COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

School of Healthcare Leadership and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Alina Shirley Doctor of Physical Therapy, Class of 2023

Alina Shirley attended Brandeis University for her undergraduate education, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Psychology and Health, Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP). She is from Somers, Connecticut, and is proud to be the first person in her family to earn a doctorate degree.

She was drawn to pursue a career in physical therapy due to the profession’s intersection of mental, emotional, and physical health in its approach to wellness. She is devoted to mental health and bridging the space between science and the arts to help improve peoples’ lives. She spends her free time as a musician, poet, and writer.

During her time at the IHP, she has held positions as president of the Physical Therapy Club and as a Graduate assistant in the Admissions department. She has engaged in efforts to serve her community through student mental health initiatives and participating as a student member on the IHP Wellness Council.

Alina looks forward to a career working with patients with neurological injuries and disorders in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. As a clinician, she hopes to aid others through moments of hardship and enhance the quality of life of those in her community.