James Cannon was elected to the board in 2008 where he has served in various roles including treasurer, secretary and committee chair. He is a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and director of field operations overseeing the non-clincial operations of 45 clinical sites across 13 regions, and managing an annual budget in excess of $400 million.

As a certified PA and psychiatry CAQ holder, he clinically practices in substance and Tele-psychiatry in addition to adjunct teaching at the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction in Minneapolis, MN.

James is also clinically active in a small Chesapeake, VA wellness practice where he works part-time on a clinical team with his supervising physician. He is married to Jina Cannon, a pediatric emergency nurse and has a daughter attending college in Texas.

Dr. Gillian is a private practice General Surgeon who completed one of the first fellowships for laparoscopic surgery in the nation. He is a former President of the American Society of General Surgeons. His practice has been providing "state of the art”, minimally invasive surgery to his patients in the Northern Virginia/DC Metro area since 1998. This was a unique time in minimally invasive surgery as many of the innovative techniques and equipment used now trace their roots to that time. Consequently, Dr. Gillian had the rare opportunity to participate in the development of many procedures, equipment and surgical materials that are in use today. Many of the "cutting edge” procedures that are often touted by surgeons and hospitals were a routine part of Dr. Gillian's practice more than a decade ago. For example, Dr. Gillian has been performing selected surgeries with the DaVinci Robotic platform since 2009 and in 2013 was the first surgeon in Virginia or Washington D.C. allowed to implant the LINX device for reflux control. Dr. Gillian has become a common fixture on the national lecture circuit for surgeon training and at times a featured speaker on the international stage.

Dr. Gillian is experienced and proficient in many areas of laparoscopic surgery, but he maintains a particularly strong focus on the evaluation and management of patients with hernia issues and gastroesophageal reflux disease. He established and directs the Heartburn Center at INOVA Alexandria Hospital Center where he facilitates the evaluation of patients with heartburn, swallowing disorders and unexplained chest pain of both his patients and those referred from other Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, Cardiologists, Pulmonologists, ENTs and Primary Care physicians. If needed, Dr. Gillian will correct the defects with either Laparoscopic or Robotic surgery. He has done nearly 5000 anti-reflux surgeries to date. His practice was named one of the few epicenters for LINX surgery in the country and due to his experience and results he was also selected to train other surgeons in this procedure.

Dr. Gillian's techniques and experience in laparoscopic abdominal surgery and inguinal hernia repair are well known in the surgical community and it is not unusual to have visiting surgeons in his operating room to learn his techniques many times a year. In fact he often gets referrals from regional surgeons to evaluate patients due to his expertise in this complex and evolving field. He has been asked to lecture and train other surgeons on a wide variety of laparoscopic surgical subjects including: inguinal hernias, incisional hernias, sports hernias, chronic groin pain, cholecystectomy (gallbladder), solid organ surgery, adrenalectomy, splenectomy, explorations for chronic abdominal pain, hiatal hernia repair, and Nissen fundoplication for reflux. The motivation for these teaching events has been to further spread the humanistic benefits of laparoscopic surgical techniques to surgeons in a variety of fields and to make it a safer and more comfortable experience for the patients in our care. Dr. Gillian's practice continues publish research articles and to participate in a number of research projects with other medical centers and surgical companies around the country.

Mark Ryan is an assistant professor in the VCU School of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine and Population Health. Dr. Ryan serves as the medical director of the I2CRP honors program, which focuses on training medical students to work with medically underserved communities, and is in clinical practice in Richmond. He is active on social media, and was one of the founding External Advisory Board members for the Mayo Clinical Center for Social Media. Dr. Ryan is an active Twitter user, occasional blogger, and reluctant Facebook prisoner.

Robert D. Hadley is a faculty member at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences PA Program. He has been involved in PA education since 1997, when he graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina PA program. He has been at JCHS for the past 5 years. Dr. Hadley has practiced in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and Urgent Care. He currently practices part time in the Carilion Community Care Clinic in addition to his duties at JCHS, where he teaches Clinical Medicine and the application of Evidence-Based Medicine. Dr. Hadley's interest in diabetes stems from his love of pathophysiology, and his years in Internal Medicine at at time when options for treating diabetes were rapidly expanding. In addition to his interests in medicine and PA education, Dr. Hadley has held several positions within national PA organizations, and he enjoys carpentry, computers and web design, and horse training.

Sterling Ransone Jr., M.D., a family medicine physician in Deltaville, VA, has been a member of the Medical Society of Virginia since 1993 and has served as a member of MSV’s board of directors and chairman of several committees and task forces. He currently serves as MSV’s president and as immediate past chairman of the MSV Political Action Committee.

In addition to his dedication to his patients and profession, he is an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University and has held leadership positions in several other professional organizations.

Dr. Ransone completed his undergraduate work at the College of William and Mary, where he also received a master’s degree in biology. He received his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond and earned the distinction of being a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 1998.

In his “spare time,” he has volunteered in a variety of community activities, including as a founding board member and medical director for Hospice Support Services of Middlesex County and medical director of Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Dr. Ransone is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

BIO Tricia Marriott is a 1986 graduate the Yale School of Medicine PA Program. She has been a hospital based PA for most of her career, first in Emergency Medicine, and then Orthopaedics. In January 2009, Tricia joined the AAPA staff as the Director of Reimbursement Advocacy and is now the AAPA Director of Regulatory and Professional Advisory Services. She continues to practice clinically part-time with the Yale Medical Group Department of Orthopaedics. Please welcome Tricia.

Dr. Cynthia Romero was appointed Virginia's Health Commissioner in January, 2013. She is the principal public health advisor to the Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the Virginia General Assembly and the Board of Health.
Prior to her appointment as Virginia's Health Commissioner, Dr. Romero was Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Quality and Medical Affairs for Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Dr. Romero was in private practice for 16 years at Romero Family Practice with her mother as her partner and her father as her office manager. Her parents retired in 2010. Dr. Romero continued to see patients in the office until her appointment on January 29.
She served as President of the Philippine Medical Association of Southeastern Virginia, Inc., the Tidewater Academy of Family Physicians, the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, the Norfolk Academy of Medicine and in 2011, she was the President of the Medical Society of Virginia.

Rick Davis is a graduate of the University of Florida PA program. He has practiced in academic gastroenterology for > 25 years at the University of Virginia, University of South Florida, and is currently a senior physician assistant in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. He has specific clinical and research interests in GI motility disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic viral hepatitis.
Please join me in welcoming Rick today.

Dr. Wodajo obtained his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and attended medical school at the University of California at San Francisco. He trained in Orthopedic surgery at Howard University after which he completed a two year fellowship in Orthopedic Oncology at Washington Hospital Center, both in Washington DC. His practice is dedicated exclusively to the treatment of benign and malignant in musculoskeletal tumor in adults and children. He holds the following titles of Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, VCU School of Medicine, Inova Campus and Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital. His office is in Fairfax, Virginia.

Angela Jean Cerezo is a 2003 graduate of the Master of Physician Assistant Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. In 2003 she began clinical practice in Family Medicine in Las Vegas, Nevada in a variety of outpatient settings including working with the underserved. Upon returning to the Hampton Roads area in 2010, she continued working in Family Medicine at Naval Station Norfolk until taking an assistant professor position with the EVMS PA Program where she has been for almost three years. She has a dual appointment in the EVMS Department of Family and Community Medicine and practices clinically at Ghent Family Medicine in Norfolk.

Kimberly Dempsey is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Physician Assistant Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She practiced clinically at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Pediatric Dermatology. She has served on advisory boards for developing PA programs and currently serves on the advisory board for the Old Dominion University College of Health Sciences. She is also the founding Program Director for the Doctor of Medical Sciences Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Dr. Dempsey is a graduate of the Eastern Virginia Medical School PA Program and completed her Doctorate of Education in 2019 at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Dempsey enjoys lecturing nationally on dermatology and has worked with the American Academy of Physician Assistants on enduring Dermatology CME projects.

Graduated US Air Force PA program in 1993.
Served as US Coast Guard PA for 10 years, retired in 2003.
Taught at EVMS PA program for 8 years (2002-2010)
Currently in Primary Care and Urgent Care for Patient First since 2006.

Dan is a graduate of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland and got his PA training at Johns Hopkins University. He is a past president of the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants and was instrumental in getting legislation passed through the Maryland General Assembly giving PAs the right to prescribe.

Dan has worked in a variety of clinical settings, the last eleven years of which as a spine specialist, currently with LifeBridge Neurosurgery in Baltimore, Maryland.

Angela Conrad is an Associate Professor and Clinical Director of the EVMS PA program where she has worked since 2011. She graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School's Physician Assistant Program in 2005. Her clinical career started in Emergency Medicine and she transitioned to full time academia in 2020. In 2020, she was honored as a Distinguished Fellow with the American Academy of Physician Assistants and inducted into the Fine Academy of Educators as Master Educator. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two boys, 9 and 12.

Dr. Martha Early is Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA where she is the Director of the Behavioral Medicine Division and teaches behavioral medicine in the Residency Training Program. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist with over 20 years in the field of mental health and substance abuse treatment and has worked in inpatient, outpatient and intensive outpatient settings. She received her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, and her PhD in Higher Education from Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA. Dr. Early is adjunct faculty in the School of Social Work at East Carolina University and in the Departments of Health Science and Human Services at Old Dominion University.

Working at Carilion in Roanoke since 2009
ED Fellowship coordinator for PA\NP Fellowship
Received Emergency Medicine CAQ this year

Ms. Jordan completed her MPA at EVMS in 2008. She earned a Master of Arts degree in humanities in 1988 and a PhD in Urban Studies in 1997, both from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. She received her BA from University College Dublin, Ireland in 1985.
In 2008, after graduation, she joined Sentara Medical Group Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. In 2013,she transitioned to SMG Neurology and sees patients in her outpatient clinic as well as hospital patients. She works at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Doctor Patricia Jennings is a professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. She has been a faculty member in Physician Assistant Education since 1996 and was the Association of Physician Assistant Programs Master Teacher of the Year in 2010. In 2011, she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Doctor Jennings was awarded a certificate in Physician Assistant Studies from Duke University and earned her doctorate degree in Public Health from the University of Kentucky. Doctor Jennings practices as a physician assistant in the STD clinic at the Norfolk Department of Health. She is affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control as a trainer for the southeast and Atlantic regions STD Prevention and Training Center.

Mike is currently employed at Virginia Orthopaedics in Salem, VA., where he has been part of a physician-PA team with Dr. Preston Waldrop for the last 11 years. He has 14 years of total orthopedic experience. Mr. Wilson graduated from Jefferson College of Health Sciences, and received the clinical excellence award in 2000. He continues to have a strong interest in academics and is currently an Associate Professor for the Physician Assistant Program at Jefferson College and precepts PA students frequently.

Mrs. Anderson was born and raised in Wilmington, NC. She completed her undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University and received her PA training in Norfolk, VA at Eastern Virginia Medical School's (EVMS) Physician Assistant Program, graduating in 2004. She practices clinically at a multi-physician private urology group (Urology of Virginia) since 2005 where she specializes in reconstruction, incontinence, pelvic health and erectile dysfunction. She returned to EVMS as a member of the PA Program's full-time faculty in July of 2011 and has a dual appointment with the Department of Urology. She currently serves on the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Urological Association Advanced Practice Provider Committee as well as the national AUA APN/PA Membership Committee. She lives in Virginia Beach, VA with her husband and 18 month old daughter.

Cynthia Adsitt Dowd MSN/ED, RN, CDE, OCN, CWOCN DAPWCA
Cynthia Dowd brings over 39 years of clinical, educational, and managerial experience to the Mary Immaculate Wound Care Center. Cynthia developed the center in 1999 and continues as the Manager of Wound Care and Telemetry at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News VA. Cynthia graduated with a BSN from Keuka College in Penn Yan NY and a MSN/ED from the University of Phoenix. Cindy’s scope of practice includes patient and nursing education, and leadership roles in critical care, telemetry, infusion therapy, med/surg and Wound Care. She is a member of The American Professional Wound Care Association, The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Society and the Virginia and American Nurses Association.

Catherine Pearman, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, is a 1999 graduate of the Wake Forest University PA Program and obtained her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska in 2007. In 2006, she joined the faculty of the Eastern Virginia Medical School PA Program. Catherine is currently full time faculty as an Associate Professor, and previously had the role of Associate Director of Clinical Education. Catherine clinically practices Emergency Medicine, which she has done for the past ten years, and has prior experience in Family Medicine and Orthopedics.

Mr. Travis Kirby, MPAS, PA-C is a graduate of Clemson University and the Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University PA program. He is currently an assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School Masters of Physician Assistant Program. He is a Tidewater native, and spent 8 years in Emergency medicine prior to practicing in Gastroenterology for the past 10 years. He is currently employed by Colonial Gastroenterology Associates in Newport News and Williamsburg, Virginia.

Regional Manager with KCI and RN
Assisting with the Wound Vac workshop

Attending as support staff for CelluTome workshop. I am a Surgical Sales Manager with KCI.

Mr. Weniger has a Bachelors degree in Health Science-Athletic Training from Lock Haven University. He has a Master's degree in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training from the University of Virginia. He has a 2nd Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies from James Madison University. Mr. Weniger currently is the Director of the Physician Assistant Program at James Madison University. He also works clinically in Emergency Medicine at Sentara RMH Medical Center. Prior to becoming involved with academics and administration, Mr. Weniger practiced clinically in Orthopedic Surgery and Emergency Medicine - that is where his teaching and research interests remain. In his spare time he enjoys playing guitar, running, playing drums for his church's worship team, and spending time with his wife and their three children.

Kate Connor is a graduate of Bowdoin College (Class of 1980) and the Yale University Physician Associate Program (Class Of 1982). From 1982 until 2000, Kate practiced clinically in Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Occupational Medicine and Emergency Medicine. In 2002, she made a carrer move from clinical practice to academia. She currently teaches physician assistant students at the Eastern Virgina Medical School Physician Assitant Program in Norfolk, VA. and has also taught at the George Washington University Physician Assistant Program in Washington, DC. Kate has three grown daughters and currently lives in Norfolk, VA with her husband Mike, a career Navy officer, and her very spoiled dog, Cosette.

Joel Bashore graduated from the US Navy/George Washington University PA Program in 1995 and spent 13 of his 24 years in the Navy as a PA in a variety of settings and locales: the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, the Naval Hospitals in Rota, Spain and Sigonella, Italy and a combat tour as medical officer for Provincial Reconstruction Team - Asadabad, Afghanistan in 2007. After retiring in 2008 he accepted a position as a PA in the Carilion Clinic Department of Emergency Medicine here in Roanoke. Since 2012 he has been the Manager for the department's 30 PAs and NPs in all 6 of their EDs. He is also a clinical instructor in emergency medicine in the PA program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

ALISA BAHL, PH.D., BCBA-D Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Virginia Children's Hospital

Alisa Bahl is a licensed clinical psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital in Charlottesville. Dr. Bahl completed her graduate work in child clinical psychology at West Virginia University, her Clinical Internship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation and her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Bahl has been providing comprehensive diagnostic assessment as well as behavioral intervention services for children with autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders for over 15 years.

Ethan Long, PhD, BCBA-D Executive Director, Virginia Institute of Autism Ethan Long is responsible for formulating strategic direction and providing overall leadership and management of all programs and activities for the Virginia Institute of Autism. Dr. Long holds a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology from West Virginia University (2001) and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) licensed in Virginia. He completed a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has presented over 100 presentations and workshops both nationally and internationally and has authored over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters related to autism, applied behavior analysis, and a variety of developmental and behavioral disorders. He currently serves on the conference committee for the Council on Autism Services, the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and the Board of Directors for both the Maryland and Virginia Associations for Behavior Analysis. He is actively involved in advocating for evidenced-based services for people living with autism in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dr. Tom Lynch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Course Director of the Pharmacotherapeutics curriculum for the Doctor of Medicine Program at EVMS. Besides teaching medical students and residents, Dr. Lynch helps coordinate medication management at two family medicine practice sites associated with EVMS and rounds with the inpatient family medicine team at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Dr. David Weintritt is a board certified breast surgeon and founder of the National Breast Center. Dr. Weintritt completed his college and medical education at the University of Florida. After graduation, he served as a general surgeon in the Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base. During his tenure as an Air Force surgeon, he was involved with some of the first cases of sentinel node biopsy in the DC area which is now a procedure that is standard of care in breast cancer surgery. Next he entered into private practice in Annapolis, MD where he worked in the hospital’s new breast center gaining experience in breast ultrasound and minimally invasive approaches for breast disease. In 2003, Dr. Weintritt opened his own practice in Alexandria, VA and helped bring partial breast radiation to the area. In 2010, Dr. Weintritt became director of the INOVA Mount Vernon Breast Care Institute and is consistently the highest volume breast cancer surgeon in the INOVA system. In 2012 Dr. Weintritt founded the National Breast Center to continue raising awareness of new treatment options and to expand services available for breast cancer patients.

Daniel Thibodeau DHSc, MHP, PA-C is a professor for the Physician Assistant and the Doctor of Medical Science Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Mr. Thibodeau is also the Director of Admissions for the PA Program. He clinically practices in cardiology and has clinical experience in emergency medicine and cardiac surgery. Mr. Thibodeau is an Eastern Virginia Medical School graduate, completing his Doctor of Health Sciences in 2021. Graduating in 1996, he holds a Master of Health Professions and his certificate of the physician assistant program from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Thibodeau also holds two undergraduate degrees, one in Physical Education with a concentration in sports medicine from Radford University and a second baccalaureate in biology from Old Dominion University. His faculty duties include clinical medicine lectures, cardiovascular medicine, and EKG interpretation. Mr. Thibodeau has been lecturing nationally for greater than 20 years on a variety of topics, and the bulk of his presentations are related to cardiovascular medicine and professional workforce issues. He has worked with several national organizations, including the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the American College of Physicians Foundation national steering committee on the Initiative on Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Prevention. He was also part of the ACPF national steering committee on Acute Coronary Syndrome. Mr. Thibodeau is a native of Virginia and resides in Williamsburg, VA, with his wife and four children. He is an advisory board member to the Hampton Roads Salvation Army Area Command and volunteers with other local and international organizations.

Brad Boyette graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School with his MPA degree in 2002. From 2002 to 2011 he worked full-time for a general surgery practice and moonlighted in the emergency department. During that time he was on the community faculty at EVMS and precepted PA students from multiple programs. Currently, Brad is a full-time healthcare consultant and continues to work part-time in the emergency department.

Dr. Rachel Carlson, is the Program Director and Associate Professor for the Shenandoah University Physician Assistant Program in Winchester, VA where she has been a faculty member for 11 years. She is also a clinically practicing PA in family medicine for an employee-based health clinic. She is a past VP, Secretary, and Chief Delegate for the VAPA. She currently serves as the AAPA Board Advisor to SAAAPA as well as Chair of the Virginia Physician Assistant Advisory Board.

Martha V. Versprille, PA-C

Martha graduated from the Inter-service Physician Assistant Program. She has been in practice as a Nephrology Physician Assistant with Tidewater Kidney Specialists since 2005.
Martha brings her experience as paramedic and US Army Reservists to her practice. She specializes in clinical research, chronic kidney disease management and end-stage renal disease management.

Dr. Connor is a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, affiliated with Brown University's Alpert School of Medicine.

I am originally for North Carolina, where I received my undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from Appalachian State University. I then moved to Virginia to attend the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Progam. Since graduating from PA school, I have worked in Orthopedics, specializing in disorders of the spine and osteoporosis, and have recently founded an osteoporosis clinic within my current practice. I currently work in my community to educate the public on the importance of osteoporosis prevention and treatment in hopes to reduce the number of late night calls from the ER for the patient who just fell and broke her hip.

Ken Anderson is a 1992 graduate of the George Washington University PA program. He has been working in primary care for the past 20 years. He is currently the President of VAPA.