Biography and education
Dr. Kevin Miller is a Professor and Athletic Trainer at Texas State University. He is the director of the Heat Emergency Assessment and Treatment (H.E.A.T) Laboratory in the Department of Health and Human Performance. His research interests include the causes, treatments, and prevention of exertional heat illness with a specific emphasis on exercise-associated muscle cramping and exertional heatstroke.
He and his team have saved over 90 exertional heatstroke patients in the field with a 100% survival rate. His work has helped change heat policies in Texas, Michigan, Utah, New Mexico, Indiana, New York, and Virginia.
He has published over 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts in medical journals and presented over 120 international, national, or regional presentations on topics related to heat illness. He has Chaired and co-authored several national and international position statements including the 2021 NATA Roundtable on the Prehospital Care of Exertional Heatstroke, the 2015 NATA Position Statement on Exertional Heat Illness; the Statement of the Third International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference; and the NATA round table on Malignant Hyperthermia in Physically-Active Populations.
He is a Fellow of the NATA and recipient of numerous awards for his work including the 2019 MATS Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, the 2022 GLATA Outstanding Educator Award, the 2022 NATA Professional Development Excellence Award, and the 2026 Christine Bonci Award for Excellence in Athletic Training. Stories about his research have appeared in the New York Times, Men’s Health Journal, the BBC, and National Geographic, to name a few.
He is a member of the Korey Stringer Institute’s Medical and Science Advisory Board, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Athletic Training, a member of numerous scientific Editorial Boards, and scientific advisor/consultant to schools, Universities, hospitals, and companies for his expertise in heat related illness.
He and his team have saved over 90 exertional heatstroke patients in the field with a 100% survival rate. His work has helped change heat policies in Texas, Michigan, Utah, New Mexico, Indiana, New York, and Virginia.
He has published over 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts in medical journals and presented over 120 international, national, or regional presentations on topics related to heat illness. He has Chaired and co-authored several national and international position statements including the 2021 NATA Roundtable on the Prehospital Care of Exertional Heatstroke, the 2015 NATA Position Statement on Exertional Heat Illness; the Statement of the Third International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference; and the NATA round table on Malignant Hyperthermia in Physically-Active Populations.
He is a Fellow of the NATA and recipient of numerous awards for his work including the 2019 MATS Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, the 2022 GLATA Outstanding Educator Award, the 2022 NATA Professional Development Excellence Award, and the 2026 Christine Bonci Award for Excellence in Athletic Training. Stories about his research have appeared in the New York Times, Men’s Health Journal, the BBC, and National Geographic, to name a few.
He is a member of the Korey Stringer Institute’s Medical and Science Advisory Board, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Athletic Training, a member of numerous scientific Editorial Boards, and scientific advisor/consultant to schools, Universities, hospitals, and companies for his expertise in heat related illness.
Featured grants
- Miller, Kevin C (Principal), Farrell, John Wayland (Co-Principal). Efficacy of CONTROL on menstrual cramps, skeletal muscle cramping, and baseball performance, Avkare, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $120000. (Funded: January 2025 - December 2025). Grant.
- Miller, Kevin C. Cooling Effectiveness of the Polar Life Pod, Polar Products, Inc, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $176000. (Funded: October 2023 - January 2026). Grant.
- Miller, Kevin C, Farrell, John Wayland (Supporting). Validity and Reliability of Predictive Wear Garments, Predictive Wear LLC, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $190000. (Submitted: October 2022, Funded: October 9, 2022 - December 31, 2023). Grant.
- Alvesteffer, Olivia, Gremel, Megan, Daoust, Abigail, Miller, Kevin C. Falmouth Road Race Research, CMU Athletic Training Program, $1500. (Funded: August 2022). Grant.
- Miller, Kevin C (Principal), Knudson, Duane (Co-Principal), Bender, Stacey (Supporting). CPR effectiveness in stressful environments: An exploratory military study, COERO, Texas State University, $24000. (Submitted: October 2025). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Miller, K. C. (2025). Polar Life Pod cooling efficacy when small volumes of water are available to treat exercise-induced hyperthermia. Wilderness Emerg Med, 1–10.
- Miller, K. C., Beck, J., Valadez, S., Koldenhoven, R. M., Uriegas, N. A., & Lally, E. M. (2025). Using ice packing and the Polar Life Pod to treat severe hyperthermia. Am J Emerg Med, 99, 201–206.
- Miller, K. C., Koldenhoven, R. M., & Lally, E. M. (2025). Validity of common body temperature sites and gait parameters during a heat tolerance test. Temperature, 12(3), 231–244. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2025.2493456
- Miller, K. C., Amaria, N., Scarneo-Miller, S., Casa, D., Jardine, J., Stearns, R., & O’Connor, P. (2024). Exertional heatstroke survivors’ knowledge and beliefs about exertional heatstroke diagnosis, treatment, and return to play. J Athl Train, 59, 1063–1069.
- Miller, K. C., McDermott, B., Yeargin, S., Fiol, A., & Schwellnus, M. (2022). An evidence-based review of the pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention of exercise associated muscle cramps. J Athl Train, 57, 5–15.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Service, College of Education. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Professional Development Excellence Award, National Athletic Trainers Association. 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Educator Award, Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association. March 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, MATS. June 2019
- Award / Honor Recipient: NATA Service Award, National Athletic Trainers Association. June 2025
Featured service activities
- Member
South Padre Athletic Training Seminar Planning Committee
- Reviewer / Referee
Bioengineering
- Member
COE Principal Investigator Working Group
- Member
University Principal Investigators Council
- Member
College of Education Review Committee
- Reviewer / Referee
Frontiers in Medicine