Student Profile of the Quarter: Stephanie Gomez-Rubalcava
Fall 2016
Kinesiology junior Stephanie Gomez-Rubalcava presents findings from summer research to Cal Poly parents and students.
When Stephanie Gomez-Rubalcava started at Cal Poly two years ago, she already knew it was a stepping-stone to becoming an occupational therapist (OT) and helping children with disabilities.
The junior kinesiology major first learned about occupational therapy as a child while watching a television advertisement for Teleton, a non-profit organization that raises money to support rehabilitation centers for children with neurological and skeletal disorders. Less than 10 years later, Gomez-Rubalcava was in Mexico during her summer vacatio, working with a Teleton Children Rehabilitation Institute to make casts for pediatric clients, lead exercises with patients, and shadow OTs.
“What interested me in occupational therapy was seeing all the underserved populations with kids who have disabilities,” Gomez-Rubalcava said. “It really interested me to help those kids live a better life.”
This same goal inspired Gomez-Rubalcava to join STRIDE last year as a student research assistant. Working with the Center has taught Gomez-Rubalcava how to complete anthropometric measures on children and adults, recruit and screen participants, assemble research materials, and lead participant visits. She hopes to combine her newfound love of research with her goal of becoming an OT.
“Children have always been one of my biggest reason for wanting to be an OT,” Gomez said. “So I thought this would be a great opportunity to do research with kids.”
Since joining the STRIDE research team, Gomez-Rubalcava co-wrote a chapter about behavioral therapy for obesity with Suzanne Phelan and Cal Poly kinesiology student Kaitlin Stabbert in Thomas Wadden’s “Handbook for Obesity Treatment.” She applied this fall for a diversity supplement from the National Institutes of Health to study mood and exercise in patients participating in STRIDE’s gestational diabetes prevention study. She also participated in the College of Science and Mathematics summer research program, working on the Partners in Health study and presenting findings on this couples’ weight loss intervention program to parents of new Cal Poly students.
Gomez-Rubalcava has been an asset to the STRIDE team and has excelled in her work with children. Participants now request Gomez-Rubalcava to help take care of their children while they meet with research assistants.
“Stephanie is extremely bright and hard-working and has a natural ability to work with kids,” STRIDE co-director Todd Hagobian said. “There is no doubt that she will be an excellent children's OT.”