Núñez-Gaunaurd, Annabel Graduate Faculty

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biography

  • Areas of Expertise:
    Physical Activity, Functional Outcome Measures, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Obesity, Community-Based Research, Physical Therapy,

    Faculty Biography:
    Dr. Annabel Núñez-Gaunaurd is a Tenure-Earning Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Miami, where her research focused on the impact of obesity on motor function and participation in school-aged children. With over 20 years of experience in school, clinical, and community-based physical therapy research, her work focuses on optimizing health outcomes through accessible and evidence-based interventions.

    Dr. Núñez-Gaunaurd completed the NHLBI-funded Obesity Health Disparities (OHD-PRIDE) fellowship and served as Principal Investigator on a Small Research Program (SRP) grant that explored physical activity co-participation among adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in South Florida. Building on this work, she currently leads an FIU-RCMI-funded pilot study investigating physical activity, functional mobility, and quality of life among adults with ASD. This telehealth-based study has successfully enrolled over 130 participants and employs wearable devices and validated assessments to examine links between physical performance, activity, and autism traits, offering a scalable model for inclusive health research. She is also a Co-Investigator on a Foundation for Physical Therapy Research grant studying national rehabilitation service access among emerging adults with ASD.

    A passionate educator, Dr. Núñez-Gaunaurd mentors undergraduates, DPT and PhD students, and teaches in the DPT program. She recently completed Harvard’s “AI in Clinical Medicine” course, which explores the ethical and predictive uses of AI in healthcare. She actively serves on departmental and college committees, serves as a reviewer for several high-impact journals, and was recently appointed to the ACSM Exercise Is Medicine-Underserved and Community Health Committee (2024–2027).

    Education:
    Ph.D., University of Miami
    M.S.P.T., Florida International University
    B.S., Florida International University

    National Leadership & Recognition:
    ▪ ACSM EIM Committee, 2024–2027
    ▪ OHD-PRIDE Fellow, NHLBI

research interests

  • Physical Therapy; Functional Outcome Measures; Obesity; Physical Activity; Autism; Health Outcome Research; Wearable Trackers/Devices;
    Remote/Telehealth; Health Promotion, Prevention, & Wellness; Primary Care Physical Therapy.

selected scholarly works & creative activities

full name

  • Annabel Nunez-Gaunaurd

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