant Professor In Residence, Department of Kinesiology
Chief Operating Officer, Korey Stringer Institute

Academic Degrees:

Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 2012

M.A. University of Connecticut, 2008

B.S. Duquesne University, 2006

Areas of Expertise:

Preventing Sudden Death

Heat Stroke

Exertional Heat Illnesses

Exercise & Heat

Fluid-Electrolyte Balance

Thermoregulation

Hydration/Dehydration

Athletic Training

Elite Athletes

Heat Acclimatization

Dietary Supplements

Physiology – Environmental

 

Selected Publications:

Stearns RL, O’Connor FG, Casa DJ, Kenny GP. Exertional Heat Stroke. In: Casa DJ and Stearns RL (eds), Preventing Sudden Death in Sport and Physical Activity. Second Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA, USA, 2017.

Pryor RR, Casa DJ, Vandermark LW, Stearns RL, Attanasio SM, Fontaine GJ, Wafer AM. Athletic training services in public secondary schools: a benchmark study. J Athl Train. 2015;50(2):156-62

Mazerolle SM, Raso SR, Pagnotta KD, Stearns RL, Casa DJ. Athletic Directors’ Barriers to Hiring Athletic Trainers in High Schools. J Athl Train. 2015;50(10):1059-68.

DeMartini JK, Casa DJ, Belval L, Crago A, Jardine J, Davis R, Stearns RL. The Effectiveness of Cold Water Immersion in the Treatment of Exertional Heat Stroke at the Falmouth Road Race. Med Sci Sport Exerc, 2015 Feb;47(2):240-5.

DeMartini JK, Casa DJ, Belval L, Crago A, Jardine J, Davis R, Stearns RL. Relationship of the Occurrence of Exertional Heatstroke and Environmental Conditions at the Falmouth Road Race. J Athl Train. 2014;49(4):478-485.

Stearns RL, O’Connor FG, Casa DJ, Kenny GP. Exertional Heat Stroke. In: Casa DJ and Stearns RL (eds), Emergency Management for Sport and Physical Activity.  Jones and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA, USA, 2015

Pryor RP, Casa DJ, Adams WM, Belval LN, DeMartini JK, Huggins RA, Stearns RL, Vandermark LW. Maximizing athletic performance in the heat. Strength & Condit J. 2013;35(6):24-33.

Stearns RL, Belval L, Casa DJ, Armstrong LE, Maresh CM.  Two environmental symptoms questionnaire during 10 days of exercise-heat acclimation. Aviat Space & Environ Med. 2013;84(8):797-802.

Casa DJ, Almquist J, Anderson SA, Baker L, Bergeron MF, Biagioli B, Boden B, Brenner JS, Carroll M, Colgate B, Cooper L, Courson R, Csillan D, Demartini JK, Drezner JA, Erickson T, Ferrara MS, Fleck SJ, Franks R, Guskiewicz KM, Holcomb WR, Huggins RA, Lopez RM, Mayer T, McHenry P, Mihalik JP, O’Connor FG, Pagnotta KD, Pryor RR, Reynolds J, Stearns RL, Valentine V. The inter-association task force for preventing sudden death in secondary school athletics programs: best-practices recommendations. J Athl Train. 2013;48(4):546-543.

DiStefano LJ, Casa DJ, VanSumeren MM, Karslo RL, Huggins RA, DeMartini JK, Stearns RL, Armstrong LE, Maresh CM. Hypohydration and hyperthermia impair neuromuscular control after exercise. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 2013;45(6):1166-1173.

Casa DJ, Anderson SA, Baker L, Bennett S, Bergeron MF, Connolly D, Courson R, Drezner JA, Eichner ER, Epley B, Fleck S, Franks R, Guskiewicz KM, Harmon KG, Hoffman J, Holschen JC, Jost J, Kinniburgh A, Klossner D, Lopez RM, Martin G, McDermott BP, Mihalik JP, Myslinski T, Pagnotta K, Poddar S, Rodgers G, Russell A, Sales L, Sandler D, Stearns RL, Stiggins C, Thompson C. The inter-association task force for preventing sudden death in collegiate conditioning sessions: best practices recommendations. 2012;47(4):477-480.

Stearns RL, Casa DJ. Heat Injuries.  Encyclopedia of Lifestyle Medicine and Health. James M. Rippe, MD. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2012. 557-62. SAGE Reference Online. Web. 11 May. 2012.

Stearns RL, Casa DJ.  Humidity and Exercise.  Encyclopedia of Lifestyle Medicine and Health. James M. Rippe, MD. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2012. 586-88. SAGE Reference Online. Web. 11 May. 2012.

Casa DJ, Guskiewicz KM, Anderson SA, Courson RW, Heck JF, Jimenez CC, McDermott BP, Miller MG, Stearns RL, Swartz EE, Walsh KM. National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Preventing Sudden Death in Sports. J Athl Train. 2012;47(1):96-118.

Armstrong LE, Casa DJ, Emmanuel H, Ganio MS, Klau JK, Lee EC, Maresh CM, McDermott BP, Stearns RL, Vingren JL, Wingo JE, Williamson KH, Yamamoto LM. Nutritional, Physiological, and Perceptual Responses During a Summer Ultra-Endurance Cycling Event. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(2):307-318.

Lopez RM, Casa DJ, Jensen K, DeMartini JK, Pagnotta KD, Ruiz R, Roti M, Stearns RL, Armstrong LE, Maresh CM. Examining the influence of hydration status on physiological responses and running speed during trail running in the heat with controlled exercise intensity.  J Strength Cond Res. 2012;25(11)2944-54.

Lopez RM, Casa DJ, McDermott BP, Stearns RL, Armstrong LE, Maresh CM.  Exertional  Heat Stroke in the Athletic Setting.  Athletic Training and Sports Health Care. 2011;3(4):189-200.

Stearns RL, O’Connor FG, Casa DJ, Kenny GP. Exertional Heat Stroke. In: Preventing Sudden Death in Sport and Physical Activity. Casa DJ. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sudbury, Massachusetts, 53-77, 2011.

Ganio MS, Johnson EC, Lopez RM, Stearns RL, Emmanuel H, Anderson JM, Casa DJ, Maresh CM, Volek JS, Armstrong AE.  Caffeine lowers muscle pain during exercise in hot but not cool environments.  Physiology & Behavior. 2011; 102:429-435.

Stearns RL, Emmanuel H, Casa DJ, Volek JS.  Effects of ingesting protein in combination with carbohydrate during exercise on endurance performance: A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res.  2010; 24(8): 2192-2202.

Casa DJ, Stearns RL, Lopez RM, Ganio MS, McDermott BP, Walker Yeargin S, Yamamoto LM, Mazerolle SM, Roti MW, Armstrong LE, Maresh CM. Influence of hydration on physiological function and performance during trail running in the heat.  J Athl Train. 2010; 45(2): 147-56.

Yeargin SW, Casa DJ, Judelson DA, McDermott BP, Ganio MS, Lee EC, Lopez RM, Stearns RL, Anderson JA, Armstrong LE, Kraemer WJ, and Maresh CM. Thermoregulatory and hydration responses in heat-acclimatized adolescents during preseason high school football.  J Athl Train. 2010; 45(2): 136-46.

Stearns RL, Casa DJ, Lopez RM, McDermott BP, Ganio MS, Decher NR, Scruggs IC, West AE, Armstrong LE, Maresh CM.  Influence of hydration status on pacing during trail running in the heat. J Strength Cond Res. 2009; 23(9): 2533-2541.

McDermott BP, Casa DJ, O’Connor FG, Adams WB, Armstrong LE, Brennan AH, Lopez RM, Stearns RL, Troyanos C, Yeargin SW.  Cold-water dousing with ice massage to treat exertional heat stroke: a case series.  Aviat Space Environ Md. 2009; 80(8):720-2.