About Me
Daniel Baez is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island. His major is kinesiology and he is on the pre-professional track. He was born and raised in Kearny, New Jersey. Daniel’s goal is to go to graduate school for kinesiology to get a master’s degree; his original goal was to become a physical therapist. The summer of 2018 Daniel shadowed at an in-patient physical therapy clinic for two months, which allowed him to realize that he did not want to pursue a career in physical therapy. The spring 2019 semester, Daniel began as an undergraduate research assistant with Dr. Delmonico to build his experience in the field.
Daniel is the president of the powerlifting team at the University of Rhode Island and creates the exercise programs for everyone on the team. Along with the rest of the executive board on the team, Daniel oversees all the members to ensure that everyone is enjoying the sport and to be sure their strength is progressing. He has goals of earning a top five placement at Collegiate Nationals this year. Daniel enjoys watching and playing all other sports as well, which is where his interest in kinesiology originally began.
Extracurricular Activities and Volunteering
Undergraduate Research Assistant
- I assisted a professor throughout my spring 2019 semester at the University of Rhode Island in a Kumo balance board study. Before the study began, the research subject's posture and stability control were measured using a Biodex BioSway. Research subjects were then put through a protocol that progressively requires more balance, and each subject performed the protocol three days per week for a total of four weeks. After the conclusion of the four weeks, each subject's posture and stability control were measured again to show any improvements after the study.
Physical Therapy Volunteer
- Over the summer of 2018, I volunteered at an in-patient physical therapy facility. I worked with multiple physical therapists over my time volunteering and assisted them throughout the work day. We took patients on multiple walks throughout their physical therapy session, as well as put them on a hand bike to keep their upper body mobile. If they were capable of doing so, then the patients were also taken to walk up and down a small set of stairs. Patients had occupational therapy sessions each day too, which were done in the same room. This allowed me to get a good view of two common career paths of kinesiology majors.
URI Powerlifting Club
- I joined this club my fall semester of freshman year in 2016 when I saw their booth at the club fair the first week of school. I have always been interested in resistance training, and finding an entire club filled with other people who had the same interest was exciting. Through this I learned proper form from individuals who had been on the club for a while, and learned about the sport of powerlifting. I competed at three competitions my freshman year, including USAPL Collegiate Nationals in San Antonio. I was elected Vice President for my sophomore year. After a successful year as Vice President, I was elected President for the following year, and eventually re-elected as President for my final year as an undergraduate at the University of Rhode Island. The club has taught me how to be a leader, motivator, and teacher.
USA Powerlifting State Referee
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I have been a state level referee for USA Powerlifting since January of 2019. Perform numerous operations ranging from athlete check-ins, weigh-ins, rules briefing, judging during competitions, and administering post-competition drug tests. Monitor lifters’ execution of rules to ensure safety and fairness for all competitors. Active organization member since November of 2016, with experience at local, state, regional, and national level competitions.
URI Pre-Physical Therapy Club
- The fall semester of 2017 I joined this club to learn more about the field of physical therapy and meet other students who were interested in becoming physical therapists. The club was run by URI's DPT students, which allowed for any clarifications undergraduate students had about graduate school and the world of physical therapy. I was only part of the club for this semester, however, because responsibilities from classes and the powerlifting club began to increase.