Quick Questions Heat-Related Illness: Expert Advice in Sports Medicine

Quick Questions in Heat-Related Illness and Hydration: Expert Advice in Sports Medicine provides a unique format of concise and to-the-point responses with clinical application, backed by the latest research on heat-related illnesses and hydration issues common among athletes.

Rebecca M. Lopez, PhD, ATC, CSCS graduated from Florida International University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Education, Athletic Training Specialization. She returned to Florida International University and obtained her Master of Science in Advanced Athletic Training/Sports Medicine in 2004. She completed her PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Connecticut in 2010. Dr. Lopez is a Board-Certified Athletic Trainer, an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Health Fitness Specialist, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She worked as a certified athletic trainer in Miami-Dade Public Schools for several years and has volunteered in the medical tent at the Boston Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Falmouth Road Race, and others. Her research interests include exertional heat stroke and other exertional heat illnesses, cooling methods for hyperthermic athletes, ergogenic aids and thermoregulation, sickle cell trait in athletes, hydration and exercise performance, and preventing sudden death in sports. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and several chapters on exertional heat illness, hydration, and preventing sudden death in sports. Dr. Lopez is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and the Director of the Post-Professional Graduate Athletic Training Program at the University of South Florida. She also serves on the medical and science advisory board for the Korey Stringer Institute.