Rebecca Stearns, PhD, ATC

Chief Operating Officer

Rebecca Stearns, is the Chief Operating Officer for the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) and has worked at KSI since it began in April of 2010. Dr. Stearns is a certified athletic trainer and has experience as an athletic trainer at the high school level and at various mass medical tent events including Boston Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, New York City Marathon, Falmouth Road Race and the Ironman Lake Placid. She has co-authored multiple position statements related to preventing sudden death in sport and published over 75 research articles. Her particular research interest is in the effects of heat and hydration on sport performance and physiological functioning in addition to identifying the risk of future exertional heat stroke episodes. Dr. Stearns also led the creation of an online educational course specific to preventing sudden death in sport, as well as co-editing books addressing these topics which include “Preventing Sudden Death in Sport and Physical Activity” and “Emergency Management for Sport and Physical Activity.” She is an avid runner, having completed 7 marathons which include the Boston, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Marine Corps marathons. Dr. Stearns earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training at Duquesne University in 2006. She completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in kinesiology at the University of Connecticut in 2008 and 2012, respectively.