Dr. Rebecca Lopez received her B.S. and M.S. in athletic training at Florida International University and completed her Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Lopez is a certified athletic trainer through the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Board of Certification. She is also a certified strength & conditioning specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a certified exercise physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Lopez joined USF in 2010 and is currently a Professor in the Athletic Training Program within the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences and the Morsani College of Medicine. She is the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences Assistant School Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and she is currently serving as Co-Chair of the NATA's DEIA Task Force. Dr. Lopez is also a board member on the Medical & Science Advisory Board for the Korey Stringer Institute. Her clinical athletic training experiences include working in the high school setting, women's professional football, and mass medical events. Dr. Lopez's research interests include exertional heatstroke and other heat illnesses, hydration, youth sports injury, preventing sudden death in sports, and creating an inclusive environment in athletic training. Her passion is educating athletic training students, certified athletic trainers, and other clinicians on the evidence-based prevention, recognition, and treatment of exertional heatstroke.