Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Rehabilitation Sciences

Samantha Scarneo-Miller

757-683-4960

HEALTH SCIENCES BLDG
NORFOLK, 23529

Dr. Samantha Scarneo-Miller joined ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ in July 2025. Dr. Scarneo-Miller is a nationally recognized expert in emergency preparedness in sport, with research focused on reducing catastrophic injury through public health-informed interventions. Dr. Scarneo-Miller has over 65 publications related to catastrophic sport injuries, emergency action plans, exertional heat stroke, advocacy for the athletic training profession and many other topics in the sports medicine realm. Most notably, she was the lead author of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Emergency Action Plan Development and Implementation in Sport.

In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Scarneo-Miller provides services to the local community aimed at improving emergency preparedness and response, equipping schools, athletic organizations, and clinicians with evidence-based strategies to protect athletes. She is an advocate for the athletic training profession, striving to help athletic trainers adopt best practices and save more lives. She has served on the NATA Pronouncements Committee, Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association district council (as WVATA President) and previously as an observation member on the NFL's Research and Innovation & USA Lacrosse Sport Science and Safety Committees. Dr. Scarneo-Miller also provides expert witness testimony in legal cases related to catastrophic sport injury.

Dr. Scarneo-Miller earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Connecticut, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the Korey Stringer Institute.

Ph.D. in Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, (2017)

M.S. in Exercise Science, University of Connecticut, (2014)

B.S. in Athletic Training, University of New Hampshire, (2011)

Articles

Eason, C., Frey, G., Adams, W., Berkowsky, R., Casa, D. and Scarneo-Miller, S. (2025). CPR/AED Training State Requirements for US High School Students and Athletic Coaches: A Descriptive Comparison. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice , pp. 10--1097.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Stearns, R. L., Eason, C. M., Lacy, A. M Pike., Lopez, R. M., Winkelmann, Z. K., Hirschhorn, R. M. and Yeargin, S. W. (2025). Emergency Action Plan Adoption Across Athletic Training Practice Settings. Journal of Athletic Training 1 (aop).
Grundstein, A., Yeargin, S., Cooper, E., Cargile, L., Clark, J., Lopez, R., Miller, K., Montalvo, A., Scarneo-Miller, S. and Stearns, R. (2025). Evaluating heat risk: Comparing on-site WBGT measurements versus smartphone application estimates. GeoHealth 9 (3) , pp. e2025GH001347.
Yeargin, S. W., Scarneo-Miller, S., Radzak, K. N., Hosokawa, Y., Bazett-Jones, D. M., Welch Bacon, C. E., Resnick, P. B., Marshall, A. N. and Thomas, S. J. (2025). Evidence Gathering and Recommendation Building Procedures for Position Statements: New Methodology. Journal of Athletic Training.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Boltz, A. J., Chandran, A., Robison, H. J., DiStefano, L. J. and Register-Mihalik, J. K. (2025). Modifications of Exertional Heat Illness and Lightning Policies in US High School Athletics Over an Academic Year. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training 1 (aop) , pp. 1--8.
Bowman, T. G., Boergers, R. J., Caswell, S. V., Conway, D., Mills, W. J., Putukian, M., Merritt, M., Vescovi, J. D., Strapp, E., Loehr, K. and others (2025). Prehospital care of suspected spine-injured lacrosse athletes: a systematic search, evidence review, and consensus recommendations. British journal of sports medicine 59 (9) , pp. 630--639.
Wallace, K., Scarneo-Miller, S., Monnin, J., Lincoln, A. E., Hraky, O., Gosnell, G., Jeong, S., Skinner, W., Schaefer, E., Desai, D. K. and others (2025). Systematic mapping review of player safety, sport science and clinical care in lacrosse. British Journal of Sports Medicine 59 (4) , pp. 263--271.
Meyer, C. M., Swartz, E. E., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Yeargin, S. and Scarneo-Miller, S. (2024). Cervical Spine Injury Policy Adoption: Describing High Schools’ Readiness Using the Precaution Adoption Process Model. Journal of Athletic Training 59 (1) , pp. 30.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Adams, W. M., Coleman, K. A. and Lopez, R. M. (2024). Exertional heat illness: adoption of policies and influencing contextual factors as reported by athletic administrators. Sports Health 16 (1) , pp. 58--69.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Hosokawa, Y., Drezner, J. A., Hirschhorn, R. M., Conway, D. P., Elkins, G. A., Hopper, M. N. and Strapp, E. J. (2024). National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement: emergency action plan development and implementation in sport. Journal of athletic training 59 (6) , pp. 570.
Yeargin, S., Hirschhorn, R. M., Adams, W. M. and Scarneo-Miller, S. (2024). Secondary school state athletic association health and safety policy development processes. Journal of school health 94 (7) , pp. 591--600.
Walker, A. E., Totzkay, D., Scarneo-Miller, S., Claydon, E. A. and Olfert, M. D. (2023). Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to inform development of a Dissemination and Implementation science training for nutrition practitioners. Public Health Nutrition 26 (12) , pp. 3202--3210.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Eason, C. M., Winkelmann, Z. K., Emrich, C. and Register-Mihalik, J. K. (2023). Athletic Trainers’ Proficiency in Evaluating Emergency Action Plans and a Subset of Catastrophic Policies and Procedures. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training 28 (6) , pp. 342--349.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Flanagan, K. Walsh., Belval, L. N., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Casa, D. J. and DiStefano, L. J. (2021). Adoption of lightning safety best-practices policies in the secondary school setting. Journal of Athletic Training 56 (5) , pp. 491--498.
Grundstein, A. J., Scarneo-Miller, S., Adams, W. M. and Casa, D. J. (2021). From theory to practice: Operationalizing a climate vulnerability for sport organizations framework for heat hazards among US high schools. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 24 (8) , pp. 718--722.
Dierickx, E. E., Scarneo-Miller, S. and Casa, D. J. (2021). High school coaches’ knowledge and behaviors for emergency preparedness. International Sport Coaching Journal 9 (1) , pp. 40--50.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Lopez, R. M., Miller, K. C., Adams, W. M., Kerr, Z. Y. and Casa, D. J. (2021). High schools' adoption of evidence-based practices for the management of exertional heat stroke. Journal of athletic training 56 (10) , pp. 1142--1153.
Adams, W. M., Hosokawa, Y., Casa, D. J., P\'eriard, Julien D, Racinais, S., Wingo, J. E., Yeargin, S. W., Scarneo-Miller, S., Kerr, Z. Y., Belval, L. N. and others (2021). Roundtable on preseason heat safety in secondary school athletics: heat acclimatization. Journal of athletic training 56 (4) , pp. 352--361.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Casa, D. J., Yin, S., Moore, T. E., Murata, Y., Register-Mihalik, J. Kay. and DiStefano, L. J. (2021). The precaution adoption process model in describing emergency action plan adoption. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice 19 (2) , pp. 2.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Casa, D., Yin, S., Moore, T., Murata, Y., Register-Mihalik, J. and DiStefano, L. (2021). The Precaution Adoption Process Model in Describing Emergency Action Plan Adoption. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice.
Murata, Y., Scarneo-Miller, S., McMahon, L. J. and Casa, D. J. (2020). Adoption of Emergency Action Plans in Secondary Schools: A Study of School Nurses' Knowledge and Behavior. Journal of School Health 90 (9) , pp. 694--702.
Scarneo-Miller, S., DiStefano, L. J., Singe, S. Mazerolle., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Stearns, R. L. and Casa, D. J. (2020). Emergency action plans in secondary schools: barriers, facilitators, and social determinants affecting implementation. Journal of athletic training 55 (1) , pp. 80--87.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Belval, L. N., Yeargin, S. W., Hosokawa, Y., Kerr, Z. Y. and Casa, D. J. (2020). Exertional heat illness preparedness strategies: environmental monitoring policies in United States high schools. Medicina 56 (10) , pp. 486.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Kerr, Z. Y., Adams, W. M., Belval, L. N. and Casa, D. J. (2020). Influence of state-level emergency planning policy requirements on secondary school adoption. Journal of Athletic Training 55 (10) , pp. 1062--1069.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Saltzman, B., Adams, W. M. and Casa, D. J. (2020). Regional requirements influence adoption of exertional heat illness preparedness strategies in United States high schools. Medicina 56 (10) , pp. 488.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Adams, W. M., Yeargin, S. W., Konz, M. A., Potter, J. E. and Casa, D. J. (2020). The prevalence of secondary school sport safety policies within state athletic associations and legislation. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice 18 (4) , pp. 17.
Scarneo-Miller, S., DiStefano, L. J., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Stearns, R. L., Denegar, C. R. and Casa, D. J. (2019). Athletic administrators report of emergency action plan adoption in secondary school athletics: the influence of athletic training services. Journal of Applied Sport Management 11 (3) , pp. 11.
Kerr, Z. Y., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Pryor, R. R., Hosokawa, Y., Scarneo-Miller, S. and Casa, D. J. (2019). Compliance with the National Athletic Trainers' Association Inter-Association Task Force preseason heat-acclimatization guidelines in high school football. Journal of Athletic Training 54 (7) , pp. 749--757.
Scarneo-Miller, S., DiStefano, L. J., Stearns, R. L., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Denegar, C. R. and Casa, D. J. (2019). Emergency action planning in secondary school athletics: A comprehensive evaluation of current adoption of best practice standards. Journal of athletic training 54 (1) , pp. 99--105.
Kerr, Z. Y., Scarneo-Miller, S., Yeargin, S. W., Grundstein, A. J., Casa, D. J., Pryor, R. R. and Register-Mihalik, J. K. (2019). Exertional heat-stroke preparedness in high school football by region and state mandate presence. Journal of athletic training 54 (9) , pp. 921--928.
Murata, Y., Casa, D. J., Adams, W. M., Scarneo-Miller, S. and Stearns, R. L. (2019). State-level Implementation of Health and Safety Policies Within Secondary School Athletics: 2018 Update. Medicine \& Science in Sports \& Exercise 51 , pp. 746--746.
Kerr, Z. Y., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Pryor, R. R., Pierpoint, L. A., Scarneo-Miller, S., Adams, W. M., Kucera, K. L., Casa, D. J. and Marshall, S. W. (2019). The association between mandated preseason heat acclimatization guidelines and exertional heat illness during preseason high school American football practices. Environmental health perspectives 127 (4) , pp. 047003.
Scarneo-Miller, S., Kerr, Z. Y., Kroshus, E., Register-Mihalik, J. K., Hosokawa, Y., Stearns, R. L., DiStefano, L. J. and Casa, D. J. (2019). The socioecological framework: a multifaceted approach to preventing sport-related deaths in high school sports. Journal of athletic training 54 (4) , pp. 356--360.
Adams, W. M., Scarneo-Miller, S. and Casa, D. J. (2018). State-level implementation of health and safety policies to prevent sudden death and catastrophic injuries within secondary school athletics: response. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine 6 (2) , pp. 2325967117752129.

Organizational Chart