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, 2025.
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 Brittny Dawkins, PA-C
Brittny Dawkins (she/her/hers) is a first-generation, Caribbean-American board-certified PA. She earned her Bachelor of Science in health sciences at Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 2018. Following an unintentional three-year gap, she earned her Master’s in PA Studies in 2023 from Ithaca College, in the inaugural PA cohort.
With a passion for servant leadership and advocacy, Dawkins made a personal vow to support the next generation of PA students who, like her, pursued a non-traditional route into PA school. During PA school, she served as the Student Academy Representative (SAR) and served as a student delegate for the House of Delegates (HOD) at AAPA 2023. During her time in school, she became a PAEA Health Policy Fellow, where she connected with New York legislators for support of two PA bills and completed a community-based advocacy project.
Throughout her PA school journey, Dawkins spearheaded multiple Project Access initiatives to raise awareness of underrepresented groups in medicine. She has also served as a mentor for the PAC (The Physician Assistants of Color, Inc.) and the National Society of Black PAs to help increase PA applicants of color.
During her time at Howard University, founded The Audacity of the Black Woman in Medicine and Healthcare, an annual forum that highlights the meaning of being a double minority in medicine/healthcare and how to thrive professionally in the face of adversity. With a passion for global health equity, she participated in a 10-day internship in Thailand shadowing orthopaedic and cardiac surgeons; studied abroad and conducted research on cardiovascular disparities in Amsterdam; and co-organized a healthcare service trip to Cuba to explore their healthcare and educational system. During the pandemic, she became a Maryland Reserve Corps volunteer to help increase the accessibility of COVID-19 testing and vaccines in her local community.
Dawkins is now based in Silver Spring, Maryland and will begin her career as a trauma surgery PA at a level two trauma center. She is passionate about caring for those in their time of need on what could be one of the worst days of their life. She continues to mentor students of color, is involved with the Maryland Academy of PAs, and will continue to advocate on Capitol Hill for the profession. Her goal is to mobilize acute care clinics on the island of Jamaica and increase access to basic healthcare for those in rural areas.
President-elect Yasmine Affes
Yasmine Affes is a second-year PA student at the University of Michigan inFlint. 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 tester/phlebotomist in Detroit during the pandemic.
In PA school, Affes has gotten involved in her state chapter class representative for Michigan Academy of Physician Associates (MAPA). Working closely with MAPA, she has advocated at the state and national level for bills that help PAs practice to the top of their education and experience.
Chief Delegate Isabella Bullock
Isabella Bullock is a clinical year PA student at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York. Bullock is a California native and went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in molecular, cell and developmental biology at the University of California- Santa Cruz. During her undergraduate career, Bullock worked as a medical assistant and operating room assistant in plastic surgery.
She is passionate about improving healthcare holistically inside and outside of the clinic. Bullock’s advocacy work first started when she served as the Vice President of Student Life and Student Advocate for her undergraduate student government. In her role, she built an on-campus food pantry as a food access resource and a casework office to financially assist students experiencing homelessness. Her lobbying efforts successfully resulted in the UC Office of the President giving a $250,000 grant for an Emergency Housing Relief Fund for students during the pandemic.
During the first year of her PA program, Bullock was appointed as the State Chapter Student Representative for her Student Society. She worked to get involved in legislative lobbying efforts and created service projects for her class. Bullock’s goals are to bring diversity to the profession and push for an optimal PA practice environment in New York. During the past year, Bullock was elected to be a part of the Student Academy delegation to AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD). As a delegate, she co-authored a resolution encouraging PAs to seek out Sexual Assault Forensic Examination certification (SAFE), which ultimately was passed at the 2024 AAPA HOD meeting in Houston, Texas.
Bullock continually strives to think about how PAs can best care for patients and the community’s health. With previous experience in public health, she hopes to advocate for practice and policy that values high-quality care and bridges disparaging gaps in the community.
In her free time, Bullock enjoys cooking, traveling, surfing, tending to her plants, Pilates, and playing pickleball.
Director of Diversity & Outreach Ana Ahmad
Ana Ahmad (she/her/hers) is a third-year student at the University of Southern California (USC) PA Program. At USC she serves as a chair for the Pre-PA Pathways Program, where she engages in outreach to diversify the PA profession and offers mentorship to those on their journey to PA school. Ahmad’s goal is to provide free resources to the pre-PA community through this program and social media. She is also a lead for her Trojan Trainer Team, which serves unhoused communities in Los Angeles County. Ahmad’s passion for the unhoused community is strong, as she has also founded her own non-profit, Hungry to Help Organization, that provides nutritious food-relief and health education to the unhoused community in her hometown of San Pedro. She hopes to work in street medicine during her career as a PA.
Ahmad has a desire to serve underserved populations in a primary care setting and be a part of bridging the gap in medicine for her patients. From completing a Bachelor of Science in health science at San Jose State University, to working in a rural AIDS/HIV clinic in Mombasa, Kenya, leading various medical missions, creating a non-profit in her community, to now being a PA student, Ahmad has had an exciting journey.
As the Director of Diversity & Outreach, Ahmad is looking forward to developing relationships with student society diversity chairs across the nation and connecting with other passionate individuals in this journey. She hopes to inspire other first-generation students and those who come from humble beginnings like herself, so that they can accomplish their dreams and make a difference with their story.
Aside from medicine, Ahmad loves to spend time with her family and friends. She often shows her love with cooking. She loves the beach and will take any opportunity to get to the ocean. Ahmad is a social butterfly and values quality time with her loved ones. She is looking forward to a bright future as a PA!
Director of Student Communications Danika Okpaleke
Danika Okpaleke is a second-year student at the Shenandoah University PA program. She was born in Bangalore, India, and immigrated to the United States at a young age. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in health sciences, she was accepted into the Teach for America program and taught elementary school for three years, before transitioning to full-time patient care with a local public health department. Okpaleke is excited to represent non-traditional students and bring a unique perspective to the table!
Northeast Regional Director Kashaf Khatri
Kashaf Khatri is a Pakistani-American clinical year PA student at the CUNY School of Medicine in Harlem, New York. Throughout her studies, Khatri has served as her program’s class representative and the NYSSPA/AAPA Student Academy Representative.
During her undergraduate years, Khatri distinguished herself as a Colin Powell Leadership and Public Service Fellow at The City College of New York. Additionally, she served as President of Muslims Giving Back, where she organized weekly meal distributions for the Harlem Community. Over the past eight years, she has served on the USA National Team of Charity Week, an international non-profit that funds sustainable relief projects for orphans and children in need.
Before embarking on her path to becoming a PA, Khatri pursued a career in healthcare informatics. Following her undergraduate studies, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she worked as a Project Manager for Epic Systems. In this role, she oversaw the implementation of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) at Tanner Health Systems in Carrollton, Georgia. Subsequently, upon her return to New York, she transitioned to a position as an Epic analyst at Montefiore Medical Center. Khatri’s aspiration as a future PA is to blend her informatics background with her clinical knowledge to enhance patient care and outcomes.
As the Northeast Regional Director, Khatri hopes to increase PA programs’ involvement in the AAPA, help students balance the rigors of PA school with advocacy efforts, and address the barriers to involvement for students from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds.
In her spare time, Khatri offers hijab styling services for brides, striving to empower Muslim hijabi brides to feel both confident and beautiful on their special day, while upholding their religious observances.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Erica Chamberlain
Erica Chamberlain is from Jupiter, Florida, and is pursuing her joint master’s degrees in public health and PA studies at the George Washington University with an anticipated graduation date of 2025. In her studies, she is focusing on the intersections of healthcare and health policy with interests in health equity, workforce, and quality. Prior to attending GWU, Chamberlain worked for eight years in credentialing and licensing within the telehealth and locum tenens staffing industries, with expertise in physician and non-physician practitioner scope of practice.
Chamberlain’s current professional involvement includes being a student delegate in the AAPA House of Delegates for 2023-2024, a student representative for the Academy of PAs in Legal Medicine, a GWU Urban Health Program participant, and a GWU Project Access team member. Outside of her educational and professional endeavors, Chamberlain likes to explore all the good food in DC, museum hop, and knit.
Southeast Regional Director Lauren Pinelli
Lauren Pinelli (she/her/hers) is a second-year PA student at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. Before her current role as the Student Academy Southeast Regional Director, Pinelli served as her program’s AAPA Student Academy Representative (SAR). The passion she saw from the Student Board firsthand as a SAR inspired her to pursue her current leadership position.
Originally from Pennington, New Jersey, Pinelli graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Of note during her undergraduate time, Pinelli was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, worked at JMU’s Office of Disability Services, and visited Uruguay as a part of the Atlantis Fellowships program. The COVID-19 pandemic led Pinelli to complete her final semester of college online, while she began to work at a rural hospital in Portales, New Mexico. There, she also obtained her EMT-Basic. Pinelli continued to gain patient care experience when moving to Columbia, South Carolina, where she worked as an emergency department tech. She matriculated into the High Point University Master of PA Studies program in 2023 and has loved every minute of her time there. Pinelli looks forward to her clinical year and eventual work in critical care after graduation.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Pinelli enjoys spending quality time with her fiancé, Zach, and two dogs, Bolt and Harley. She loves to doodle, is up to date on all Netflix true crime docuseries, and hopes to re-establish her fluency in Spanish sometime soon.
North Central Regional Director Emily Lorkowski
Emily Lorkowski, a second-year PA student at the University of Michigan in Flint, is a dedicated advocate for patient-centered care and community service. Graduating with a degree in biology from Detroit Mercy, Lorkowski demonstrated exceptional academic and athletic achievements, including serving as captain of the soccer team while actively participating in academic and athletic clubs.
With a solid foundation in healthcare, Lorkowski has acquired valuable experience as a medical assistant, providing compassionate care to patients across various healthcare settings. Beyond her professional commitments, she remains deeply committed to serving underserved communities through volunteer initiatives. Previously involved in organizations such as the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) at Detroit Mercy and currently with the SBEV program at the University of Michigan-Flint, providing support and assistance to those in need.
Driven by a passion for advocacy and the PA profession, Lorkowski is eager to continue her journey of growth and service. She aspires to utilize her experiences and expertise to make a meaningful impact in healthcare and help others discover the resources and unity provided by AAPA and the PA profession. Being part of AAPA is both an honor and an opportunity for Lorkowski to contribute and share the advancements of the profession, and advocate for the well-being of patients and communities.
In her leisure time, Lorkowski cherishes moments with family and friends, enjoys the serenity of lake life, and takes leisurely walks with her dog Oliver.
South Central Regional Director Harlee Kelley
Harlee Kelley is a current clinical-year PA student at Missouri State University in Springfield,. Over the last year, she has served as the Student Academy Representative (SAR) for the MSU PA program and assisted with the 2023-2024 AAPA Communications & Outreach Committee. She worked last year to increase participation of MSU’s PA program with AAPA and was ecstatic to take the largest ever group of students from MSU to the national conference. Getting involved with AAPA last year created a passion for advocating for and advancing the PA profession, so she is excited to continue her journey as South Central Regional Director.
Before PA school, Kelley attended Missouri State University as an undergraduate student where she graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in microbiology and biotechnology in 2019. While in her undergraduate studies, she participated in scientific research both at MSU and at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Missouri. As an undergraduate, she also had opportunities to learn abroad which sparked an interest in global health and culture. One of these opportunities took her to Costa Rica to study the patterns of leatherback sea turtles, and the other to Rome, Italy to shadow medical professionals in a prestigious pediatric hospital, Bambino Gesù.
After graduating, Kelley spent time in several clinics and specialties as both a medical assistant and a scribe before, during, and after the COVID pandemic. Here her passion for healthcare continued to blossom and solidified her decision to pursue medicine as a future PA.
In the future, Kelley hopes to practice in the field of plastic surgery with a focus on both cosmetic and reconstructive aspects of the field. However, she is keeping an open mind throughout her clinical year and hopes to discover a specialty that she falls in love with.
In her free time, Kelley enjoys snuggling up with her Australian Shepherd, Mavis, and a good book. She also loves to travel, and is always planning out her next vacation, currently she is dreaming about Japan! She is excited for her new role as South Central Regional Director and looks forward to getting to know and assisting the SARs within her region.
Western Regional Director 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 Bachelor of Science 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 for support of two PA bills, and completed a community-based advocacy project to help raise the HPSA score for a federally qualified health clinic (FQHC) 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 Western Regional Director, Newton is looking forward to fostering an environment of open collaboration, communication, and developing relationships with Student Academy Representatives (SARs). 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.
PA Foundation Student Representative Clare Dougherty
Clare Dougherty is a second-year PA student at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) where she double majored in biology, health, and society and German studies. Dougherty’s senior thesis was on the barriers patients face to accessing healthcare in rural Germany. While completing her undergraduate studies, Dougherty studied abroad in Germany and traveled to rural Uganda for nine weeks to live and work in a remote village conducting public health educational programming. She also worked in numerous healthcare settings before PA school including a free medical clinic, home care, an assisted living facility, and the neurology/neurosurgery/stroke unit at Michigan Medicine.
Dougherty is eager to begin her involvement with the AAPA through her role as PA Foundation Student Representative on the Student Academy Board of Directors. In this role, she hopes to be a representative voice of PA students across the country and learn more about how students can begin their involvement in PA programming at the national level.
In her free time, Dougherty can be found volunteering at the local animal shelter or trying out new recipes to test on her classmates. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Dougherty hopes to move back west upon graduation and currently hopes to practice in family medicine.
Check back soon to meet your new Student Academy Graduate Advisor!
Kaci Hardsock, MS, PA-C
Kaci Hardsock, MS, MSPA, PA-C, is an early career PA working in cardiothoracic surgery in Denver, Colorado. She has been closely involved with AAPA since 2017 through both volunteer and leadership roles. She is a member of the Colorado Academy of PAs and APACVS. Hardsock previously served as a delegate in AAPA’s House of Delegates, as well as Chief Delegate to the Student Academy (a role that also sits on the Student Academy Board of Directors). She is passionate about leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. She believes there is no better feeling than working with others to help find their strengths and ignite their passions.
Hardsock is a 2020 graduate of Monmouth University PA program. She earned a Bachelor of Science in human nutrition, food, and exercise at Virginia Tech and a Master of kinesiology with a focus in clinical exercise physiology at James Madison University. Hardsock enjoys weightlifting, boxing, reading, and adventuring with her three dogs.
PAEA Graduate Advisor Annie Wildermuth, MMS, PA-C, CAQ EM, RD
Annie Wildermuth, PhD, PA-C, CAQ EM, RD, is an assistant professor in the Center for Health Professions Education at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences as well as adjunct faculty at Butler University DMS Bridge Program, George Washington University PA Program, and University of Nebraska Medical Center PA Program. She has practiced emergency medicine since 2012. Her research interests include admissions, hiring, and leadership, and she has published and presented nationally in these areas. Wildermuth has considerable experience working with the U.S. Military in medical education, and she feels honored to support our service members. She serves on the PAEA Future Educator Development Steering Committee and as the PAEA Graduate Advisor to the Student Board. She loves engaging with new faculty and teaching faculty development, working both in her program and with the military in this capacity. She is a proud graduate of the Arcadia University PA Program and earned her PhD in Biomedicine from Salus University, where her dissertation focused on admissions interviews as performance predictors in PA education. Wildermuth is a staunch advocate for holistic admissions and reducing barriers to entry to the PA profession.
Wildermuth is originally from East Lyme, Connecticut and currently lives in Washington, D.C. As a University of Connecticut alumna and former UConn Women’s Basketball manager, she avidly roots for the Huskies. She enjoys the ocean, triathlons, and spending time with her fiance and family.
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.