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.