MPA23 Election Candidates
Bios and Speeches
Executive Board
President
Justin Johnson:
My name is Justin Johnson. I traveled to EVMS from Portland, Oregon. My medical background is as an EMT and volunteer firefighter. I believe my experience in EMS has taught me how to maintain a level head and how to collaborate on interprofessional teams. Throughout my academic and professional career, I gravitate toward leadership roles, exemplified by the fact that I have already hosted several virtual study and social get-togethers for my cohort. As the SGA President, I will be fully dedicated to supporting the MPA classes at EVMS. I will do my best to cultivate a culture of fun, respect, and camaraderie.
Vice President
Taylor Gload:
My name is Taylor Gload, and I am running for Vice President of the EVMS MPA Class of 2023. I am a 29-year-old native of Baltimore, MD and earned my BS in Neuroscience and Psychology at Ursinus College. While completing my degree, I wrestled at the Division III level as a captain in the Centennial Conference before coaching youth sports and caring for special needs children in summer programs.
After college I moved away, working across the country in various outdoor guiding programs. From the deserts of southwest Utah to the glacial fields of Alaska, I applied wilderness medicine and outdoor leadership to those in my care, gaining valuable experience as a team leader while traversing two exhilarating seasons on the icy Mendenhall and treacherous Chattooga River.
As a lead wilderness therapy guide, I was charged with the care of up to twelve troubled youth at a time in the Mojave Desert. Teenagers with addiction problems, reactive attachment disorders, and sexual offenses learned and grew under my guidance, growing and understanding their paths in life. I continued this difficult work at a Baltimore psychiatric hospital and expanded my medical knowledge as an EMT in the impoverished clinics of New Delhi, India.
My unique background in therapeutics and wilderness medicine adds considerable diversity to our MPA program at EVMS. With my previous work as Vice President of the Towson University Pre-PA Club, I will excel in this position.
I look forward to addressing the class on February 26.
Secretary
Na’Zae Clark:
Hello, My name is Na’Zae Clark and I am from Detroit, Michigan. A few fun facts about me is that I love makeup artistry, I'm the oldest of four sisters, my birthday is on saint patrick's day, and I went to highschool inside of the Henry Ford Museum. I graduated from Wayne State
University in 2019 with my Bachelors of Science in Psychology. Throughout my undergraduate
career, I worked as a medical assistant at a local podiatry office. Within my Gap year of applying
to PA school and getting accepted, I worked in the Henry Ford Wyandotte Emergency
Department as a patient registration representative. Some of my greatest achievements to date
aside from getting into PA school include traveling to Haiti in 2012 to help build the foundation
of school, going to Honduras in 2017 for a medical brigade, and being selected by my university
to attend the National Student Leadership and Diversity Convention in 2019. I am passionate
about advocacy for women, marginalized groups, and those with seen or unseen disabilities. As a Physician Assistant, I plan to break down barriers within the patient-provider dynamic by
reducing judgment and increasing patient comfortability.
I am running for the secretary position for EVMS MPA Class of 2023. I feel that I am
qualified to take on this position due to my previous background in leadership positions and
experience gained from employment. These positions include class President for class of 2015
and Vice President and Secretary of the African American Psychology Organization (AAPSO)
from 2018-2019. I was able to succeed in these positions because of my overt organizational
abilities and skills. While working at the podiatry office is where I gained a majority of my
secretarial skills. Throughout my time there I was responsible for scheduling appointments,
charting, filing, and communications between the physician and patients. I did exceptionally well in this area so I was appointed to take on the role as the diabetic shoe program coordinator. In this position, I came up with a process to better organize the shoe orders based on what phase they were in. As the secretary of AAPSO, I was responsible for managing the email list, completing the meeting minutes, coordinating many events/ fundraisers, and communicating with other collegiate organizations for potential collaborations. I believe that my previous experiences and duties directly correlate with the duties of organizing/constructing meeting agendas, email responsibilities, and being a liaison between the various chairs and groups while on the MPA executive board. Even Though I am not running for president or vice president, I am certain that my past experience in those areas will directly benefit those selected candidates by being able to step up when needed to assist them with their duties. This dynamic will further solidify our team efficacy and work ethic.
Kaitlin Lohrmann:
My name is Kaitlin Lohrmann, and I am interested in running for the position of Secretary regarding the EVMS SAAAPA Executive Leadership for the PA Class of 2023. For the past few years, I have served as the Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Burke Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in Burke, Virginia. My responsibilities at the fire department involve documenting and uploading minutes from the department’s meetings, distributing information and updates to the membership, organizing annual elections, and working with the Board to make executive decisions for the department at large. I’ve also helped coordinate outreach events for the Burke community and the fire department’s general membership, such as Fire Prevention Week and holiday fundraisers (pre-pandemic, of course). I hope to bring the insight and experience I’ve gained from Burke to EVMS and use it to both aid and serve my class and the extended community.
Treasurer
Carly Westbrook:
Hello, my name is Carly Westbrook, and I am interested in running for Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Chair - Class of 2023. My previous experience includes the positions of Vice President of Finance for Sigma Kappa Sorority as well as the Treasurer for Longwood Athletic Trainers’ Association. Responsibilities included maintaining a balanced budget, allocating funds, collecting dues, issuing payments, fundraising, and residing in executive meetings. I am confident I have the experience it takes to be successful in this position as class Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Chair.
Class Representatives
Honor Council Representatives
Kylie Pepper:
My name is Kylie Pepper and I’m running for Honor Council and Membership committee. I’m local- born & raised in Virginia Beach! When I was in high school at Bayside Health Science Academy, I used to attend programs at EVMS where we got to shadow medical/PA students and experience the EVMS culture, so EVMS has been my dream school for as long as I can remember. I’m so happy to be a part of this program! I went to James Madison University where I majored in Health Sciences and also worked as an EMT/preceptor on Harrisonburg Rescue Squad and as a Teacher's Assistant for Anatomy. These positions demonstrate my passion for teaching, collaborating, and teamwork so I am excited for the opportunity to serve on a committee at EVMS where I can help my fellow peers, incoming students, as well as the EVMS community. I worked for the past 2.5 years in the Emergency Department as an ED Tech & Preceptor so I have learned to work through chaos, to lead others by example, & find effective solutions for difficult problems. I believe I will be able to use these skills to function as an upbeat, charismatic, and logical member of any group or team I interact with. I love the idea of working in collaboration with other students and faculty to help create a safe and inclusive space for us to learn and grow together. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with everyone in the future & continue to support our class, program, and community in any way I can!
Lindsey Maiorana
Hello all, my name is Lindsey Maiorana and I am interested in the positions of Student Mentorship Committee as well as the Honor Council. I went to Tidewater Community College and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Radiography. I started working as an x-ray tech and attended Old Dominion University receiving a degree in Biology this past year. I am also a very recent recipient of the Navy HSCP scholarship, so I will be serving in the Navy as a PA for several years after we graduate. I am really looking forward to being a representative of the Class of 2023 in both of these positions. First, I am interested in the mentorship role because during my two years at TCC I was a Student Ambassador. My roles during this time included tours of the campus for current and prospective students, giving directions to students looking for different classrooms and campus location during the first week of classes, and answering application and registration questions. I believe that my experience as a Student Ambassador, my desire to provide a welcoming environment for new and prospective students, and my ability to be a great resource (both as a PA student and HSCP recipient) will serve me well in the roles of the Student Mentorship Committee. Secondly, I am interested in the role of Honor Council because it would be a privilege to represent the class in upholding the Honor Code and taking on the leadership role that comes with this. I look forward to serving as a point of contact should any concerns arise.
Madison Glynn:
Academic integrity has been something I have been passionate about since high school. The motto of my high school was "Honor Above All". All students were held to high academic honesty standards and that is something that has since been instilled in my everyday actions. Academic integrity and professionalism are even more important now with us being at a medical training institute. We are being educated to help people and one day patients will be putting trust in us to provide them the best care possible. I believe I will be a good representative choice that will listen to each case with an unbiased mind and form well throughout decisions that align with the academic and professional standards EVMS expects the students to follow.
Margaret Williams:
Hi everyone! My name is Margaret Williams and I am interested in representing our class on the Honor Council. I completed my undergrad at William & Mary, which fun fact has the oldest student run honor council in the country! My time at W&M really ingrained in me how important honor and integrity are to facilitating a community of trust. It would be my privilege to represent our class. Thank you for the consideration!
Chris Ward:
My name is Christopher Ward I’m 35 years old with a wonderful wife and two daughters (3/8mos) I’ve lived in the Hampton Roads area for about 9-10 years. Originally from Rhode Island, I went to military college in Vermont at Norwich University for criminal justice. Following school and some odd jobs, I joined the Navy and have been both a corpsman and a diver for the previous 6+ years.
I’m looking to be a representative for the Honors Council and Student Mentorship Representative. Having been an enlisted servicemember in the Navy for the past 10 years I’ve had many opportunities to take part in being both a mentor and mentee through training, education, and other areas of development which I think would transfer to our PA program well. Moreover, the past decade I’ve spent dedicated to upholding my oath of enlistment in addition to the Hospital Corpsman creed which relies heavily on the same ethical and moral principles that both EVMS and the medical profession as a whole are upheld to. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to the next class and participate in continuing to cement EVMS’s legacy as a prominent PA school.
Mentorship Committee Representatives
Kylie Pepper:
My name is Kylie Pepper and I’m running for Honor Council and Membership committee. I’m local- born & raised in Virginia Beach! When I was in high school at Bayside Health Science Academy I used to attend programs at EVMS where we got to shadow medical/PA students and experience the EVMS culture, so EVMS has been my dream school for as long as I can remember. I’m so happy to be a part of this program! I went to James Madison University where I majored in Health Sciences and also worked as an EMT/preceptor on Harrisonburg Rescue Squad and as a Teacher's Assistant for Anatomy. These positions demonstrate my passion for teaching, collaborating, and teamwork so I am excited for the opportunity to serve on a committee at EVMS where I can help my fellow peers, incoming students, as well as the EVMS community. I worked for the past 2.5 years in the Emergency Department as an ED Tech & Preceptor so I have learned to work through chaos, to lead others by example, & find effective solutions for difficult problems. I believe I will be able to use these skills to function as an upbeat, charismatic, and logical member of any group or team I interact with. I love the idea of working in collaboration with other students and faculty to help create a safe and inclusive space for us to learn and grow together. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with everyone in the future & continue to support our class, program, and community in any way I can!
Lindsey Maiorana
Hello all, my name is Lindsey Maiorana and I am interested in the positions of Student Mentorship Committee as well as the Honor Council. I went to Tidewater Community College and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Radiography. I started working as an x-ray tech and attended Old Dominion University receiving a degree in Biology this past year. I am also a very recent recipient of the Navy HSCP scholarship, so I will be serving in the Navy as a PA for several years after we graduate. I am really looking forward to being a representative of the Class of 2023 in both of these positions. First, I am interested in the mentorship role because during my two years at TCC I was a Student Ambassador. My roles during this time included tours of the campus for current and prospective students, giving directions to students looking for different classrooms and campus location during the first week of classes, and answering application and registration questions. I believe that my experience as a Student Ambassador, my desire to provide a welcoming environment for new and prospective students, and my ability to be a great resource (both as a PA student and HSCP recipient) will serve me well in the roles of the Student Mentorship Committee. Secondly, I am interested in the role of Honor Council because it would be a privilege to represent the class in upholding the Honor Code and taking on the leadership role that comes with this. I look forward to serving as a point of contact should any concerns arise
Madison Glynn:
During my undergraduate career, I was a part of the New Membership Committee of my sorority. While on that committee, we were responsible for planning different events for new members to get to know the rest of the chapter as well as their class. I believe that I would be able to bring fun ideas to the committee on ways we can help the new PA students in January 2022 feel welcomed and excited to be at EVMS. Since I am one of the younger members of our current PA class, I think I would be able to help new students who are transitioning from being a recent undergraduate student as well as bring a youthful energy!
Danielle Nguyen:
Hello fellow classmates, my name is Danielle Nguyen, and I am interested in the Student Mentorship committee as it would be a valuable way for me to help the incoming class. Coming from out of state, I had many questions about the whole process of moving and transitioning here. Luckily, I had mentors that helped me along the way. A little about me, I grew up in southern California and graduated from UCLA in 2014 with a major in biology. During my undergrad, I was involved in mentoring a group of students in my high school district where I provided guidance and mentorship to new students throughout the years. After college, I worked a couple of years in various roles that included EMT, dermatology medical assistant, and family medicine medical assistant. My past experiences and my desire to work collaboratively alongside with classmates to help guide the incoming class will help me serve in duties of the Student Mentorship Committee.
Margaret Williams:
Hi everyone! My name is Margaret Williams and I am interested in running for the mentorship committee. I am passionate about this profession, our school, and the area, and I would love to be able to share my passion with prospective students and future classes. Previously, I have served as a mentor in undergrad for prospective students looking at W&M for swimming and continued with my mentorship if they progressed onto the team. Please always feel free to reach out to me and thank you for considering me for this position!
Lauren Ritz:
I am interested in a position on the Mentorship Committee. At this point, I am an admin of our private Facebook group with one other person. Prior to our matriculation, I facilitated many activities, both in person and virtually. I am also active in the PA forums assisting prospective students with any questions and concerns. I am very thankful for our mentors and how helpful and welcoming they have been as we have begun our journey as EVMS PA students. I would love to be able to partake in welcoming prospective students, helping to form the mentor/mentee groups, and share my excitement and love for this program with the incoming class.
Christian Marsh:
Christian Marsh is a native from Truro, England, but moved to San Diego, California after the age of eleven. He retired in November 2019 after completing twenty years of Naval service. During that time Christian has held many leadership roles and has had the opportunity to represent the United States Navy at various medical conferences and regional meetings.
In his recent position, Mr. Marsh was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Health Clinic. He exemplified selfless service, empowerment of his Sailors, integrity, and tireless dedication. He was well respected by his subordinates, peers, and superiors alike, both within and outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard to include the entire command of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and its Branch Health Clinics.
In addition to his success as a learner, a leader, and a professional, Mr. Marsh holds a Bachelor of Health Science degree from Kaplan University and has received Navy Commendations and other personal awards, to include Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He continues to volunteer his services when needed and is a familiar face at Cedar Road Elementary school serving as part of the Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) team.
Mr. Marsh is married to his wife Amy and they have two children, two cats, and a green-cheeked conure.
Shannon Lopez:
Teaching and mentoring others has been a passion of mine all of my life. In my undergraduate years at Old Dominion University (ODU), I served on the Student Ambassadors committee. This role included but was not limited to: giving campus tours to incoming or potential students, mentoring incoming students on academics and student life (clubs, groups, etc.), and assisting with on campus events. After ODU, I was a teacher for 2 years and academic tutor for 3 years. I enjoy teaching others and sharing my knowledge. The mentorship committee would be the perfect fit for me because it allows me to continue educating others! I knew from the day that I applied to EVMS that I would be a mentor there. I have had and currently have many great mentors that have helped me along this journey of before and currently during PA school and that I am so thankful for. My passion runs so deep that I currently tell all pre-PA or undecided students about how EVMS, the EVMS PA program and the PA profession are all wonderful! I wish to continue to give back and do the same for many years to come.
Alexandra Kivari:
Hi everyone! For those of you who I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting in person - my name is Lexi Kivari and I'd like to be considered for a Membership Committee position. Throughout my years at Syracuse University, I was involved in several extracurricular groups including the SU Ski Racing Team, Red Cross Club, SU Ambulance, and TriDelta Fraternity. The most significant role I held was the 3D Body Image Coordinator on our Chapter Leadership Board, which consisted of organizing events for our chapter, as well as campus-wide events, to instill a healthy body image in the areas of mind, body and spirit. I would love the opportunity to mentor and be a helping hand to new MPA students here at EVMS. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to meeting everyone in person soon.
Katryce Sykes:
Hello Class of 2023! My name is Katryce Sykes I am native to Newport News VA, a retired Athlete, retired ballet dancer for the Virginia ballet, mother of 4 awesome sons, SciFi/Suspense/Horror movie enthusiast, and foodie through and through. It is such a pleasure being a part of such a diverse yet inclusive feeling cohort this year. I am running for a position as a member of the mentorship committee. When I think of a mentor and many of my mentors I have had in academia and in personal endeavors, the first attributes that come to mind are: leaders who have been cultivated by experiences, and molded by failures that have led them to their personalized successes. For us the road to PA school may have come through different walks of life, but the one thing we all hold in commonality with one another is that getting here was no easy feat. Each of us faced trials and tribulations to stand proudly where we are today. On our journeys we each were assisted and navigated by mentors with a vested interest in our success, and if you didn’t have a mentor don’t you wish you could have had someone to lean on for guidance in decisions or advise tackling on this life changing decision coming to EVMS? We each could’ve gone anywhere in the world, but we chose here, and more importantly THEY CHOSE US! This goes not to say that we are by any means better than anyone else, but it does make us apart of a very elite category of individuals. Its probably the largest setting in which I’ve been amongst individuals whose passion with healthcare is mutually embraced. Embarking on this journey I was met by some of the most positive outreach from every mentor I was matched with. They not only gave me guidance in how to approach such a dense an accelerated program, but they also became my extended support system. In times where I was unsure of whether I belonged here as a mother and felt somewhat isolated in the virtual setting they helped me feel connected amongst my peers. The initial shock of this program wasn’t nearly as bad when a text message from your mentor with a friendly reminder that “you got this” crosses the screen before your first exam day. Late night tips for balancing life with school or matching test anxiety with preparation, all of these skills they have helped me perfect in this first month. I am nowhere near an expert yet, but I feel like I am more prepared to grow and learn without distractions of worrying about little things in retrospect to the bigger picture. And that is becoming a well-rounded PA who may not have Aced every test, but by 2023 has been shaped into a provider who is prepared to change the world of healthcare one patient interaction at a time. At 33 years old I have finally come to grips with the fact that perfection is not realistic and that failures are ok as long as you don’t let them define you or live amongst that emotion in the act of failing. This I have learned from my mentors here at EVMS. I know how important my mentors have been to me thus far and I want to give that same opportunity to the incoming class of 2024. I have experience in mentorship within my church home. It has been a very inspiring experience being a part of mentoring both young and old on their walk-in faith to deciding to dedicate their lives to a greater purpose or what I like to say “being great for god”. To be great for god such that other people can see and experience God through you and their interactions with you where they are changed too, that’s what life is about. To watch their transformations and know I played a part in that is something special. I also held experience as the president of Delta Sigma Theta Mentorship for three years. The focus of our group was mentoring young women in high school in areas of professional and social etiquette, college preparatory work, campus tours and application processes, vocational development, and encouragement of self-love and respect through outreach at the local battered women’s shelter in Newport News. Many of our mentee members went on to do amazing things in college and our community. One of which became the youngest African American female delegate for the state of Virginia in 2016 and helped bring into legislation “Breonna’s Law” prohibiting no knock warrants for our state after the tragic death of Breonna Taylor. I am proud of her and many others who have been a part of Delta Mentorship. My experience as a mentor in these areas has made me who I am today. I hope that with your support we can continue to encourage the incoming of another unique cohort of students that will need our support and guidance as they strive to live out their dreams as PA’s. Thank you for your time and consideration as one of the six future members of the mentorship committee representing the 2023 class!
Kaitlin Lohrmann:
My name is Kaitlin Lohrmann, and I am interested in a position on the Mentorship Committee for the EVMS PA Class of 2023. I’ve always held an interest in mentoring and teaching, which has guided most of my community service throughout the past several years. While I was at UVA for my undergraduate degree, I volunteered to tutor children in elementary schools as well as coach youth league soccer. In my fourth year, I served as a Peer TA for undergraduate students in introductory-level biology classes. It has always been an honor to help others navigate a new challenge or environment, whether that challenge or environment is a new set of classes or a soccer ball. Likewise, it would be an honor to help prospective and current students learn about EVMS and its community, and I believe serving on the Mentorship Committee would be a wonderful opportunity to give back in regards to the support and guidance upper classmen have already showed myself and my fellow classmates.
Kirby Talman:
My name is Kirby Talman. I am a graduate of Longwood University and The University of Tennessee. I worked as an athletic trainer for Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters at Landstown High School. I truly enjoyed working with high school athletes. They kept me busy and highly entertained! I was born and raised in Virginia Beach. After college, I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, to continue my education and begin my athletic training career. Knoxville was a great place to live with the Great Smokey Mountains, Dollywood, and Tennessee football! I do miss going to college football game days! Go Vols! I am interested in being a PA Student Mentorship Representative. While in college, I was the Formal Recruitment Chair for my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. While in that leadership role, I planned our spring recruitment, organized and presented workshops for our chapter, and worked closely with the Recruitment Vice President. This previous experience has prepared me to be a Student Mentor Representative. I was previously interviewed at EVMS before being accepted this year. The Class of 2022 has done the best job representing EVMS and I would like to continue that tradition for the next incoming class. I know it was changed because of COVID, but I truly thought the pre-interview Zoom mixer was more beneficial than a post-interview one. I would like to continue that and other opportunities for future EVMS PA Students.
Chris Ward:
My name is Christopher Ward I’m 35 years old with a wonderful wife and two daughters (3/8mos) I’ve lived in the Hampton Roads area for about 9-10 years. Originally from Rhode Island, I went to military college in Vermont at Norwich University for criminal justice. Following school and some odd jobs, I joined the Navy and have been both a corpsman and a diver for the previous 6+ years.I’m looking to be a representative for the Honors Council and Student Mentorship Representative. Having been an enlisted servicemember in the Navy for the past 10 years I’ve had many opportunities to take part in being both a mentor and mentee through training, education, and other areas of development which I think would transfer to our PA program well. Moreover, the past decade I’ve spent dedicated to upholding my oath of enlistment in addition to the Hospital Corpsman creed which relies heavily on the same ethical and moral principles that both EVMS and the medical profession as a whole are upheld to. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to the next class and participate in continuing to cement EVMS’s legacy as a prominent PA school.
Daniella Pizarro:
My name is Daniella Pizarro. I am interested in being a part of the PA Student Mentorship Representatives. I am a Hampton Roads native, so I am very familiar with the area to help the incoming class. During my undergraduate career at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, I was an orientation leader during the summers. Due to this experience, I am very familiar with welcome week activities and strategies. I led a group of 30+ students three times a week to give them tours of the campus, help them enroll in classes, give them tips/tricks of college, and facilitate them as they went to different interest meetings. I also learned many icebreakers to allow the class to become more of a family and warm up. I "adopted" some of my orientation students as mentees, and helped them in their STEM classes with advice and a safe space as my group usually consisted of pre-health students. I believe this experience that I absolutely loved doing would help me be successful as a Mentorship Representative.
Kayla Payne:
Hello everyone, my name is Kayla Payne and I am interested in becoming a PA Student Mentorship Representative for the Class of 2023. My qualifying undergraduate experiences include founding and presiding as President of the Health Professions Club, and tutor for Mathematics and Science courses. Professionally, I have functioned as a mentor and preceptor to EMTs and medics, and served as Lead with Dispatch Health in Richmond, VA. I have always been eager to help and encourage the success of others. I believe my past experiences have set me up to be a successful mentor for my peers and especially the Class of 2024.
Onaysha Lambert:
My name is Onaysha Lambert and a proud member of the MPA class of 2023 cohort! It is with excitement that I express interest in positions for PA Student Mentorship Representative and Social Chair. I am 25 years old and have been very fortunate to call the Hampton Roads my home for the past 13 years. I was raised in Virginia Beach and I am the eldest daughter of 5 children—a position and role I hold very near and dear to my heart. I attended college at Norfolk State University where I matriculated through the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) program that offered a full-ride tuition-based scholarship to alleviate the shortage of African American professionals in STEM. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry in 2017. My health care experience includes being a medical scribe and certified medical assistant. I worked under a Mohs dermatologic surgeon from May 2017 to August 2018 as a scribe and an interventional cardiologist at the Sentara Heart Hospital from August 2018 to December 2020 as a MA. I am beyond thankful for the opportunities that have been extended to me prior to my matriculation at EVMS. I believe that they granted me the tools to be an asset to any academic institution, health care team, and/or professional school/workplace setting.
Mentoring and building relationships have always been vital to my success as a student and young woman. During my tenure at Norfolk State University, I spent two summers as a student mentor through the STARS Summer Bridge program—a program that focused on acclimating high-school students to their collegiate environment prior to beginning of the semester. The program lasted for 4 weeks and served as the students’ initial exposure to how life in college would be. My duties included tutoring in subjects such as Algebra, Physics, and Chemistry, chaperoning for field trip events, working in collaboration with professors, and being emotional support for the students. I also served as a 1-on-1 mentor to lowerclassmen in the DNIMAS program for 3 years; and to this day, I am still in connection with my mentees. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., I am privy of the importance of forming supportive relationships and bonding with those of similar interest and mindset. In my sorority, my role was to form sisterly-relations activities and outings—something I enjoy doing because I love people! Both of these experiences have taught me the importance of leadership, community, and healthy bonds.
As a PA Student Mentor, I plan to use my vibrant personality and authenticity to engage future students to ask questions, seek help when needed, and to always believe in themselves. As social chair, I will be committed to formulating creative ways for PA students to safely interact with one another and to form bonds with those who may be similar and/or different! I am more than positive that I can handle these positions with poise and great dignity.
Community Service Representatives
McKenzie Atkinson:
Hello! My name is McKenzie Atkinson, but I usually go by "Mac". I am 22 years old and from Richmond, Virginia. My passion for community service started at a young age. Growing up, my mom and I would spend our Saturdays volunteering at the ASPCA, The Freedom House (a homeless shelter in Richmond), and Habitat for Humanity. Throughout my undergraduate education at Virginia Tech, I volunteered with the local chapter of College Mentors for Kids, and served as the community coordinator to help organize service projects for the students to be involved in. I also served as community outreach chair for my sorority, helping to organize multiple supply drives and fundraising events benefiting the Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley. As community service representative for the MPA Class of 2023, my goal is to provide the class with at-least one community service opportunity per month, if not more. I also plan to coordinate large group service projects and events, if possible.
Kristin Anglin:
My name is Kristin Anglin and I am in the EVMS MPA class of 2023. I am a long-time advocate for the needs and welfare of the community. Starting out at an early age, I held the position of president of Operation Smile in high school. In college I was a part of the dance team and part of our role aside from performing was participating in a number of community service events all over Hampton Roads. Since that time, I have donated many hours volunteering for many different organizations include the H.E.R. Shelter, Portsmouth Humane Society, Food Bank of Hampton Roads, Union Mission, as well as being involved in community service with my church. I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve as one of the community service representatives and to represent the EVMS MPA class of 2023.
Phoenix Committee Representatives
Danielle Young:
Hello all! I'm Danielle Young and a member of the cohort class of 2023! I'm 27 and a native to the Hampton Roads area. I have 2 daughters (age 5 &2), 2 dogs (a German Shepard and a Husky) and an amazing husband that helps hold it all together! I put in to join the Phoenix Committee because I am a HUGE believer that mental health is an aspect of our overall health! I found myself in therapy just a few years ago! My youngest daughter was born with many medical complications and spent the first 6.5 months of her life in the NICU here at CHKD. Add that with having a (at the time) 3 year old at home, working full time, and a marriage to keep up with, I was overwhelmed! Therapy was something that really helped me realize how much I needed to prioritize my mental health. I hope to be able to assist with anyone else who feels the stress and pressure brought on by PA school!"
Chris Thorn:
I’m a 33-year-old former critical care paramedic from Davidsonville, Maryland (pretty close to DC). I grew up with a disabled and medically complicated father which initially made me shy away from healthcare. So, I started out falling face-first into adulthood by getting a BA in Liberal Arts (that degree was not recession-proof) from St. John’s College in Annapolis. I interned as a vet tech at the National Aviary for a summer, worked at the SPCA, did landscaping for a while; basically, I wandered around a few years like a zombie looking for a brain doing whatever I could to make rent. Until: “I’ll take an EMT class.” Then I was hooked. I decided on PA shortly after I got my paramedic and spent five more years (five!) in community college taking prereqs and digging my GPA out of the mud while I settled into my medic-ness. Personally, I’m a bit of a computer nerd that likes to hike and play drums. My wife and I rescue birds and we’re thinking of rescuing a dog sometime soon. If Covid weren’t happening, we’d be traveling whenever we could and inviting classmates over to our apartment for food and drink as I also love cooking. Just be warned that the invite comes with a dad-joke disclaimer: my brain churns them out constantly. More than anything though, I’d like to be able to give something back to EVMS and my classmates while we’re here!
Thanks for considering me,
- Chris
Social Chair
Lauren Ritz:
Hello, my name is Lauren Ritz and I am interested in the Social Chair position as well as the Social Media / Technology Representative. I was born in West Virginia and raised in Winchester, VA. I am an alumnus of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Prior to attending EVMS MPA, I practiced as a school psychologist in the Hampton Roads area for five years. As such, I have great knowledge of the surrounding area, the current limitations due to COVID, and plenty of differing activities for our class to participate in while still remaining safe. I, myself, am a very social person and like to be engaged, as it helps me feel more connected to my studies and “new” life. I believe as the Social chair, I can bring fun activities to our cohort that allow us to “escape” our studies for a bit and ensure our mental and physical health is also being taken care of.
Matt Brubaker:
Hello! My name is Matt, and I would love to be the social chair for our class. I’ve helped to plan numerous events throughout my time in college and in the working world as well. My vision is to get creative and find fun ways for us to grow closer together, even through the challenges of COVID-19. I hope to bring some lively energy and excitement to our future events as a class!
Onaysha Lambert:
My name is Onaysha Lambert and a proud member of the MPA class of 2023 cohort! It is with excitement that I express interest in positions for PA Student Mentorship Representative and Social Chair. I am 25 years old and have been very fortunate to call the Hampton Roads my home for the past 13 years. I was raised in Virginia Beach and I am the eldest daughter of 5 children—a position and role I hold very near and dear to my heart. I attended college at Norfolk State University where I matriculated through the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS) program that offered a full-ride tuition-based scholarship to alleviate the shortage of African American professionals in STEM. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry in 2017. My health care experience includes being a medical scribe and certified medical assistant. I worked under a Mohs dermatologic surgeon from May 2017 to August 2018 as a scribe and an interventional cardiologist at the Sentara Heart Hospital from August 2018 to December 2020 as a MA. I am beyond thankful for the opportunities that have been extended to me prior to my matriculation at EVMS. I believe that they granted me the tools to be an asset to any academic institution, health care team, and/or professional school/workplace setting.
Mentoring and building relationships have always been vital to my success as a student and young woman. During my tenure at Norfolk State University, I spent two summers as a student mentor through the STARS Summer Bridge program—a program that focused on acclimating high-school students to their collegiate environment prior to beginning of the semester. The program lasted for 4 weeks and served as the students’ initial exposure to how life in college would be. My duties included tutoring in subjects such as Algebra, Physics, and Chemistry, chaperoning for field trip events, working in collaboration with professors, and being emotional support for the students. I also served as a 1-on-1 mentor to lowerclassmen in the DNIMAS program for 3 years; and to this day, I am still in connection with my mentees. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., I am privy of the importance of forming supportive relationships and bonding with those of similar interest and mindset. In my sorority, my role was to form sisterly-relations activities and outings—something I enjoy doing because I love people! Both of these experiences have taught me the importance of leadership, community, and healthy bonds.
As a PA Student Mentor, I plan to use my vibrant personality and authenticity to engage future students to ask questions, seek help when needed, and to always believe in themselves. As social chair, I will be committed to formulating creative ways for PA students to safely interact with one another and to form bonds with those who may be similar and/or different! I am more than positive that I can handle these positions with poise and great dignity.
Diversity Chair
Michelle Tan:
Throughout my undergraduate career, I was actively involved in several campus organizations that were part of our university's Cross-Cultural Center. I found my new family within the community of students who were part of the Cross-Cultural Center and learned what it truly meant to be part of a diverse community, where we shared our lived experiences, educated each other, and supported each other while promoting the understanding of the intersections of identities and positionality. In order to educate the community, we often organized general meetings to share meaningful dialogue in a safe space, where students and the community members could discuss some of the issues affecting us across all cultures, particularly those of underrepresented or underprivileged backgrounds. We strived to incorporate educational workshops on social, cultural, diversity, and social justice issues to empower students and community members by providing them with the basic tools to become advocates for positive change in their respective communities back at home. I believe that I have a solid foundation of experience to continue expanding on. I hope that with this experience as Diversity Chair, I will be able to help organize and provide resources to others so that we can all add more of these "tools" to our toolkits and work together to be proactive in advocating for positive social change to address inequities faced by all marginalized communities.
Ralph Ababio:
Hello Everyone! My name is Ralph Ababio and I am a student in the MPA Class of 2023. I am running for the Diversity Chair position for the class of 2023. The biggest reason I applied to and wanted to attend EVMS was because of the community of Norfolk, EVMS students, and EVMS faculty’s dedication to ensuring that everyone felt welcome. As a person of African Ancestry, who’s had to move around several times due to my family’s financial hardships, I’ve had the chance to experience different cultures. From living in Kumasi, Ghana to living in Los Angeles, CA to living in Woodbridge, VA, I’ve experienced several different cultures that have shaped my view of the world. It is my belief that this background has instilled in me a strong sense of expanding diversity and helping others of lesser known backgrounds feel comfortable in the program and at EVMS as a whole. As such, I humbly request that I be selected for this position. Thank you.
VAPA Student Representative
Christian Marsh:
Christian Marsh is a native from Truro, England, but moved to San Diego, California after the age of eleven. He retired in November 2019 after completing twenty years of Naval service. During that time Christian has held many leadership roles and has had the opportunity to represent the United States Navy at various medical conferences and regional meetings.
In his recent position, Mr. Marsh was the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Health Clinic. He exemplified selfless service, empowerment of his Sailors, integrity, and tireless dedication. He was well respected by his subordinates, peers, and superiors alike, both within and outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard to include the entire command of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and its Branch Health Clinics.
In addition to his success as a learner, a leader, and a professional, Mr. Marsh holds a Bachelor of Health Science degree from Kaplan University and has received Navy Commendations and other personal awards, to include Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He continues to volunteer his services when needed and is a familiar face at Cedar Road Elementary school serving as part of the Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) team.
Mr. Marsh is married to his wife Amy and they have two children, two cats, and a green-cheeked conure.
Outreach Chair
Ralph Ababio:
Hello Everyone! My name is Ralph Ababio and I am a student in the MPA Class of 2023. I am running for the Community Outreach Representative position for the class of 2023. Thinking back, I selected EVMS due to its focus on the importance of community service because it breeds a healthy level of diversity. Patients come from all walks of life so forging strong community ties is key. I believe my experiences in assisting the various community programs of which I have been a part of - from City of Hope programs and Habitat for Humanity projects in Charlottesville, I have forged an appetite for community service and humbly request that I be selected for this position. Thank you.
Human Values in Medicine Representative
Chris Thorn:
I’m a 33-year-old former critical care paramedic from Davidsonville, Maryland (pretty close to DC). I grew up with a disabled and medically complicated father which initially made me shy away from healthcare. So, I started out falling face-first into adulthood by getting a BA in Liberal Arts (that degree was not recession-proof) from St. John’s College in Annapolis. I interned as a vet tech at the National Aviary for a summer, worked at the SPCA, did landscaping for a while; basically, I wandered around a few years like a zombie looking for a brain doing whatever I could to make rent. Until: “I’ll take an EMT class.” Then I was hooked. I decided on PA shortly after I got my paramedic and spent five more years (five!) in community college taking prereqs and digging my GPA out of the mud while I settled into my medic-ness. Personally, I’m a bit of a computer nerd that likes to hike and play drums. My wife and I rescue birds and we’re thinking of rescuing a dog sometime soon. If Covid weren’t happening, we’d be traveling whenever we could and inviting classmates over to our apartment for food and drink as I also love cooking. Just be warned that the invite comes with a dad-joke disclaimer: my brain churns them out constantly. More than anything though, I’d like to be able to give something back to EVMS and my classmates while we’re here!
Thanks for considering me,
- Chris
Fundraising Chair
Carly Westbrook:
Hello, my name is Carly Westbrook, and I am interested in running for Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Chair - Class of 2023. My previous experience includes the positions of Vice President of Finance for Sigma Kappa Sorority as well as the Treasurer for Longwood Athletic Trainers’ Association. Responsibilities included maintaining a balanced budget, allocating funds, collecting dues, issuing payments, fundraising, and residing in executive meetings. I am confident I have the experience it takes to be successful in this position as class Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Chair.
Social Media / Technology Representative
Lauren Ritz:
Hello, my name is Lauren Ritz and I am interested in the Social Chair position as well as the Social Media / Technology Representative. I was born in West Virginia and raised in Winchester, VA. I am an alumnus of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Prior to attending EVMS MPA, I practiced as a school psychologist in the Hampton Roads area for five years. As such, I have great knowledge of the surrounding area, the current limitations due to COVID, and plenty of differing activities for our class to participate in while still remaining safe. I, myself, am a very social person and like to be engaged, as it helps me feel more connected to my studies and “new” life. I believe as a Social Chair and Social Media / Technology Representative, I can bring fun activities to our cohort that allow us to “escape” our studies for a bit and ensure our mental and physical health is also being taken care of.