Celebrating the RSI Spring 2026 Graduating Class: Reflections, Milestones, and What’s Next

Congratulations to the outstanding graduates of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI) Class of Spring 2026!

On June 1, RSI marked this milestone with a special reception at The Faculty Club, held just ahead of the formal Convocation Hall ceremonies. The event brought together graduates, supervisors, faculty, and loved ones in a warm celebration of achievement, reflection, and shared pride.

As these graduates prepare to carry their rehabilitation science expertise into healthcare and beyond, four students reflect on their journeys at RSI, highlighting the experiences that shaped them and the paths they are excited to pursue next:

Denise Arnold

Can you describe your mentorship experience within RSI and how it influenced your academic, professional, or personal growth during the program?

RSI’s PhD program gave me the opportunity to be mentored by a supervisor with unmatched experience in anatomical education and research, along with international collaborations. Working with Dr. Agur strongly shaped my development as a researcher, educator, and individual. I learned not only how to conduct clinically relevant anatomical research, but also how to mentor and teach with compassion and encouragement.

I was also fortunate to have Dr. Emily Ho as my co-supervisor. Her clinical perspective and support were invaluable in helping me connect anatomical knowledge to practice and communicate our work effectively. Together, my supervisors provided complementary mentorship that has shaped my doctoral experience and future career as a clinical anatomist and educator.

What has been one particularly meaningful experience from your time in RSI?

I am particularly grateful to have met so many kind, hardworking and enthusiastic individuals, both students and professionals, within our lab, across RSI, and in my role as a teaching assistant for the Division of Anatomy. I will always cherish the lesson of teaching with kindness and curiosity, as well as the many wonderful students from our lab and various programs.

Presenting my research at international conferences was also incredibly meaningful. Being able to participate at this level and connect with like-minded researchers and exchange ideas directly influenced my thinking about future research and what is most relevant and needed in the field. These experiences not only strengthened my academic work, but also helped me grow as a team member, presenter and professional.

Melissa Biscardi

What drew you to the RSI program, and how did it shape your experience as a graduate student leading up to convocation?

I was drawn to the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute because it brought together clinicians, researchers, and educators from different disciplines, all working toward improving patient outcomes. As a clinician already deeply involved in concussion rehabilitation, I wanted a program that would help me develop meaningful, rigorous research and leadership skills.

As you convocate, what’s next for you? What are you most excited about as you move into this next chapter?

I’m excited to continue my research on oculomotor rehabilitation after concussion and continue my development of accessible mobile applications to facilitate concussion rehabilitation alongside my clinical practice. I plan to take a more active role in the nursing research interest group and encourage and lead other nurses in this important area of research where they can help make a real difference.

Monique Gill

What inspired you to pursue the RSI program, and in what ways did it influence your development leading up to convocation?

I was drawn to RSI because of its interdisciplinary approach and its focus on research with real-world impact. As both an occupational therapist and researcher, I wanted a program that encouraged critical thinking while staying connected to people’s everyday lives. RSI gave me the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and develop research that feels meaningful both academically and personally. It shaped me into a more thoughtful researcher, clinician, and advocate.

Beyond convocation, what are your next steps, and what are you most looking forward to in this next phase?

I recently began a postdoctoral fellowship focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention research, while continuing my clinical work as an occupational therapist in paediatric mental health. I’m especially excited about continuing to bridge research, practice, and systems-level change.

I’m also increasingly interested in how emerging technologies, including AI, are shaping mental health support and help-seeking among young adults. Moving forward, I hope to build research and partnerships that contribute to more accessible, compassionate mental health systems.

Kai Leung

Looking back, what skills or perspectives gained through RSI will stay with you the longest?

I did not expect the PhD to change how I understood my own identity as a bilingual person. As human beings, we are shaped by our environments and the assumptions I came in with I did not even know I had had been once-again remolded. I am left with a much more textured understanding of what it means to grow up between languages.

What also stayed with me was the generosity of the families who participated in our research. People gave their time, brought their children, and engaged seriously with questions about their own lives because they wanted to understand and because they believed the research mattered. That is not something you forget or take for granted. It made me more committed to doing the work carefully and more aware of what it means to be accountable to the people your research is actually about.

What’s one word (or short phrase) that best captures your RSI journey and why?

“I think I’d do it again.”

Looking back on the research, the community, the mentorship, and the overall experience at RSI—it’s a definite yes!

Here’s to the RSI Spring 2026 graduates—may your paths ahead be filled with continued success and meaningful impact. We are confident that you will carry the knowledge, values, and connections gained at RSI into all your future endeavors.

Below is the full list of graduates and their supervisors, whose mentorship and support have been integral to their success:

Stay Connected

As you venture into new horizons, remember that you are always a part of the RSI family. We encourage you to stay connected through our alumni network, where you can continue to share your achievements, seek advice, and support your fellow graduates.

Congratulations once again to the Spring 2026 RSI graduates. We are immensely proud of you and excited to see all that you will accomplish.