Please tell us about yourself, and describe your past volunteer work.
I am a Pathologists’ Assistant for Washington University in St. Louis. I have been a member of the AAPA since 2005 and have been volunteering in some capacity for most of that time. I started my volunteer work on the study guide subcommittee writing practice questions for the students who were studying for the ASCP-BOC certification exam. I became chair of the subcommittee and served in that position for over three years until moving into the role of Education Committee Chair. I served as the chair of the Education committee until being elected to the BOT in 2018. I currently serve as the Vice Chair of the BOT and sit on the Executive Council. I have enjoyed all of my roles in the AAPA and getting to know the motivated and dynamic members of our volunteer community.
Why are you interested in serving on the AAPA BOT?
I realize how important the AAPA is and has been in supporting our profession. I have had the opportunity to see some of the behind the scenes work that the BOT and committees have done to provide educational opportunities and define our presence and capabilities in the healthcare world. I am very impressed by the energy of our members and would like to do my part to contribute to our profession.
What do you think should be the most important priority for AAPA?
Although we have made huge strides in advocating for our profession, I would still list advocacy as one of our most important priorities. The AAPA now has members sitting on the boards of multiple medical associations, and I would like to see this grow. Having a seat at the table is one of the best ways to promote our profession and help the medical community understand our role and what we can offer. The AAPA should be the voice of the collective PA community.
What is your understanding of the mission and vision of this organization?
I think the AAPA is the primary organization providing PA-specific education and the only organization providing advocacy for the PA profession. Solid education and a strong profession supported by the medical community are critical for quality patient care. I believe the vision of the AAPA would be to grow and enhance our resources for education and advocacy and, therefore, help us be better patient providers.
Is there a particular area that you feel could be improved within AAPA?
I think this past year especially has taught us just how quickly our world can change and how we need to have plans in place to adjust in an emergency. The AAPA has done an excellent job providing educational opportunities in multiple formats. I would hope that they would continue to improve on that and offer even more diversified and economical options to get CE credits as we adjust to life during and after a pandemic.
What is the biggest challenge your lab faces today?
I think most PAs would answer this question a bit differently today than they would have six months ago. Today, most of our challenges stem from the economic impact of COVID-19 on the medical community. I think that we will be adjusting to the impact the pandemic has had on budgetary items like staffing hours, travel funds, and benefits for years to come.
