Lorena Martin

PhD, BS, University of Miami; MS, Nova Southeastern University; Postdoctoral Fellowships, UC San Diego

As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Data Sciences and Operations at the University of Southern California, Lorena Martin stands out for her insightful approach to research, often illustrated through her focus on "both sides of the bell curve." This phrase encapsulates her dual research interests: on one side, she is dedicated to reducing health disparities in underprivileged populations, particularly within the Hispanic/Latino community, by examining physical activity levels and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. On the other side, her work extends into the realm of sports science, where she concentrates on enhancing sports performance and injury prevention for professional athletes.

Martin's unique perspective is deeply influenced by her background as a former elite tennis player. Her transition from athlete to academic has been marked by significant roles in the professional sports industry, including serving as the Director of High Performance for a Major League Baseball team and as the Director of Sports Performance Analytics for the Los Angeles Lakers. These experiences have provided her with invaluable insights into the practical applications of her research.

In addition to her professional roles, Martin is an accomplished author, contributing to renowned books like "Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation, 2nd edition" and "Improving Exercise Adherence." She is also the sole author of "Sports Performance Measurement and Analytics," a testament to her expertise in the field. Her academic credentials are equally impressive: she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, then she returned to the University of Miami where she obtained her doctorate in Exercise Physiology. She also completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in analytics, GIS spatial analysis, biostatistics, and epidemiology at the University of California, San Diego.

Lorena Martin's career, characterized by her passion for research and data science and her unique application of the bell curve concept, positions her as a leader in leveraging data science for reducing health disparities and improving sports performance.