Board & Leadership

Michelle is a full professor and Director of Didactic Education at Creighton University PA Program in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and has been a full-time educator since 2004. She has held many leadership positions including serving on the AAPA Board of Directors, the PA Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Governance Council for PAEA. She has volunteered over the past decade with underserved communities including developing an interdisciplinary, inter-institutional free clinic for the homeless in Central Phoenix, working with a transitional facility providing substance abuse rehabilitation for the homeless of Phoenix and providing free school physicals at Title I schools in Mesa, AZ.  Michelle joined the nccPA Health Foundation Board of Directors in 2022, was reelected to a second term that began in 2025, and serves as Chair Elect in 2026.

Eunice is an Assistant Professor in the Emory University School of Medicine Physician Assistant program in Atlanta, Georgia. She has nearly 20 years of clinical experience in Urology, Interventional Radiology, General Surgery, and Urgent Care and has been a full-time educator since April 2022. She earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and a Doctor of Medical Science with a concentration in PA education from Butler University. She is an active volunteer faculty preceptor with the Emory Farmworkers Project, is engaged in research focusing on integrating substance use screening, brief intervention and referral treatment (SBIRT) into PA education, and is leading efforts to transform the PA curriculum through expanded use of active learning strategies. She also serves on the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants Diversity Committee. In 2026, she joined the Board of Directors of the nccPA Health Foundation, where she is serving a three-year term.

Amna is a seasoned Physician Assistant with over 18 years of clinical expertise in neurosurgery and vascular surgery. She currently serves on the neurosurgical APP team at INOVA Health System and as a medical and surgical peer case reviewer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Amna has held key leadership roles, including Regional Director for National Vascular Associates in Northern Virginia, Lead APP for Vascular Surgery at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, and adjunct faculty for the University of Pittsburgh PA Program. She holds dual master’s degrees in Physician Assistant Studies from Touro College and Health Administration from George Washington University.  Her additional credentials include Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, APP Leadership Certification, and EPIC certification in both content building and data analysis. She has led several clinical informatics initiatives and is deeply committed to mentoring future healthcare professionals.  Passionate about career development and the advancement of physician assistants, Amna actively mentors pre-PA and PA students, fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals.  She joined the nccPA Health Foundation Board of Directors in 2022, was reelected to a second term that began in 2025, and serves as Treasurer in 2026.

Jayne serves as Chief of Engagement and Talent Management for US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), where she also chairs the Inclusion and Engagement Committee. In her role, she is involved in leadership development, onboarding, and overall engagement strategy  Since joining USACS in 2006, Dr. Kendall has held leadership positions, including Assistant Director, Quality Director, Director of Emergency Services, and Regional Vice President. She also served as President of the East Region.  Dr. Kendall holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Bloomington and a medical degree from Indiana University. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at Carolinas Medical Center, where she was chief resident, and earned an Executive MBA from Queens University of Charlotte in 2012. Dr. Kendall is a Certified Physician Executive through the American Association of Physician Leadership. She joined the NCCPA Board of Directors as a Physician Director-at-Large in 2025.  She was elected to serve concurrently on the nccPA Health Foundation Board in 2026.

Darcie has been a Board Certified PA since 2012, practicing clinically in internal medicine/occupational health, orthopedics, urgent care, and family practice at a Federally Qualified Health Center. She was the lead provider of a school-based health center for several years before transitioning to academia. Darcie has been an Associate Professor with the Touro University California PA Program since 2015. She serves as a Faculty Senator and on the Academic Policy Review Committee at Touro, as an Associate Editor for Aquifer Clinical Excellence, on the AAPA HOD House Policy Review Committee, as a California Delegate to the AAPA HOD, and as a Director-at-Large on the California Academy of PAs Board of Directors. Darcie holds bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Spanish from Sonoma State University, is a graduate of the Touro Joint PA/MPH Program Class of 2012, and received her Doctor of Education in 2025. Darcie’s research interests include cognitive bias in PA medical decision-making and metacognition strategies for preventing misdiagnosis. Darcie volunteers in her community as President of Casa Grande High School Boosters Club and with the Medical Reserve Corps of Sonoma County. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, beekeeping, and sailing. She joined the nccPA Health Foundation Board of Directors in 2022, was reelected to a second term that began in 2025, and serves as Secretary in 2026.

Joshua is Board Certified PA currently practicing in hematology/oncology at the George Washington

Joshua is a Board Certified PA currently practicing in hematology/oncology at the George Washington (GW) Cancer Center in Washington, D.C.  He is a graduate of Shenandoah University’s PA program class of 2022 and completed his Doctor of Medical Science degree from Shenandoah University in 2023.  Joshua also holds a Master of Public Health degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed a bachelor’s degree in biology from Auburn University Montgomery. His vision involves treatment for the whole person, eliminating health inequities, and improving community health. He is an active mentor in the National Society of Black Physician Assistants (NSBPA) mentorship program. He is a member of the African Heritage PA Caucus (AHPAC) and the Virginia Association of Minority PAs, where he previously served as Treasurer. Joshua joined the Board of Directors of the nccPA Health Foundation in 2024 and is serving a three-year term in a seat reserved for an early career PA.

en is the Program Director and Associate Dean at the Florida State University College of Medicine, School of PA Practice. He received Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology from the University of Georgia and PA Studies from the Medical College of Georgia, respectively.  He received a Master of PA Studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and earned his Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg in 2019.   Ben was the first PA to serve as President of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals and served five years on the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Rheumatology Board.  He previously served as Scientific Editor for the American College of Rheumatology’s Advanced Rheumatology Course and has published extensively on rheumatology, geriatrics, and medical education.  He has worked clinically in rheumatology throughout his career.   Ben joined the NCCPA Board of Directors in 2020 as the AAPA nominee.  He was elected to serve concurrently on the nccPA Health Foundation Board in 2021 and reelected in 2024.

Tessa is an associate clinical professor and the Director of Didactic Education for the developing Physician Assistant Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She earned her Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University with an emphasis in global health and has been a dedicated PA educator since 2013, previously serving on faculty at A.T. Still University, where she is also an alumna. Tessa began her clinical career in family medicine before spending seven years with Circle the City, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving individuals experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. This work deepened her commitment to equitable, person-centered care. A long-standing volunteer and advocate for the PA profession, she has served her state PA association in numerous roles, including Director-at-Large and AAPA House of Delegates representative. She is passionate about mentoring future clinicians and has guided PA students in community engagement efforts such as school physicals for Title I schools, health histories at a substance-use rehabilitation facility, service drives, and outreach through a nccPA Health Foundation Be the Change grant focused on skin cancer education for unsheltered populations. Inspired by early experiences supporting a refugee family, Tessa has also participated in humanitarian and medical mission trips to Egypt, Kenya, and Lebanon. She joined the nccPA Health Foundation Board of Directors in 2026.

Ilka has 35 years of leadership experience across public, private and community sectors. As CEO of ILKA International Enterprises LLC, she specializes in equipping leaders to maximize their potential, fostering organizational health and driving collective success.   Ilka has spent over 26 years in federal service, working with cabinet secretaries to implement key health care legislation and regulations. She has facilitated strategic planning and leadership retreats for organizations such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Agency on Aging.  A bilingual keynote speaker and executive mentor, she has delivered transformational workshops globally. Ilka holds a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College and a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from SUNY-Utica. She is also certified in emotional mastery and executive mentorship. She previously served as Vice Chair of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation.  Ilka joined the NCCPA Board of Directors as a Public Director at Large in 2025.  She was elected to serve concurrently on the nccPA Health Foundation Board in 2026.