Born in raised in Richmond, Kim completed her undergraduate education at the University of Virginia and gained clinical experience as an EMT and ER Tech. She proceeded to the Emory University PA Program and has practiced at Yale New Haven Health, a critical access hospital in southwest Virginia, and is currently at VCU Health where she splits her time between practicing clinically with Hospital Medicine and managing the APP Transition to Practice Program. Mom of 2, wife of a fellow PA, and avid runner - Kim is excited to join you all today!

Carleigh is a nurse practitioner practicing at VCU Health in Richmond, Virginia. She completed her undergraduate degree in nursing at West Virginia University in 2018. Carleigh went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree in 2022 from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Wilkes University. Carleigh worked as a bedside nurse at VCU on the Cardiothoracic Surgery Stepdown Unit for 4.5 years. Now as a nurse practitioner, she specializes in thoracic and foregut surgery in the outpatient setting. She recently became certified through the American Heart Association as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. Carleigh uses her knowledge as a TTS to help those enrolled in lung cancer screening achieve tobacco cessation. In her free time, Carleigh enjoys spending time with her Labrador retriever, Izzy.

Alicia Quella is the Director of Communications and PA Relations at the NCCPA. She has served as a PA educator and has practiced in emergency medicine and primary care. She has served as an epidemiologist during the pandemic and has published research on the PA workforce, global health and issues affecting diversity in PA program admissions. Alicia earned her Masters of PA Studies degree and her doctoral degree in epidemiology from the University of Iowa.

Sandy L. Robertson, PharmD, is a native of North Carolina. She received a bachelor's and doctorate in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After completing a pharmacy practice residency in Fairfax, Virginia, Dr. Robertson pursued a specialty residency in family medicine. Her extensive involvement with family medicine residents in Charlotte, North Carolina led Dr. Robertson to choose a career in resident education and research. Dr. Robertson joined the Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program in 1998. Her particular areas of interest include women's health, anticoagulation, and opioid management. Dr. Robertson resides in Winston-Salem with her husband and son. In her leisure time, she enjoys dancing, jogging, and cheering on the Tarheels

Olushola Ilogho is a Hospitalist PA and a committed healthcare leader with eight years of experience delivering quality patient care, Advanced Practice Provider (APP) leadership, education, advocacy, and health equity initiatives. She serves as Chair of the Advocacy and Outreach Committee for the Virginia Academy of PAs and President of the Virginia Association of Minority PAs. She is also an assistant professor and community faculty member at Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she serves on the Alumni Board. Additionally, she contributes to institutional advancement as a member of the Sentara Medical Group's Board Advisory Committee. Passionate about education and mentorship, she educates healthcare providers, precepts PA students, and provides monthly education for nurses. She volunteers with the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) as an expert CME reviewer and grader for the annual conference. She also volunteered as part of the PAs Go Beyond project with AAPA, highlighting the impact of PAs in the healthcare system. Beyond academia, she is dedicated to community service and supporting health initiatives. Olushola holds an Advanced Practice Provider Leadership certificate from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a scholarship for her commitment to advancing APP teams. She is currently in the doctoral program at the University of Lynchburg. In recognition of her contributions to advocacy, leadership, mentorship, and patient care, she was named PA of the Year by the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants in 2022. She was also honored with the Health and Science Award by YWCA South Hampton Roads for her commitment to patient care.

Michelle Kerr has been a Physician Assistant for nearly 30 years, practicing initially in primary care and then expanding to urgent care. She has been at Atrium Health in NC for 13 years, practicing clinically in urgent care, and holding a leadership position within the organization. Michelle serves as an Assistant Specialty Medical Director responsible for 10 of the 30 Atrium Health Urgent Care locations, and as Chief APP (Advanced Practice Provider) for the entire Urgent Care division, advocating and representing over 120 APPs. She actively teaches, updates, and reviews the standard of care practiceses within the Atrium Healthcare system. She serves on several system-wide and interdisciplinary committees and strategy groups.
Michelle continues to serve as adjunct faculty at Rochester Institute of Technology's PA program for over 25 years, still returning yearly to lecture even after moving to NC.

David W. Munter, M.D., MBA, FACEP Dr. Munter retired as a Captain from the US Navy in 2004 after a distinguished career and is considered one of the founders of Emergency Medicine in the Navy. The training program he established produced five Physicians to the President, two admirals, a congressman and a Surgeon General. He then worked for 15 years as a partner with Emergency Physicians of Tidewater. Now in his third career, he has practiced addiction medicine, and now wound care and Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. He has published or edited over 60 textbook chapters and books, was a member of the National Board of Medical Examiners, is a reviewer for several publications including Annals of Emergency Medicine, has garnered multiple awards and honors, and has given hundreds of presentations around the world on a variety of topics.

Dr. Sam Basta is a healthcare executive with a distinguished career in value-based care (VBC) transformation at a variety of healthcare organizations. Dr. Basta is currently Medical Director at ECPI University's provisionally-accredited PA Program which is anticipating matriculation of its inaugural class in 2026, and the University's Continuous Medical Education program. He is also VBC Advisor to medical technology companies. Previously, he was Chief Medical Officer at Honest Medical Group, led value-based care, population health and quality improvement at Sentara Health Plans, and was Chief Quality Officer and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Basta's VBC initiatives have been recognized nationally including a home colorectal cancer screening program that won American Cancer Society, Hall of Fame award. Dr. Basta's is the author of the weekly New Healthcare Platforms newsletter on LinkedIn with a global readership in the thousands leading to his achieving the prestigious LinkedIn TOP VOICE designation.

Experienced Physician Assistant with over 23 years' experience in Urgent Care medicine. I am also a Certified Professional Coder and Certified Evaluation and Management Coder for the past 8 years. I contribute articles/coding challenges to Evidenced Based Urgent Care Medicine, College of Urgent Care Medicine and the Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. I present Coding Excellence to state PA conferences and other organizations. Member of Novant Health's Advanced Practice Providers Leadership team for the past 7 years.

Marianna Garcia is a 2013 Physician Assistant graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School. For the past decade, she has subspecialized in Structural Heart with focus on catheter-based interventions. She has been involved in programmatic development and best practices leading to increased clinic access, reduced patient wait times, and overall increase in patient satisfaction. She has mentored prospective students as well as new hires, and has had opportunities to extend her experience and offer expertise on more national level with speaking engagements at professional conferences. Within rapidly advancing field of Structural Heart, she has participated as Sub Investigator on more than 15 clinical trials, allowing patients access to therapies not yet readily available to general population. Marianna resides in Hampton Roads with her husband and three children and enjoys traveling, and spending time with her family.

Kim Ford is currently the Orthopedic Technician Team Lead for Carilion Clinic Orthopedics. He has been with the Carilion Health System for 30 years and has been working with the Orthopedic Department for the past 20 years doing casting, splinting, and bracing.

He is currently over all of Carilion's Orthopedic Clinics and works with Jefferson College of Health Sciences and their Physician Assistant program providing a casting/splinting beginner course, and as as clinical instructor during the students' Orthopedic rotation. He is also very active in teaching casting and splinting classes for any interested Orthopedic practices.

Ryan Strauss, MPH, MSHS, PA-C is an Emergency Medicine PA and Lead Advanced Practitioner at the George Washington University MFA Department of Emergency Medicine. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the GW Department of Physician Associate Studies involved in multiple aspects of the PA program. He has been in medical education for nearly two decades including workshop instruction and presenting at countless national and regional conferences.

Travis Kaufman specializes in emergency medicine, global health, and strategic medical planning. He plays a crucial role advising and training NATO and partner nations globally on optimal medical practices, with a dedication to strengthening healthcare systems for improved outcomes and international cooperation. Additionally, PA Kaufman serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Lynchburg College of Medical Science, instructing the Emergency Management and Global Health program. Entering the U.S. Army in 2000 and graduating from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) in 2012, PA Kaufman has made significant contributions serving abroad during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and European Assure Deter and Reinforce. Previously a White House Physician Assistant, he provided direct medical care to the highest levels of government officials, serving as the Senior Physician Assistant and Chief Medical Operations Officer for three Presidential administrations. In this role, he oversaw contingency medical planning for global Presidential and Vice-Presidential travel, successfully leading a team through 482 missions within the continental United States and 42 missions abroad. In July 2020, PA Kaufman earned a Doctor of Medical Science Degree (DMSc) in Emergency Medicine from the University of Lynchburg. His service has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Presidential Service Badge and the Colorado Academy of Physician Associates Leader of the Year. Additionally, he completed the White House Tactical Medical Officer fellowship in 2017. Travis is married to his wife Jamie, and they have two children, Gabriella, and Gage.