What PAs Need to Know About Recent Federal Actions and Policy Changes

Jason Prevelige, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA

Jason Prevelige is president and chair of the board of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA). Beginning his leadership career during his student years, Prevelige has held progressive leadership roles on the Board of Directors, in the House of Delegates, on various commissions, and within the Connecticut Academy of Physician Associates (ConnAPA). Prevelige has also served several roles within ConnAPA, including two terms as president, several terms as director-at-large, and has been the chair of the Legislative Committee since 2018.

Prevelige serves as the Associate Advanced Practice Provider Leader in the Emergency Department at Trinity Health of New England’s Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut. Additionally, he practices in different pediatric specialties for Connecticut Children’s of Hartford, Connecticut. As a faculty member of the Sacred Heart University PA program and the Quinnipiac University PA program, Prevelige educates the next generation of healthcare professionals in pediatrics and emergency medicine. His dedication to education extends even further, as he serves as a preceptor for PA, advanced practice nurses, and medical students from multiple universities.

Prevelige’s commitment to emergency care extends beyond his clinical and educational roles. He serves his community as chief of the Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department. Further, he helped establish and now sits on the board of the non-profit Operation Endeavor, which provides first responder education, public health, and disaster response services in underserved areas domestically and abroad.

Prevelige is a 2009 graduate of the Quinnipiac University PA program, earned an MBA from Quinnipiac University in 2021, and in 2023 a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of the Pacific. He resides in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he enjoys family time with his wife, Leanne, and nine-year-old son, Alexander. His interests include travel, as well as playing and coaching hockey.

A staunch champion of professional and healthcare advocacy, he is excited to serve the academy in this role during such an important time for the profession and U.S. healthcare system.

Jennifer M. Orozco-Kolb, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

Jennifer M. Orozco-Kolb, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA is the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs at the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and the interim Executive Director of the PA Foundation (the philanthropic arm of the AAPA).

Dr. Orozco-Kolb has served as a volunteer leader, patient advocate, and change agent of the PA profession and all of healthcare for more than 2o+ years. She has held multiple leadership positions at both the state and national levels and is the former president and chair of the AAPA board of directors. She is a strong advocate for health equity and improving patient care access and a champion of healthcare advocacy efforts on both the state and federal levels. She is an accomplished speaker, published author, and Op-Ed scholar.

Much of Orozco-Kolb’s career had been dedicated to the clinical and academic leadership teams at Rush University System for Health in Chicago, Illinois. In that role, she was an assistant professor, vascular surgery PA, and the director of advanced practice for more than 400 PAs and APRNs across the hospital system.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise physiology from University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Medical Science in PA Studies from Midwestern University, and a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. When not working to modernize healthcare, Dr. Orozco-Kolb spends most of her free time outdoors cycling and traveling with her husband Kevin and her three children, Maddux, Matias, and Belicia, in Fox River Grove, Illinois.

Kim Williams, MPP

Kim Williams is AAPA’s inaugural Vice President of Health Equity & DEI. In this pivotal role, Williams spearheads the development, leadership, and implementation of action plans that align with AAPA and the PA Foundation’s mission to eliminate healthcare disparities and foster equity within the PA profession and healthcare as a whole.

With over 23 years of national healthcare leadership experience, Williams most recently served as the Director of Health Equity and Population Health for Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana. Her background includes a proven track record of success in implementing evidence-based programs that improve health outcomes and address the needs of underserved communities.

Chantell Taylor

Chantell has over 30 years of experience in public policy, legislative advocacy, corporate governance, and social responsibility. Prior to joining AAPA, Chantell served as the Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs for UCHealth, the largest nonprofit academic health system in the Rocky Mountain region. Her breadth of experience spans across both public and private sectors, including leading a political law practice as a partner in a national law firm, launching and directing several nonprofit advocacy organizations, and directing the government relations strategy for one of Colorado’s largest energy companies. She is most passionate about advocating for the healthcare workforce, patients’ access to equitable and affordable care, and promoting healthy communities.

Chantell earned her bachelor’s degree in human geography from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her J.D. from the University of Denver. She has been a political junkie her whole life and is involved in several organizations dedicated to electing more women to public office. She also serves as the incoming board chair of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Chantell lives in the heart of Denver, CO with her two rescue dogs and her husband, who works in the outdoor recreation industry. They have two daughters in college, spend lots of time at their cabin in the mountains, and enjoy backcountry skiing, cycling, hiking and pretty much anything outdoors.