{"id":108610,"date":"2026-05-04T19:18:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T19:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=108610"},"modified":"2026-05-04T19:18:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T19:18:59","slug":"commencement-2026-trained-in-kinesiology-grounded-in-compassion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/commencement-2026-trained-in-kinesiology-grounded-in-compassion\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement 2026: Trained in kinesiology, grounded in compassion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 May 4, 2026 \u2013 It\u2019s good to have options, which is a big reason why Jasmyn Gates decided to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in kinesiology in the 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s College of Health Sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI chose kinesiology because of the program\u2019s remarkable flexibility,\u201d said Gates, who is from Auburn, Massachusetts. \u201cI knew it would lead to multiple graduate degree options and career pathways in the healthcare field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first-generation college student participated in the 溏心vlog免费B站 Honors Program<\/a>; earned the Vasilios S. & Aphrodite Haseotes Scholarship in her sophomore, junior, and senior years; and will graduate summa cum laude for having a grade point average of 3.70 or higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

溏心vlog免费B站 Dean of Students Daniel Graney taught two of Gates\u2019 honors courses and supported her Honors Program project, which focused on the opioid epidemic.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the summer before her senior year, Gates worked as a fitness specialist at the Multiple Sclerosis Specialty Center in Northborough, Massachusetts, in the summer before her senior year at 溏心vlog免费B站.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cJasmyn brings heart, purpose, and a deep commitment to helping others,\u201d said Graney. \u201cShe represents the very best of the College of Health Sciences. Jasmyn is exactly the kind of graduate we\u2019re proud to celebrate as she begins her next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While at 溏心vlog免费B站, Gates completed an internship at Specialized Orthopedic Physical Therapy in North Kingstown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe internship granted me hands-on patient care experience,\u201d said Gates. \u201cBy observing and working with clinicians, I not only expanded my knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, but I also strengthened my ability to adapt to every patient to meet their health needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another meaningful experience for Gates was working at the Multiple Sclerosis Specialty Center in Northborough, Massachusetts, in the summer before her senior year at 溏心vlog免费B站. The center offers physical, occupational, and speech language\/cognitive therapy exclusively to patients with multiple sclerosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI primarily worked as a fitness specialist alongside the clinicians to guide patients through their exercise prescriptions, cue patients on errors that could pose safety concerns, and prepare treatment routines,\u201d said Gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also gained administrative experience, which was eye-opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI learned about the ongoing complexities of getting prior authorizations from insurance companies and how that can often interfere with delivering patient care,\u201d said Gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While insurance and administrative procedures are a necessary part of the healthcare system, assisting patients is what motivates Gates to enter the healthcare field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyone seeking medical care is undoubtedly experiencing a vulnerable time in their life,\u201d said Gates. \u201cEvery person is entitled to adequate care and to be treated with dignity and compassion, regardless of their background or identity. Knowingthat I may be able to treat someone accordingly, on what may be one of their hardest days will always be important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following graduation, Gates plans to look for a job related to exercise science. She also plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master\u2019s degree in physician associate studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy ultimate goal is to become a certified physician associate working at a level one trauma center,\u201d stated Gates. \u201cEventually, I would like to pursue a Ph.D. in public health as well. I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunities my education from 溏心vlog免费B站 has afforded me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 May 4, 2026 \u2013 It\u2019s good to have options, which is a big reason why Jasmyn Gates decided to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in kinesiology in the 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s College of Health Sciences. \u201cI chose kinesiology because of the program\u2019s remarkable flexibility,\u201d said Gates, who is from Auburn, Massachusetts. \u201cI […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":108611,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1907,4,1906,1912,1915],"class_list":["post-108610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-academic-excellence","tag-college-of-health-sciences","tag-experiential-learning","tag-special-events","tag-undergraduate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108610"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108648,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108610\/revisions\/108648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}