Rebecca Stearns

Associate Professor-In-Residence | 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 75 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:

Associate 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, Healy M, Karlsen T, Szymanski MR, Casa DJ. (2025). Chapter 7: Environmental Considerations for Exercise Prescription: Exercise in Hot Environments. In: Ozemek, C., Bonikowske, A., Christle, J., & Gallo, P. (Eds.), ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (12th ed., pp, 250-273). Wolters Kluwer. https://shop.lww.com/ACSM-s-Guidelines-for-Exercise-Testing-and-Prescription/p/9781975219208

Barletta JF, Palmieri TL, Toomey SA, AlShamsi F, Stearns RL, Patanwala AE, Siparsky NF, Badjatia N, Schultz B, Breighner CM, Bruno E, Harrod CG, Trevilian T, Braz de Carvalho L, Houser J, Harahus JM, Liu Y, Swoboda R, Ruhato Banguti P, Bailey H. Executive Summary: Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines for the Treatment of Heat Stroke. Crit Care Med. 2025 Feb 1;53(2):e483-e489. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006550. Epub 2025 Feb 21. PubMed PMID: 39982185.

Barletta JF, Palmieri TL, Toomey SA, AlShamsi F, Stearns RL, Patanwala AE, Siparsky NF, Badjatia N, Schultz B, Breighner CM, Bruno E, Harrod CG, Trevilian T, Braz de Carvalho L, Houser J, Harahus JM, Liu Y, Swoboda R, Ruhato Banguti P, Bailey H. Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines for the Treatment of Heat Stroke. Crit Care Med. 2025 Feb 1;53(2):e490-e500. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006551. Epub 2025 Feb 21. PMID: 39982186.

Stearns RL, Kucera KL, Hosokawa Y, Filep EM, Grace A, DeLong R, Cantu R, Casa DJ. Fatal Exertional Heat Stroke Trends in Secondary School Sports From 1982 Through 2022. Sports Health. 2024 Dec 11:19417381241298293. doi: 10.1177/19417381241298293. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39663688.

Tishukaj F, Stearns RL, Morrissey MC, Jardine JF, Casa DJ. Exertional Heat Stroke Best Practices in U.S. Emergency Medical Services Guidelines. J Emerg Med. 2024 Oct;67(4):e327-e337. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2024.04.005. Epub 2024 May 3. PMID: 39183116.

Eason CM, Goble SE, Post EG, Huggins RA, Casa DJ, Stearns RL. Factors Influencing Athletic Training Services in California Secondary Schools: A Five- Year Update. J Athl Train. 2024 Nov 1;59(11):1132-1138. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0187.24. PubMed PMID: 38835328; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11611368.

Dunn RA, Fry LA, Sekiguchi Y, Benjamin CL, Manning CN, Huggins RA, Stearns RL, Casa DJ. Effect of Heat Acclimatization, Heat Acclimation, and Intermittent Heat Training on Maximal Oxygen Uptake. Sports Health. 2025 Mar;17(2):305-311. doi: 10.1177/19417381241249470. Epub 2024 May 6. PubMed PMID: 38708678; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11569670.

Miller KC, Amaria NY, Casa DJ, Jardine JF, Stearns RL, O’Connor P, Scarneo-Miller SE. Exertional Heatstroke Survivors’ Knowledge and Beliefs about Exertional Heatstroke Diagnosis, Treatment, and Return to Play. J Athl Train. 2024 Apr 18. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0677.23. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38632831.

Stearns RL, Jardine J, Yeargin SW, Szymanski MR, Casa DJ. Letter to the Editor on: Cooling Modality Effectiveness and Mortality Associate[d] with Prehospital Care of Exertional Heat Stroke Casualties. J Emerg Med. 2024 Mar;66(3):e397-e399. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.10.034. PMID: 38499406.

RL Stearns, Y Hosokawa, LN Belval, D Martin, RA Huggins, JF Jardine, DJ Casa; Exertional Heat Stroke Survival at the Falmouth Road Race: 180 New Cases With Expanded Analysis. J Athl Train. 2024 Mar 1;59(3):304-309. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0065.23. PubMed PMID: 37655801; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10976335.

65. Scarneo-Miller SE, Eason CM, Adams WM, Stearns RL, Casa DJ. State-Level Implementation of Health and Safety Policies to Prevent Sudden Death and Catastrophic Injuries Within High Schools: An Update. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Oct;49(12):3372–8.

Bartley JM, Stearns RL, Muñoz CX, Nolan JK, Radom-Aizik S, Maresh CM, Casa DJ, Zaldivar FP, Haddad F, Ganio M, Lee EC. Effects of cold water immersion on circulating inflammatory markers at the Kona Ironman World Championship. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021 Jul;46(7):719-726. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2020-0602. Epub 2021 Jan 28. PubMed PMID: 33507839.

Stearns RL, Hosokawa Y, Adams WM, Belval LN, Huggins RA, Jardine JF, Katch RK, Davis RJ, Casa DJ. Incidence of Recurrent Exertional Heat Stroke in a Warm-Weather Road Race. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020 Dec 21;56(12). doi: 10.3390/medicina56120720. PubMed PMID: 33371206; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7766530.

Earp JE, Stearns RL, Agostinucci J, Lepley AS, Ward-Ritacco CL. Total Body and Extracellular Water Measures Are Unrelated to Cramp Sensitivity in Euhydrated Cramp-Prone Individuals. J Strength Cond Res. 2020 Dec 2;. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003839. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33273303.

Filep EM, Murata Y, Endres BD, Kim G, Stearns RL, Casa DJ. Exertional Heat Stroke, Modality Cooling Rate, and Survival Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020 Nov 5;56(11). doi: 10.3390/medicina56110589. PubMed PMID: 33167534; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7694459.

Earp JE, Stearns RL, Stranieri A, Agostinucci J, Lepley AS, Matson T, Ward-Ritacco CL. Electrolyte beverage consumption alters electrically induced cramping threshold. Muscle Nerve. 2019 Nov;60(5):598-603. doi: 10.1002/mus.26650. Epub 2019 Aug 12. PubMed PMID: 31350753.

Hosokawa Y, Stearns RL, Casa DJ. Is Heat Intolerance State or Trait? Sports Med. 2019 Mar;49(3):365-370. PubMed PMID: 30747377.

Endres BD, Kerr ZY, Stearns RL, Adams WM, Hosokawa Y, Huggins RA, Kucera KL, Casa DJ. Epidemiology of Sudden Death in Organized Youth Sports in the United States, 2007-2015. J Athl Train. 2019; 54(4): 349–355.

Stearns RL, Nolan JK, Huggins RA, Maresh CM, Munõz CX, Pagnotta KD, Volk BM, Casa DJ. Influence of Cold Water Immersion on Recovery of Elite Triathletes in the Ironman World Championships. J Sci Med Sport. 2018;21(8):846-851.

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.