Candidates
for Office
The official list of the 2010 VAPAA
candidate selection for officers and Directors-at-Large
as nominated by you the members is as follows:
President:
- John "Jack" Bachman,
Togus, Maine (incumbent VP)
An honored veteran, a driven
provider, and a natural leader, Jack Bachman has
spent his life dedicated to the service of his
country, his fellow veterans, his colleagues,
and his family.
Serving two terms in Vietnam
as a United States Marine, Jack was awarded
a Legion of Merit, two Purple Hearts, and other
awards by our nation for his brave service.
He later joined the United
States Air Force, serving 17
years. After his retirement from active duty,
Jack continued to serve our country through
his work at Togus Veterans Hospital in Maine
in 1989, at which he was the Chief of Spinal
Cord Injury for 15 years, operating the largest
Spinal Cord Injury Clinic in the nation up until
his retirement from Togus this past January.
Jack has not only served our
country and veterans, but has worked to further
the success of PA’s throughout his career.
During his time at Togus, he organized groups
to save Togus from closure and worked with his
fellow PA’s and management to start a
PA Professional Standard Board for PA’s
searching for promotions and jobs. This board’
s membership consisted solely of physician assistants
and was chaired by a PA. Their recommendations
went directly to the Center Director of Togus
VA.
Jack worked directly with Senator
Collins and her staff to sponsor Senate Bill
1155.
Jack graduated from Unity College
with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management
and received his Physician Associates degree
from the University of Oklahoma. He resides
in Maine with his wife, Mary and has 4 children
and 2 beautiful granddaughters.
If elected to the President
of the VAPAA , Jack will continue the fight
to have Pay Reform for PA’s within the
Veterans Administration. He’ll continue
the fight to rescind the current US Code, which
prevents PA’s for getting bonuses for
recruitment and retention, and he’ll ask
for congressional approval to sponsor educational
funding for Physician Assistants.
- Bob Kunath, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
(incumbent)
I, Bob Kunath, PA-C, would like
to place my name in nomination for the position
of PRESIDENT of VAPAA.
I have been a PA since 1981, having graduated
from Penn State University’s Hershey Medical
Center PA program. My first job was at the Bath,
NY VAMC and I am now at the Lebanon, Pennsylvania
VAMC working in Geriatrics.
I have been active in the VAPAA for the past 10+
years, having served 2 terms as a Director-at-Large,
then Vice President, and for the last 2 years
as President. During my tenure I have seen many
positive changes within the association. We have
more direct communication with members, shown
a significant growth in membership, had two successful
conferences, even in the wake of a near financial
crisis. Thanks to the Directors and officers,
the association has flourished and looks to be
the largest and most successful period in our
history.
I would like to continue as president for one
more term to see the final culmination of many
years of hard work with the achievement of a Director
of PA Services, located in the VA Central Office
and now the current issue of Pay Reform.
We, as an association, have made many positive
advances and now our push is for PA Pay Reform,
a project that is currently underway with efforts
by your association and the Federal PA staff at
AAPA. We are in the process of meeting with AAPA,
and Congressional staff, working to formulate
the language necessary to achieve the desired
pay reform. Allow me to continue with these efforts
and vote for me for one more term.
Vice President:
- (no nominee - if there is no
write in with a quorum of votes, the person will
be decided by the Board after election process)
Directors-at-Large:
- Margie Bartholomew, Las Vegas,
Nevada
- Krista Berner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(incumbent)
My name is Krista Berner and I
would like to express my interest in continuing
to serve the VAPAA as a Director-At-Large (term
June 1st, 2010 through May 31st, 2012). I have
served as a Director-At-Large for the past 2 years
with the VAPAA and look forward to continuing
to serve this organization as well as represent
VA PA's. Over the past 2 years I have had the
opportunity to see all that this organization
has to give and the hard work and dedication it
takes to keep this organization going. I have
been employed at the Milwaukee, WI VA for the
past 6 years and foresee a long career as a Physician
Assistant within the VA. For this reason I have
a vested interest in the PA profession within
the VA and would like to see PA's thrive within
the VA system. I look forward to working with
you and for you.
Thank-you,
Krista A. Berner PA-C
Physician Assistant, Neurosurgery
- James Cavanaugh, San Antonio,
Texas
I am self nominating for a Director-at-Large
position with VAPAA because I feel I have a lot
to offer the organization. I am a relatively new
VA employee who brings a fresh approach and new
ideas to the table. I have held various positions
as a PA in the military, civilian practice and
now with the VA as well as being involved in PA
education. I have served on professional organizations
in the past as Society of Air Force Physician
Assistants Director-at-large 1999-2001, 2001-2003,
Vice President 2002-2003, and President 2003-2007.
I look forward to representing my fellow VA PAs.
EDUCATION and TRAINING:
1998 Master of Physician Assistant Studies Family
Medicine, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, College of Medicine, Lincoln NE
1995 BS Physician Assistant, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, College of
Medicine, Lincoln NE
1993 -1995 Physician Assistant-Student, US Air
Force PA Program.
EXPERIENCE:
Oct 2008 – Present Staff Physician Assistant,
Otolaryngology (ENT), Audie L Murphy Division,
South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio
TX
May 2006 – Present Adjunct Professor, Physician
Assistant Program, School of Allied Health Sciences,
Texas Tech University Health Science Center.
CERTIFICATION: NCCPA Certification #1030486 (1995
to present)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: American Academy of
Physician Assistants
Veterans
Affairs Physician Assistant Association
Society of Physician Assistants in
Otorhinolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery
Bexar County Physician Assistant Society
- Cheryl Green, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
(incumbent)
I have been a PA for 27years, 22
at the Lebanon VA. I have worked in every dept.
but surgery. I have always been active in the
profession, both in the VA and in Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania I have been on the BOD in many
capacities including president. I was also the
legislative coordinator for many years. In the
VA I have been on the BOD twice and am currently
the chair of the diversity comm. I was a member
and then chair of the PA Field Advisory Group
at the time the GS 13 chief grade was developed
and instituted. I have also served in the House
of delegates for both the VA and Pennsylvania.
I continue to enjoy working toward the growth
and in some areas, , the survival of the PA profession.
My two dogs and I live in North Cornwall Township
PA.
Platform:
I am running for re-election to the BOD to continue
the work that will continue as long as we are
a profession. There will always be turf wars,
pay parity issues and many others and I believe
the number of issues will continue to grow as
health care in this country continues to change.
I enjoy working for the membership and making
our voice heard. I am pleased we now have our
official PA advisor position, but I am experienced
enough to realize if we don’t keep the pressure
on and the voices loud and solid on the issues
of pay parity, chief grade promotion parity and
the many other issues facing us, we can just as
quickly lose what we have gained. As the diversity
chair, I see the many internal issues facing the
profession also. I believe diversity takes many
forms and needs to include all PA’s, even
those that do not fit the demographic mold. If
re-elected I will continue to work for you the
membership in whatever ways are needed. I have
always believed the quote, “ we can accomplish
much if you don’t care who gets the credit”.
Terms of office: June 1, 2010–
May 31, 2012
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Our new folks will join
the current incumbents:
Secretary: Jessica
Forti, Togus, Maine
Treasurer: Joseph
Streff, Milwaukee, WI
Directors-at-Large:
- Randy Ford, Wichita, Kansas
- Benin Lee, Chillicothe, Ohio
- Karen Reedy, Perry Point, Maryland
Terms: June 1, 2009– May 31,
2011
Ballots
will be mailed to VAPAA members
during the week of May 10, 2010.
They must be returned to the
Executive Director by COB May 21, 2010.
Election results will be announced on Wednesday
May 26, 2010
Now is the time to begin thinking about running
for office in 2011. As you can see there are two
officers and three Directors whose terms are expiring
one year from now. We want and need new thoughts
and ideas so this is YOUR opportunity to “throw
your hat into the ring” and seek an office.
Of course, you do not have to seek an office to
contribute and be part of YOUR association. There
are several standing committees to which you can
contribute as well as additional committees that
are initiated when there is need.
PLEASE BECOME PART OF YOUR VAPAA…How?
Attend the annual conference, July 13– 16,
2010 in Asheville, NC (go to the VAPAA web site)
OR Contact one of the six Directors or four officers
for info on how you can support your organization
on a committee.
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