|
As a reminder, the election for the three seats available for the 2019-2021 term on the Board of Trustees will be held throughout the month of September this year. Leading up to the election, we are highlighting each of the four candidates as identified through the efforts of the Nominations Subcommittee.
For our final BOT Candidate Spotlight, we are featuring Roseann Vitale, PA(ASCP)CM.
| |
 |
Name: Roseann Vitale, PA(ASCP)CM
Organization: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Location: North Chicago, IL
Fellow Member Since: 2013
Current AAPA Position: Membership Committee Chair
|
|
Please tell the AAPA membership about yourself, and describe your past volunteer work.
My first experience with the AAPA was as a student delegate in 2012. This experience solidified my desire to volunteer within the organization, which I’ve done since I graduated in 2013. Since graduation, I’ve served as a volunteer on the Membership Committee. I served as vice-chair from 2014-2015 and chair from 2015-Present. My roles on the Membership Committee include Student Delegate and Student Liaison program oversight. I’ve also collaborated with many others to create the Student Committee, which works to help our student members get involved with our organization early in their professional career. I’ve really enjoyed my experience as a volunteer and hope to inspire others to do the same.
Why are you interested in serving on the AAPA BOT?
I’m interested in serving on the AAPA BOT because I believe that when we work together, we can do powerful things for our profession. My hope is that as a BOT member, I can serve to represent the voice of the membership and collaborate with outside organizations to strengthen the recognition and appreciation of Pathologists’ Assistants worldwide. As a volunteer with the AAPA since 2013, I’ve seen how quickly things can change for the better when volunteers and various committees work together to achieve a common goal. Serving on the BOT would allow me to continue working in that collaborative process on a larger scale, with the ultimate goal being the strengthening of our profession and the AAPA. I’d also like to continue encouraging student and fellow membership engagement so that each member feels encouraged to contribute their unique skills and talents to our profession and the AAPA.
What do you think should be the most important priority for AAPA?
As the premier organization for Pathologists’ Assistants, the top priority for the AAPA should be continuing to support advocacy for our profession. A great example of this was the recent AAPA Legislative Alert campaign regarding proposed CMS changes that could negatively impact Pathologists’ Assistants. Although we may be small in numbers compared to other mid-level practitioners, united, we are strong.
What is your understanding of the mission and vision of this organization?
The mission and vision of the AAPA are to be the comprehensive resource for Pathologists’ Assistants in their professional career. This includes providing professional support and resources to Pathologists’ Assistants from the beginning of their education to retirement. The AAPA provides its membership with targeted continuing education content and opportunities for professional development through engagement. The AAPA also strives to support Pathologists’ Assistants in providing optimal patient care through various means, such as the creation of the Grossing Guidelines.
Is there a particular area that you feel could be improved within AAPA?
An area that I think could be improved within the AAPA is communication between the BOT and other committees with the membership. This process has already begun with the recent Town Hall meetings, and I think continuing to increase transparency will help members feel more invested and ultimately become more engaged within their professional organization.
What is the biggest challenge your lab faces today?
The biggest challenge facing laboratories today is the incorporation of new molecular testing into current testing standards. The cost of performing these additional tests with an already increasing cost of doing business puts a strain on laboratory budgets. Finding new and exciting ways to incorporate technology into education is also an interesting challenge. The way that information is delivered must continue to evolve past the standard methods to address the needs of a technologically savvy world.
Would you like to see Roseann on the AAPA Board of Trustees? Make sure to cast your vote in the BOT Election, opening September 4, 2018! Fellow members will have the option to vote online via SurveyMonkey or in-person at the Fall Conference. Remember, we must reach a required quorum of 25% of members. Encourage your colleagues to vote using the hashtags #PAckthepolls and #myVOTEmyBOT!
Revisit the profiles of our previously featured candidates: John Eckman, Charlene Gettings, and Jennifer Perez!
|
