Meet your Student Academy Board of Directors and learn about leadership volunteer opportunities with the Student Academy and AAPA.
Student Academy Board of Directors
Each year, AAPA student members elect PA student leaders to represent all PA students in the U.S. The PA Foundation appoints a PA Foundation Student Representative, and the AAPA Board appoints two graduate advisors. The following individuals are the national Student Academy leaders through June 30, 2026.
The Student Academy Policy Manual is available here. In addition to the AAPA Policy Manual and other governing documents, the Student Academy Policy Manual guides the business and work of the Student Academy Board of Directors and the Student Board Committees.
See the list of scheduled Student Board meetings here.
Board of Directors
Appointed Positions
Graduate Advisor
President Yasmine Affes, PA-C
Yasmine Affes is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint PA program. Affes was born and raised in metro Detroit, playing sports since she was three years old.
Yasmine received a bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science from Wayne State University in Detroit. During undergrad, Affes ran varsity track, running the 400, 200, 4×1, and 4×4. Outside of athletics, Affes was president of Wayne State’s pre-PA society, and president/founder of “Herd Immunity” club (spreading awareness of vaccine importance). Affes accumulated patient care experience during undergrad as a CNA, medical assistant for a pulmonologist, and COVID-19 tester/phlebotomist in Detroit during the pandemic.
While in PA school, Affes was involved in her state chapter class representative for Michigan Academy of Physician Associates (MAPA). Working closely with MAPA, she advocated at the state and national level for bills that help PAs practice to the top of their education and experience.
President-elect Laura Hassan
Laura Hassan is a second-year PA student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). A former middle school science teacher, she brings a strong foundation in education, leadership, and service to her future career in medicine.
She earned degrees in biochemistry, chemistry, and Japanese from Villanova University, where she also became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through the Epsilon Phi chapter. After graduation, she began her career as an analytical chemist at a precious metals refinery, where mentoring and training new chemists sparked her passion for teaching. This led her to pursue a Master of Education at Temple University and later teach in underserved Philadelphia schools, where she led STEM initiatives, secured funding for robotics programs, and advocated for educational equity on Capitol Hill.
As a first-generation Sierra Leonean-American, Hassan is deeply rooted in a family legacy of perseverance, purpose, and faith. She is inspired by grandmother’s belief in the transformative power of education, which led her family to immigrate to the United States. Growing up in rural New Jersey, she is passionate about rural medicine and proud to help bring attention to the impactful healthcare training happening on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UMES, located in one of the state’s most underserved counties, with high rates of cardiovascular death and low per capita income, is home to fully accredited PA, pharmacy, and physical therapy programs. Hassan helped garner local media coverage highlighting the growing healthcare contributions of UMES and its students.
Hassan is especially interested in surgery and has completed additional training through the University of Alabama-Birmingham Advanced Surgical PA Workshop and an elective rotation in surgical oncology at MD Anderson. She encourages fellow PA students to engage in exploratory programs and national initiatives to build clinical experience and leadership skills. She has served as class president at UMES, supported the Student Academy Service Committee, mentored both pre-PA and first-year students, served as a student representative for American Association of Surgical PAs, and led a pre-PA workshop at the AASPA National Surgical PA Conference in Boston.
She has been honored with national scholarships from the PA Foundation, AASPA, Area Health Education Center, and United Negro College Fund for her leadership and service. As Student Academy President-elect, Hassan is committed to increasing PA student engagement with AAPA by strengthening program-level education and awareness, expanding access to leadership opportunities, and building sustainable pathways for professional growth across the country.
Chief Delegate Phoebe Kubo
Phoebe Kubo is a clinical-year PA student at Long Island University (LIU) in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her B.S. in human biology and minor in bioethics from UC San Diego, and subsequently completed a post-baccalaureate as a Stanford COMET Fellow.
In undergrad, Kubo was vice president of a student organization that coordinated volunteer events at Rady Children’s Hospital. She also volunteered on several medical mission trips with Healing Hearts Across Borders to help provide medical care to urban and rural communities in Mexico. In addition to school and volunteering, Kubo was a research assistant at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, where she worked on several projects that used drosophila models to investigate genes associated with cardiac fibrosis.
At Stanford Medicine, Kubo worked in endocrinology, transgender health, and interventional cardiology, and co-authored research that was published and presented at ENDO 2021 and USPATH 2021 Scientific Symposium. In addition, Kubo started a pilot, which helped expand the program by drawing provider interest. Afterward, she sought further clinical experience by working in hair transplantation and ophthalmology.
During the pandemic, Kubo founded HowMedWorks.com, a healthcare advocacy website that covers topics like understanding insurance and finding providers. Her goal was to create a multilingual platform with resources that promote healthcare literacy and empower patients to self-advocate, ultimately enabling readers to more effectively navigate our complex healthcare system. Over the years, HowMedWorks has evolved to also include resources for pre-PAs and comprehensive study guides for PA students. Kubo’s website now reaches thousands of views each month with readers from all over the world.
Throughout PA school, Kubo has held several leadership positions, including Student Academy Chief Delegate, AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD) student delegate, PA History Society Student Trustee, NYSSPA PA Student Director, and LIU Student Academy Representative. As a student delegate, Kubo authored a robotic surgery policy resolution and artificial intelligence policy amendment—both of which passed at the 2025 AAPA HOD Meeting. As the PAHx Student Trustee, Kubo helps preserve the history of the PA profession by interviewing and writing biographies of individuals who have made significant contributions. Moreover, Kubo helps organize class events, participates in state lobbying efforts, and volunteers as a pre-PA mentor and personal statement reviewer. For her work, Kubo was named the AAPA 2025 PA Student of the Year.
Ultimately, Kubo aims to make a positive difference in patients’ lives and inspire increased engagement within the professional community. In her free time, Kubo enjoys reading fantasy and thriller novels, practicing yoga, and trying new restaurants.
Director of Diversity & Outreach Sonia Aikhionbare
Sonia Eghe Aikhionbare (she/her/hers) is a third-year PA student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Before entering PA school, she worked as a paramedic and a laboratory scientist—experiences that profoundly shaped her clinical perspective and fueled her passion for patient care. At UTRGV, she served as co-chair for Project Access through PAEA and as a PAEA Health Policy Fellow. She has also been a dedicated mentor with the National Society of Black PAs, where she guides and empowers future PA students on their educational journeys into PA school.
In her role as Director of Diversity and Outreach, Aikhionbare is excited to continue building meaningful relationships with students across AAPA. She is committed to promoting equity, inclusion, empathy and fostering spaces where all voices are seen, heard, and valued.
Aikhionbare may seem shy at first, but given a little time, she opens up and connects with others through her sense of humor. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading thriller and rom-com novels, and spending time with her family. She also loves going on long walks with her dog, which she finds both grounding and energizing.
Aikhionbare’s journey into medicine is rooted in her passion for community and service. She hopes to inspire others to walk confidently and advocate for themselves and their profession.
Director of Student Communications Alexis Newton
Alexis Newton (she/her/hers) is a second-year, first-generation British Caribbean American PA student attending University of Southern California – Keck Primacy Care Program in Los Angeles. She obtained her B.S. at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Driven by a passion for healthcare that extends beyond just healing bodies, Newton is deeply committed to fostering community-led initiatives that provide support, belonging, and empowerment.
As a PA student, Newton was selected as one of 21 fellows nationwide for the 2023-2024 PAEA Health Policy Fellowship. She has connected with Los Angeles legislators in support of two PA bills, and completed a community-based advocacy project to help raise the HPSA score for a federally qualified health clinic in Los Angeles.
At USC, Newton serves as the community outreach chair for USC’s African Heritage Student Interest Group. Collaborating with local organizations “It’s Bigger Than Us” and “T’ena Health,” Newton has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of community-driven care. As a Trojan Trainer Team Lead for USC’s Street Medicine Program, she works on a team with medical students to assist the unhoused community. As a team, they have helped their Trojan Trainer advocate for basic food services and healthcare necessities. Newton is also a Medcor Mentor to 10 high school students and volunteers in USC’s Pre-PA Pathway program.
Prior to PA school, Newton worked as an EMT and later as a clinical research coordinator at Weill Cornell Hospital, in the breast oncology department. Driven by an unwavering commitment to addressing systemic disparities and empowering marginalized communities, she stood shoulder to shoulder with NYC Coalition to Dismantle Racism within the Health Care System. Through community engagement and advocacy, they provided support and resources by conducting community health zoom panels for the people of Richmond Hill, Queens.
As the Director of Student Communications, Newton is looking forward to fostering an environment of open collaboration, communication, and developing relationships with app PA students. She also wants to ensure her colleagues feel heard and supported.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Newton lived in Denver where she was part of a circus troop performing all throughout the western region on apparatuses including hoop, lyra, silk, straps, trapeze, etc. In her free time, she continues her circus training with a local circus troop and can be found hiking, deepening her hot yoga practice, volunteering at her local community garden, and spending time with her friends and loved ones.
Northeast Regional Director Alison Chamberlain
Alison (Ali) Chamberlain is a third-year PA student at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. She is the student representative for the Connecticut PA Foundation, and values community health. She led a post-incarceration re-entry initiative this past year and regularly participates in free health clinics.
Chamberlain took her passion for PA leadership to the national level as a 2024-2025 student delegate and co-authored a resolution on street medicine, which ultimately passed at the 2025 AAPA House of Delegates meeting in Denver. She’s enthusiastic about her new position on the Student Board where she will cultivate a positive environment for student leaders.
In her free time, Chamberlain enjoys tending to her garden, trying new coffee shops, studying religion, and exercising. Whether it is running, weightlifting or yoga, she will be there!
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Brionna Palmer
Brionna Palmer is a first-generation college student and healthcare leader pursuing her Master of Medical Science in PA studies at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an HBCU. She earned her B.S. in biology from East Carolina University, where she was an ambassador and active member of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students. A proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Palmer consistently demonstrates her dedication to academic excellence, mentorship, and community engagement.
Palmer’s clinical experience includes being a surgical technologist, medical assistant, and pathology lab technician. Her love for surgery blossomed during her time in the OR, where she thrived in high-pressure, patient-centered environments. She also strengthened her research foundation as a Research Assistant at the ECU Heart Institute, contributing to The Lincoln Project, focusing on prolonging lives in underserved communities.
A global thinker, Palmer studied abroad in Italy, gaining a broader perspective on healthcare systems and cultural competency. Along with AAPA, she is also a member of the Maryland Academy of PAs, the American Association of Surgical PAs, the African Heritage PA Caucus, and a participant in the Area Health Education Center Scholars Program, where she engages in interprofessional, community-based care focused on rural and medically underserved populations. Her extensive volunteer work includes organizing health fairs, disaster preparedness drills, interdisciplinary care collaborations, and community wellness initiatives such as “Restore the Shore” and cultural education events.
As a former substitute teacher and tutor, Palmer has educated students from Pre-K through SAT prep and helped adults earn their GEDs. She is passionate about breaking down barriers for students from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds, creating pathways to higher education and healthcare. She believes that knowledge is power, and that representation combined with intentional support is key to empowering the next generation of leaders in medicine.
In her role as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Palmer is dedicated to connecting Student Academy Representatives with the resources, programs, and opportunities AAPA has to offer. She is committed to fostering inclusivity, elevating student voices, and cultivating community among PA students as they grow into competent, compassionate providers. As a lifelong learner, she is also currently studying Haitian Creole to connect with her heritage and future patients.
Outside of medicine, Palmer is a creative entrepreneur and self-taught seamstress with aspirations to open a boutique offering fashionable professional wear and healthcare scrubs. She also enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, spending time with family, working with her family’s business, and uplifting others through intentional service.
Palmer is not only shaping her own future—she is helping to shape the future of the PA profession.
Southeast Regional Director Skyler Gubbels
Skyler Gubbels (she/her/hers) is a first-year PA student at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. During her time at Duke, she has been actively involved in leadership and service, including her role in AAPA’s Student Focus Group, her contributions to Duke Mobile Med, and her efforts in helping to establish the program’s first student-led Native Pollinator Garden. A highlight of her PA journey was achieving first place with her team at NC Scan—a student-led point of care ultrasound (POCUS) competition for North Carolina medical learners—in a format modeled after AAPA’s iScan.
Originally from Norfolk, Nebraska, Skyler Gubbels earned her B.S. in entomology and biology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. During her undergraduate years, she served as both president and secretary of the Pre-PA Club and mentored fellow first-generation students, helping them navigate the transition to college life. Prior to entering PA school, Gubbels gained clinical experience as a CNA in the neurosciences ICU, worked as a scribe in outpatient neurology, and served as a CNA in several memory care facilities.
In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling—and is just six countries away from her goal of visiting 30 before turning 30.
North Central Regional Director Skylar Goldstein
Skylar is a clinical year PA student at the University of Michigan-Flint. She earned her undergraduate degree in healthcare services and sciences from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Before PA school, she held several leadership roles, such as Southwest Michigan Lead Scribe for a medical scribing company and vice president of the Pre-PA Society at Western. These experiences laid the foundation for her strong commitment to collaboration and clinical excellence.
Throughout PA school, Goldstein has continued to build her professional profile, seeking out opportunities to lead, learn, and grow. Whether through clinical rotations or community involvement, she remains dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of her future patients.
A major inspiration for Goldstein’s path into medicine was her mother’s battle with ovarian cancer, which began during Goldstein’s childhood and ended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience of watching her mother navigate complex care—and the impact that compassionate, knowledgeable providers had on her family—motivated Goldstein to pursue a career where she could be that same source of strength and support for others.
Outside of medicine, Goldstein enjoys spending time with friends, exploring nature, traveling, and relaxing at home with her cat, Mac. She values balance, reflection, and staying connected to what brings her joy—both inside and outside of school.
South Central Regional Director Kevin Amemiya
Kevin Amemiya is a didactic year PA student at Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri. Born and raised in California, Amemiya obtained his B.S. in biochemistry with an emphasis on cell biology from the University of California San Diego.
During his undergraduate years, Amemiya served as the cultural chair for Nikkei Student Union and organized Day of Remembrance, an event that honored Japanese Americans that were incarcerated during World War II. Additionally, he served as a co-leader of Student Health Advocates, an organization on campus whose goal was to educate the student body about the importance of diligent sexual health practices, how drugs and alcohol affect the body, and strategies to improve overall wellness.
Amemiya expanded his knowledge and passion for the PA profession by working as a medical assistant in orthopaedic spinal surgery and dermatology. Wanting to expand his horizons outside of California, he matriculated into Saint Louis University in 2024 to begin his journey of earning his master of medical science. His passion for advocacy grew during his time as the Student Academy Representative (SAR) for his class, and he is excited to take on the role of South Central Regional Director. He hopes to increase the sense of community amongst SARs by promoting collaboration and open communication.
Western Regional Director Kimberly Montano
Kimberly Montano is a first-generation Bolivian American and second-year PA student at the University of Southern California’s Primary Care PA Program. A California native, Montano attended Brandeis University in Massachusetts on a full scholarship, where she earned her bachelor’s in biology and sociology.
Before PA school, Montano gained extensive experience in emergency medicine as an EMT in Los Angeles County, an emergency room scribe at a Level II trauma center, and an Emergency Trauma Technician at UCLA’s Emergency Department. She also worked in pediatrics with a focus on substance use prevention, as well as in psychiatry.
Her work during peak waves of the COVID-19 pandemic deepened her motivation for building sustainable, community-based solutions to expand access to care for underserved populations. This inspired her to earn a master of public health in community health sciences from UCLA, where she served as co-president of the Public Health Student Association and collaborated with peers from diverse public health backgrounds to promote interdisciplinary initiatives.
As a first-year PA student, Montano served as her program’s Student Academy Representative and continues to be a student lead with USC Street Medicine, working alongside PA and medical students to support individuals experiencing homelessness. She is also a California Area Health Education Center Scholar, part of a statewide community of healthcare students focused on culturally competent, community-oriented care. Her growing interest in health policy led her to Washington, D.C., where she engaged in grassroots advocacy on Capitol Hill. Montano is a proud recipient of the Town & Gown of USC merit-based scholarship and a 2025 PA Foundation Scholarship. She finds deep joy in uplifting others and is always happy to share resources, encouragement, and mentorship.
As Western Regional Director, Montano hopes to strengthen collaboration among PA programs on the West Coast, champion student-led initiatives, and amplify underrepresented voices in the profession.
In her free time, Montano enjoys spending time with loved ones, catching up on sleep, skincare, discovering new music, hot yoga, Pilates, and browsing Facebook Marketplace for hidden gems.
PA Foundation Student Representative Hunter Drake
Bio coming soon.
Check back soon to meet your new Student Academy Graduate Advisor!
PAEA Graduate Advisor Dr. Deborah Bank, DMSC, MS, PA-C
Dr. Deborah Bank is a PA with more than 20 years of experience in clinical medicine. Bank began her career in cardiothoracic surgery and critical care medicine at Northwell Northshore University Hospital. She has worked in education as a clinical preceptor in the intensive care unit for most of her career and transitioned into didactic education about seven years ago.
As an educator, Bank is the academic coordinator for the Touro University PA program – NUMC extension program on Long Island, and loves her position assisting students with their goals of becoming PAs. She has a keen interest in working with students to publish their capstone projects as well.
As a member of PAEA and their Future Educator Steering Committee (FEDSC), Bank hopes to bring that same passion to the AAPA graduate student board for her term here.
The Student Academy’s Assembly of Representatives (AOR) annually elects PA student leaders who represent PA students around the country. The following individuals are the Student Academy leaders through June 30, 2019. The Student Academy Board met in October in Alexandria, Va. for their annual board meeting. They also meet via conference call throughout the year.
The Student Academy’s leadership includes:
Student Academy Board of Directors
President Stephen Lewia, MPAM, PA-C
Stephen Lewia is currently a PA Fellow in the Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (EMPA) Fellowship at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in San Bernardino, California. Through this program, he will also work towards his Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree through the University of Lynchburg. Lewia attended PA school at the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. He served as president of his student society, as well as class president for the 2018 cohort. Since starting PA school, Lewia has become very interested in PA advocacy. In his first year at Lynchburg, he served as a student delegate for AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD), as well as a student representative on a HOD reference committee. In his new position as Student Academy President, he plans to increase student involvement through education and awareness. With the radical changes the PA profession faces, his goal is to be an advocate for a more informed student body.
Lewia earned a BS in Biology and Master of Teaching from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). While at VCU, he also attended a local community college and became a nationally registered paramedic. After graduating from VCU, he taught biology and anatomy at an inner-city high school in Richmond, Virginia. When he wasn’t teaching, he volunteered for a local rescue squad where he worked to bridge the education gap between paid and volunteer providers.
President-elect Cooper Couch
Cooper Couch is a second-year student at University of Southern California’s Primary Care PA Program where he serves as president of his class and student society and as co-chair of USC’s Student Run Clinic Executive Board. After a trip to Washington, D.C. with his class and PA Education Association (PAEA), he became passionate about PA leadership and advocacy. In the summer of 2018, Couch was a National Medical Fellowships Primary Care Leadership Program (PCLP) scholar. He is currently completing a one-year student leader fellowship with the LBGT PA Caucus.
Prior to PA school, Couch graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College where he studied Spanish literature and linguistics and studied abroad for a year in Madrid, Spain. At Middlebury, he co-founded a grassroots mental health project that created a peer-support system to better address students’ mental health needs and support campus diversity and inclusion initiatives. Upon graduation, he served on the board of directors at a local humane society in Vermont and worked as the reunion host coordinator for Middlebury College, a bilingual patient services coordinator at a free clinic in Vermont, and as a phlebotomist at a local hospital. He then moved to Denver, Colorado, where he worked as a clinical assistant at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Couch values compassion, honesty, and intentionality in his interactions with others. He volunteers at multiple non-profit organizations that support low-income individuals, empower youth, and promote equality. He is committed to working in primary care with medically underserved populations. While volunteering at Roundup River Ranch in Colorado, Couch met his fiancé Marty. In their free time, Couch and Marty enjoy long-distance running, cooking, hiking, camping, and traveling together.
Chief Delegate Hillary Bennett, PA-C
Hillary Bennett is a trauma/critical care PA at OU Medical Center and a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (OUHSC) located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
She has served the Student Academy for the past two years as a student delegate for the AAPA House of Delegates (HOD), as well as a student representative on an HOD reference committee. While on HOD, she helped pass Optimal Team Practice at AAPA’s 2017 Conference. She also co-authored a 2018 HOD resolution regarding loan parity amongst healthcare professionals. She is currently a member of the HOD Standing Rules Committee, Student Academy’s Leadership, and Advocacy & Policy Committees.
Bennett served as the OUHSC Christian Medical and Dental Association secretary. With a passion for the medically underserved, she has participated in multiple medical missions including trips to Guatemala, Mexico, and South Sudan.
Prior to PA school, Bennett earned a Bachelor of Science in Health, P.E., and Sport Management concentrating in kinesiology from Southwestern Christian University. During her undergraduate education, she participated in Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislation (O.I.L.)., which allowed her to engage with state and federal legislators while authoring, presenting, and passing state legislation. This understanding of diplomacy demonstrated the importance of advocacy for education, healthcare, and the PA profession.
In her free time, Bennett enjoys spending time with family, traveling, participating in outdoors activities like kayaking, camping, and hiking, and running with her dog, Survivor.
Director of Outreach Kaila Gaughan
Kaila is a second-year PA student at the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington, Kentucky, where she serves as the class of 2019’s Assembly of Representatives (AOR) representative. During her time in PA school, Gaughan has developed a passion for PA advocacy and interprofessionalism. In 2017, she was selected for the PA Education Association (PAEA) Student Health Policy Fellowship where she had the opportunity to advocate for PA education on Capitol Hill. She continued her advocacy at the state and federal level by taking part in Kentucky’s Lobby Day in Frankfort and AAPA’s Leadership and Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. in March 2018. She has taken part in many different interprofessional opportunities during her time at UK.
In her new position as director of outreach, Gaughan hopes to get more students involved with advocacy and promote interprofessional opportunities between different healthcare students. She hopes that more students will find the passion that she has and will get involved with furthering our profession.
Prior to PA school, Gaughan received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, and worked as a certified nursing assistant and an emergency medical technician. In her free time, Gaughan enjoys spending time with her biggest supporters (her friends and family), reading, being outdoors, travelling, and playing with her cat, Pharaoh.
Director of Student Communications Diana Wiley
Diana is a second-year PA student at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), where she currently serves as president of her class and student society. As a first-year student, she sat on the Executive Board of the OUHSC Student Government Association, as well as the Oklahoma Association of PAs’ Board of Directors as chair of the Student Advisory Committee. She is passionate about PA advocacy and being a voice for the profession, and inspiring other students to do the same.
Prior to PA school, she attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology-Biomedical Sciences. After graduation, she worked for a disability and supplemental insurance company where she saw first-hand the devastating impacts of chronic illness. This ignited a passion for disease prevention, and she began to appreciate the critical role that diet and exercise play in the development of chronic disease. She went back to school and graduated with a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from OUHSC in 2016.
After graduation, Wiley plans to work in a rural Oklahoma community and hopes to increase access to quality healthcare to underserved patients across the state. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, cooking, and exploring local restaurants and breweries with her boyfriend. She is an advocate of animal rescue and frequently fosters for the local humane society in addition to wrangling four dogs of her own.
Northeast Regional Director Brittany Palaski
Brittany Palaski is a second-year student at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Iinstitute of Health Professions program. Born and raised in Boston, Palaski received her Bachelor of Science in clinical lab sciences with a minor in disability studies at University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2015, graduating magna cum laude.
While at UMass Lowell, Palaski served as captain of her dance team, leading the team to their first national qualification in history. She also served as chair of the leadership legacy committee on Omnicron Delta Kappa (ODK), a leadership honors society. In addition to her leadership commitments, Palaski tutored organic chemistry and genetics, allowing her to find a passion for teaching and educating. While at UMass Lowell, she also founded Speaking Through Dance, which allowed students in need to obtain scholarships towards their dance education as well as raise awareness for autism. After graduation, Palaski moved to Concord, Massachusetts, and started working as a medical and surgical assistant at a local dermatology practice.
During her time as northeast regional director, Palaski plans to use her position to communicate student stories, and connect schools throughout the northeast. She is inspired to listen to other student experiences and use them to continue advocating for the PA profession.
After finishing PA school, Palaski plans to remain in the Boston area with her husband and pursue a career in dermatology or pediatrics. In her spare time, Palaski continues to teach and choreograph for the local dance community. She also enjoys traveling and will take any and all opportunities to explore.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Mike Gumpert
Mike Gumpert is a first-year PA student at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences, where he also serves as the vice president of the student society. Gumpert graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2009, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English and entered the Navy as a nuclear submarine officer. Over the next eight years his passion for helping others and empowering those around him in dynamic environments led him to the discovery of the PA profession. Gumpert prepared for PA school by volunteering as an aid at an emergency room while he worked though his biological science prerequisites.
Gumpert’s goal for the mid-Atlantic region is to increase collaboration between programs and empower fellow PA students to get involved with the evolution of the PA profession. He is a firm believer that the best solutions can come from any experience level and strives to give his peers a voice.
Gumpert currently lives in Roanoke, Virginia, where, in his free time, he enjoys travel, hiking, camping, kayaking and reading.
Southeast Regional Director Frank Stooksbury
Frank Stooksbury currently attends the PA program at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He began his medical training and leadership experience in the U.S. Air Force in 1999. Stooksbury was placed in charge of his training group and was an honor graduate from Airman Leadership School. After leaving the service, Stooksbury became the lead imaging technologist at Edward White Hospital in Florida, working in that capacity for seven years.
Stooksbury moved to North Carolina at that point to be closer to family. In North Carolina, he worked in interventional radiology at Moore Regional Hospital, while finishing his undergraduate degree from Grand Canyon University. While at Moore Regional, Stooksbury was promoted to run the interventional radiology department and worked closely with physicians and PAs to deliver outstanding care to their patients. After finishing his undergraduate degree in healthcare administration, Stooksbury focused on taking advanced science courses through Campbell University until starting the PA program. Stooksbury looks forward to serving the southeast region as southeast regional director.
North Central Regional Director Kellie Niehaus
Kellie Niehaus is a second-year PA student at Ohio University (OU) in Dublin, Ohio, where she currently serves as president of her class. Prior to PA school. Niehaus received a Bachelor of Science with honors from University of Dayton (UD), with a major in pre-medicine and a minor in psychology.
During her undergraduate education, Niehaus was actively involved in volunteering at a local free clinic, Reach Out of Montgomery County. Additionally, she elected to participate in UD’s Semester of Service program where Niehaus interned full-time at a homeless shelter, assisting in rehousing homeless men, women, and families in the greater Dayton, Ohio, area.
At Ohio University, Niehaus is energetically involved with her school’s student society as well as in expanding the number of interprofessional activities available to her peers with medical students at OU’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Niehaus is also a member of the student committee of the Ohio Association of PAs. Her clinical interests include: emergency medicine, trauma surgery, and expanding care to the underserved.
As north central regional director, Niehaus hopes to encourage constituents of the district to engage in community service, interprofessional activities, and continued advocacy for the PA profession. She is consistently inspired by the boundless intelligence, passion, drive, and ingenuity PA students across the country possess and is eager to work with the students of the north central district this year.
In her free time, Niehaus enjoys spending time with her family, rugby, backpacking, and anything else that gives her an excuse to get outdoors!
South Central Regional Director Nelson Head
Nelson Head is a second-year PA student at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He currently serves as class vice-president and the AOR representative for his program.
Prior to PA school, Nelson attended Texas Christian University on a swimming scholarship and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2013. He served as president of the TCU Student-Athlete Advisory Council and was awarded with the Big XII Conference Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship. Upon graduation, Head then worked as a medical scribe in the emergency room and outpatient urology at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, and then as a surgical assistant at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
As south central regional director, Head hopes to foster relationships with other students and their constituent programs as well as serve as a mentor and resource to AORs in his region, fostering skills to achieve the goals of the Student Academy as a united, collaborative team. Since starting PA school, Head has been very interested in PA advocacy, attending the AAPA Leadership and Advocacy Summit in March 2018 as well as Oklahoma’s “PA Day at the Capitol” in April 2018.
In his personal time, Head enjoys playing with his golden retriever, Harley. He is also very active in exercise and enjoys attending live music events, trying new restaurants, traveling, and cheering on his TCU Horned Frogs at football games (Go Frogs)!
Western Regional Director Brittany Hager
Brittany Hager is a second-year student at the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest program in Tacoma, Washington. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Washington Seattle campus in 2013 and worked as certified nursing assistant in preparation for her PA studies.
During her undergraduate education, Hager was a member of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students, an organization dedicated to representing minority pre-health students on campus and increasing healthcare access for the underserved. She also learned the significance of working with cultural competence and participated in outreach in several disadvantaged communities throughout Washington state.
Off campus, Hager served as a counselor to at-risk homeless youth at YouthCare, a Seattle-based non-profit. The majority of her time was spent at Casa de los Amigos, a safe haven for undocumented immigrant minors while they sought legal counsel. Many of these adolescents were affected by gang activity and/or trafficking. Hager enjoyed learning about each client’s unique experience while interpreting Spanish-English, teaching math, and organizing group outings. She also volunteered as a recreational therapy assistant for patients with dementia at SeaMar, a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive healthcare to indigent populations, especially Latinos.
Hager’s program is primary care-focused and she is excited by the possibility of working in community health after graduation. In April 2018, she was awarded the MEDEX Northwest Richard A. Smith Scholarship for her commitment to increasing access to healthcare for the underserved in addition to her broad and global perspective on healthcare issues.
As western regional director, Hager hopes to gain insight into the needs and concerns of PA students while strengthening communication between PA students and the Assembly of Representatives.
Appointed Positions
PA Foundation Student Representative Jamie Pepi Shelstad
Jamie Pepi is a second-year PA student at Bethel University in Tennessee where she currently serves as the AOR representative for her program and is a member of an opioid crisis student volunteer group. Driven by a passion for global and underserved populations, Shelstad volunteered in numerous rural clinics and began her studies of public health while living in Gaborone, Botswana during her undergraduate education. Prior to PA school, Shelstad earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in neuroscience from the University of Colorado at Boulder, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and linguistics from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Shelstad also worked towards her Masters of Public Health with a global health emphasis at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
As a recipient of the 2017 Timi Agar Barwick Scholarship for Humanism in Medicine, Shelstad is eager to give back as means of appreciation. As the PA Foundation student representative, Shelstad hopes to engage and expand service leadership among PA students by connecting to individuals and schools on a personal level. Through increasing philanthropic participation, she hopes to increase awareness of cultural competency and inspire her fellow students to get involved with their passions on local and global levels.
After graduation Shelstad will participate in a Spanish immersion program just outside Guatemala. She then hopes to work with a pediatric subspecialty while using her public health and medical education to support and empower global underserved communities. In her extra time, Shelstad enjoys hiking, traveling, baking, finding new adrenaline activities, or doing anything out in the sunshine.
Graduate Advisors
AAPA Graduate Advisor – Jennifer Feirstein, MSPAS, PA-C
Jennifer is an assistant clinical professor and academic coordinator in the Department of PA Studies at Northern Arizona University, Phoenix, Arizona. She has been in PA education since 2013, and prior to that worked full-time in primary care medicine. She received a master’s degree in PA studies in 2004 from Arcadia University and a bachelor’s degree in health sciences with an emphasis in physiological sciences from the University of Arizona in 2002. Feirstein has been very active in the Arizona State Academy of PAs (ASAPA) since 2004. She has been a delegate to the AAPA since 2006, and has also served on the ASAPA Board of Directors, CME committee, and student and community outreach committee. She has previously been involved with the AAPA as a member and chair of its Public Relations Committee. She has also become involved with the PA Education Association (PAEA) and currently serves on the PACKRAT exam development board.
Feirstein’s professional interests include fostering student leadership, increasing the percentage of PAs practicing in primary care medicine, and professional organization policy.
PAEA Graduate Advisor – Jon Kilstrom, PA-C
Jon is an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) PA Program in Omaha, Nebraksa, where he primarily oversees clinical skills instruction. He graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medical Services from Creighton University in Omaha and in 2014 with a master’s degree in PA studies from Union College in Lincoln, Ne. As a student, he served as the AOR representative for his PA program.
Following graduation, Kilstrom worked in internal medicine and urgent care for Baylor Family Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas. Upon returning to Nebraska, he began working in emergency medicine where he continues to practice in addition to his academic duties at UNMC.
Kilstrom has 15 years of experience in emergency medical services, working as a paramedic prior to attending PA school. He remains an active advisory board member for the Creighton University EMS Education program. He serves as the UNMC student society advisor, is a member of the UNMC PA Program and College of Allied Health Admissions Committee, serves on the Nebraska Opioid Treatment Subcommittee, and is a member of the UNMC Grievance Committee.
Kilstrom’s professional interests include emergency medicine, simulation in healthcare education and admissions practices in PA education.
PA Foundation Student Representative Jamie Pepi Shelstad
Jamie Pepi is a second-year PA student at Bethel University in Tennessee where she currently serves as the AOR representative for her program and is a member of an opioid crisis student volunteer group. Driven by a passion for global and underserved populations, Shelstad volunteered in numerous rural clinics and began her studies of public health while living in Gaborone, Botswana during her undergraduate education. Prior to PA school, Shelstad earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in neuroscience from the University of Colorado at Boulder, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and linguistics from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Shelstad also worked towards her Masters of Public Health with a global health emphasis at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
As a recipient of the 2017 Timi Agar Barwick Scholarship for Humanism in Medicine, Shelstad is eager to give back as means of appreciation. As the PA Foundation student representative, Shelstad hopes to engage and expand service leadership among PA students by connecting to individuals and schools on a personal level. Through increasing philanthropic participation, she hopes to increase awareness of cultural competency and inspire her fellow students to get involved with their passions on local and global levels.
After graduation Shelstad will participate in a Spanish immersion program just outside Guatemala. She then hopes to work with a pediatric subspecialty while using her public health and medical education to support and empower global underserved communities. In her extra time, Shelstad enjoys hiking, traveling, baking, finding new adrenaline activities, or doing anything out in the sunshine.