Gabriel Somarriba, PT, DPT, EdD

Program Director, DPT Program—Miami, FL Campus

Campus

Miami, FL

College

College of Rehabilitative Sciences

Specialties

Anatomy
Pediatrics

Education

Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Florida Atlantic University

Research Interests

Chronic Neurological Conditions
High-Intensity Training Interventions
Educational Outcome Assessments

Dr. Gabriel Somarriba joined the faculty in 2009 as a contributing faculty member on the St. Augustine, FL campus and moved to core faculty in 2015. His area of clinical specialization is pediatrics, with a focus on cerebral palsy. Dr. Somarriba has more than 10 years of clinical experience. As an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, he launched an outpatient pediatric clinic that served a dual role of patient care and clinical research. He’s served as a physical therapist at Holtz Children’s Hospital working with pediatric neurologists on innovative approaches for the management of Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Dr. Somarriba’s work in the community includes roles such as exercise physiologist and physical therapist for the Miami-Dade County Parks and Open Spaces, where he developed community-based physical activity programming for children. He is also a Clinical Director for the Special Olympics, FunFitness program.

He is a licensed physical therapist and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Pediatric and Education Section. Dr. Somarriba is published in peer-reviewed journals in various topics, including spinal cord injuries, chronic conditions in pediatrics and interventions for adult neurological conditions. He also serves as a reviewer for the various peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Somarriba’s current scholarly agenda focuses on assessment and interventions to improve the function of individuals with neurological conditions.