We would like to encourage all Fellow members to participate in the AAPA Board of Trustees (BOT) election. Voting has been extended through Friday, November 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm CDT. This year, all Fellow members are being invited to cast their vote online via SurveyMonkey (check your email for the ballot). If you do not receive – or cannot locate – the ballot invite, please contact us at [email protected] for alternate means to vote.
To learn more about a candidate, click on their name above to be taken to their feature page. For this election, you will be able to cast your vote for up to three candidates.
Results will be announced later this year (pending reaching our required quorum), and elected members will begin their terms in January 2024.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Organization: Mayo Clinic
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Fellow Member Since: 2012
Current AAPA Position: BOT Incumbent
Please tell the AAPA membership about yourself, and describe your past volunteer work.
I achieved my education and training through the Quinnipiac University Pathologists’ Assistant Program, becoming a certified PA in 2011 and starting my career at Mayo Clinic Rochester, where I am today. I have experience here in surgical and autopsy pathology, with subspecialties like cardiovascular pathology, ophthalmic pathology, and autopsy pathology. I have grown into the field of forensics both within the autopsy suites as well as becoming a certified (F-ABMDI) medicolegal death investigator in the field. During my time at Mayo Clinic, I have learned from both the talented PAs of my work unit, as well as from individuals in adjacent areas, from techs to consultants (attendings), reporting specialists to administrators and beyond. My role has transitioned into a working assistant supervisor, witnessing the success of the PAs by encouraging and motivating them as well as removing barriers and hurdles. I have been afforded the opportunities of continuing my volunteer activities including work on the AAPA Grossing Guidelines since its birth, member of the AAPA Forensics Task Force, partnering with the AAPA Education Committee and assisting with the Meetings side, as well as member of the Board of Trustees.
Why are you interested in serving on the AAPA BOT?
I have found value in participating on the board over the past few years, working together with the board members in moving the profession forward and adjusting the organization to serve the profession. I would be honored to continue representing the members of the AAPA.
What is your understanding of the mission and vision of this organization?
The American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants puts the members’ and the profession’s needs first, focusing on elevating the level of our work in pathology, focusing on patient care. I understand that the value AAPA places on patient needs is of utmost importance – it shows patients, hospitals, pathologists, providers, and adjacent institutions the care we as PAs place on the patient needs, moving the value of our profession up at all instances.
What do you think should be the most important priority for AAPA?
AAPA should prioritize the profession’s place in healthcare, the value of utilizing the PA to our fullest potential, whether it be within the micro-niche of forensics, over the vastness of trainee teaching, or completing the efficiency of laboratory workforce. Showing, advertising, and supporting our utility is so important in the world of doing more with less – we can be and are the answer to getting the job done while maintaining the quality of work necessary to continue to place the care of the patient first.
Is there a particular area that you feel could be improved within AAPA?
I feel communications can always be improved between members of the organization and the board, between committee members and from the PA professionals. Listening to the experiences of the members and providing a venue for participation is the responsibility of both committees and board members as well as each other as peers. Participation is necessary to foster this improvement goal, and several recent steps have helped move forward in this area, including use of a central volunteer coordinator unit, with assessment and appropriate placements. More work is needed, and we are on our way forward!
What is the biggest challenge your lab faces today?
The biggest challenge in the lab is working with less, being more and more efficient, and not losing sight of, or achieving the goal of, high quality patient care. AAPA is and can continue to provide resources as well as venues for discussion of best practice, and now best efficiency.