Athletic Trainers

Introduction

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Athletic trainers are highly qualified healthcare professionals who collaborate with our sports medicine physicians to provide medical care for athletes in many areas of clinical practice including prevention, immediate and emergency care, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning.

At University Orthopedics, we want to get you back in the game. Our athletic trainers are committed to providing the specialized care you need to maintain health in the sports you love. We are with you every step of the way, from injury prevention to post injury management and return to athletics.

Sports medicine for the young athlete

Sports medicine experts across the U.S. have noticed that there is an alarming trend in “professional-level” injuries among young athletes. The number of youth injuries is reaching epidemic proportions and young athletes are experiencing overuse injuries at younger and younger ages. The high rate of youth sports injuries is fueled by an increase in overuse and trauma injuries with a lack of attention by coaches to injury prevention.

Overuse injuries impact young athletes in the short term but often lead to long-term consequences. Having proper preventive measures such as pre-participation physicals, stretching, cross-training, hydration, nutrition, and open communication about pain among all participants (coaches, athletes, parents, and healthcare providers) can help aid recovery and avoid long-term consequences. Our athletic trainers make it a priority to address this injury trend through prevention as well as appropriate evidence-based treatment methods for their student athletes at all levels of care.

Our objective is to help the teen athlete mature into adulthood without the development of long-term sports ailments.

Clinical Staff

Kate Wilks – Manager of Athletic Training Services

Kate is the Manager of Athletic Training Services for University Orthopedics. She received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine from Quinnipiac University and is a Board Certified Athletic Trainer through the BOC.  She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and has served as Public Relations Chair for the Rhode Island Athletic Trainers Association. Kate has experience working in many different settings, including Division I Women’s Ice Hockey, Men’s Soccer, Softball, and Men’s Lacrosse at Quinnipiac University; Yale University Football; Gymnastics and Men’s Basketball at University of Bridgeport; and Assumption College Football. Kate has been the Head Athletic Trainer at South Kingstown High School since 2016. Her clinical interests include “whole athlete” wellness, athletic injury rehabilitation, and manual therapy techniques.

Kara Renaud – Associate Athletic Trainer

Kara Renaud is an Associate Athletic Trainer for University Orthopedics. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Lasell University in 2019 and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Sciences from Lasell University in 2020. She is a member of both the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Rhode Island Athletic Trainers Association.  Kara has experience working in different settings including Division 1 Football at Harvard University, Men’s Lacrosse at Babson College, and multiple sport coverage at Wellesley College, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, and The Rivers Private High School, and Chariho High School.  She has been the Head Athletic Trainer at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, Rhode Island since 2021. Her clinical areas of interest are sports psychology and manual therapy techniques.

Kasey Squires - Associate Athletic Trainer

Kasey Squires is an Associate Athletic Trainer for University Orthopedics. She received her Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training from Springfield College in 2013, and a Masters of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts which she received in 2016. She has a wide range of experience from Division 1 football and softball coverage at the University of Massachusetts, Division 3 coverage at Northern Vermont University and Pine Manor College and high school coverage at both South Hadley (MA) High School and Longmeadow (MA) High School. Kasey has been the Head Athletic Trainer at Seekonk High School in Seekonk, MA since 2024. Her clinical interests include emergency medicine and manual therapy techniques.

Kasey was an AT room frequent flyer and wanted to stay involved in athletics in any way possible! She loves seeing her athletes succeed both on and off the field, and mentoring her "kids" to be more than they ever thought possible. In her free time you will find her, her wife and their son Bryce watching sports from youth flag football and baseball to NFL football game days.

Kelly Teixeira - Associate Athletic Trainer

Kelly is an Associate Athletic Trainer who joined University Orthopedics in 2024 with over 19 years of experience. She works continuously with the Brown University Men’s Rugby Program along with Central Falls High School. Kelly joined University Orthopedics in 2024 and is an outreach Athletic Trainer with over 19 years of experience. She works with the Brown University Men’s Rugby Program along with Central Falls High School. She has also worked with Johnson & Wales University Athletics, Rhode Island College Athletics and the Brown University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Programs. Kelly earned her B.S. in Athletic Training with a Minor in Health from Plymouth State University in 2005. As a student athletic trainer she worked at Sports International Football Camps and the Dave Cowen’s Basketball Camp in addition to rotations covering practices and games for several teams. Kelly is an avid sports fan and former student athlete who wanted to find a way to stay involved in sports. She finds passion in being part of the healing process and seeing her student athletes succeed on and off the field. In her free time Kelly can be found watching New England sports, reading, enjoying outdoor activities in summer and laughing with her family.