ASEPA Board Members

The following members presently comprise the Board of Directors for the American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants. By clicking on their email address, you can email them directly. Board members are endocrine-practicing PAs and serve two year terms.

Current President

Ji Hyun Chun (CJ), MPAS, PA-C, BC-ADM

Email - ASEPAemail@gmail.com

Current Position - OptumCare Medical Group, Orange County, CA.

Education

A.T.Still University / Arizona School of Health Sciences, Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Arizona State University, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology

Academic Appointments

Faculty member, A.T.Still University / Arizona School of Health Sciences, Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Faculty member, Metabolic and Endocrine Disease Summit
Editorial Board of Clinician Reviews
Peer reviewer for Journal of AAPA
Test Committee Member for Physician Assistant National Certifying and Recertification Exam (PANCE/PANRE) at National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Chair of Educational Advisory Board for Diabetes Leadership Edge
Educational Advisory board for Obesity Leadership Edge
Active lecturer at state and national conferences for various endocrine topics
Multiple publications and editorial work on various endocrine topics

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Allied Health Professional Member
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants
American Association of Diabetes Educators: Board-Certified Advanced Diabetes Management
American Academy of Physician Assistants

Immediate Past President

Sondra O'Callaghan, PA-C MPH, CHES

Email - sondra.o’callaghan@va.gov

Current Position - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Orlando VA Medical Center, Endocrinology Service
Clinical Instructor, UCF/Orlando VA/HCA Consortium
Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship Program

Education

Certified Health Education Specialist - 2006
University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL MPH - 2006
Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN Bachelor of Science, Physician Assistant - 1999
Combat Medical Specialist Training, Fort Sam Houston, TX Combat Medic, EMT - 1994
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL Bachelor of Science, Biology - 1992

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Physician Assistants 1997 - Present
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 2014- present
American Diabetes Association 2004 - 2011
Florida Public Health Association 2005 - Present
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants 2010 - Present
AAPA Veterans Caucus 2013-present
ASEPA President 2013- 2017
ASEPA Secretary 2011-2012

Clinical Trials

Completed the "Human Participants Protection Education for Research Teams" course sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on October 14, 2003
Co-investigator, Aventis Pharmaceuticals' "Glycemic Optimization Trial" (GOT), 2003-2004
Subinvestigator for Bristol-Myers Squibb Protocol CV168062, Muraglitazar
Subinvestigator for Novo Nordisk Norditropin Registry
Co-investigator for Baptist Medical Center Neurologic Outcomes Trial, current

Mission/Humanitarian Experience

Dominica, West Indies (Diabetes lay and professional education; community awareness/screening) 2003, 2004, 2005
China (Diabetes Education Delegation to China) 2010
Guatemala (Care for indigenous children at malnutrition center) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
Nicaragua (Care for homeless elderly/community outreach/soup kitchen) 2014

Treasurer

Kristen A. Scheckel, PA-C

Email - kascheckel@gmail.com

Current Position - Creekside Endocrine Associates in Denver Colorado.

Education

Midwestern University, Glendale Arizona Campus, Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies, 2010
The University of Arizona, Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences, 2008

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Physician Assistants
Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Allied Health Professional Member
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants

Publications

Scheckel KA, Degner SC, Romagnolo DF. Rosmarinic acid antagonizes activator protein-1-dependent activation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human cancer and nonmalignant cell lines. Journal of Nutrition. 2008 Nov;138(11):2098-105

Secretary

Ashlyn Smith, MMS PA-C

Email - ashlyns9@endoassocaz.net

Current Position - Endocrinology Associates in Scottsdale, AZ.

Education

Midwestern University Glendale Campus: Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies - 2011
University of Arizona: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences - 2008
Medical Spanish Certification 2012

Professional Affiliations

American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants
American Association of Diabetes Educators
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants

Professional Education Development

Northern Arizona Nurse Practitioner Group Focus on Pediatrics Conference - June 7, 2014: "Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Pediatric Population: Constructing a Healthier Future"
26th Annual Southwestern Regional Nurse Practitioner Symposium - July 26, 2014: "Changing the Tide: Tools to Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus"
Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants Fall CME Conference - September 15, 2014: "Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Simplifying Therapeutic Options"
Author for high-stakes testing review questions for A. T. Still University Department of Physician Assistant Studies Spring 2015

Publications

CME Article: "Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes: Growing Threat to US Health." Clinician Reviews March 2015
Contributor: Simon and Carlson, Lange Q&A Physician Assistant Examination, Seventh Edition. Endocrinology section (planned for 2016)

HOD 2015-2017

Ben Prohaska, PA-C, MPAS, BC-ADM

Email - bprohaska@hotmail.com

Current Position - Renown Health Department of Endocrinology in Reno, Nevada.

Education

Pacific University, Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, 2005
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology, 1999

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Diabetes Educators: Board Certified – Advanced Diabetes Management
American Academy of Physician Assistants
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants
Nevada Academy of Physician Assistants
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Allied Health Professional Member
American Diabetes Association

Professional Appointments/Volunteer

Past President - Nevada Academy of PAs, 2017
Board Member – Nevada Diabetes Association
Admissions Committee Member – University of Nevada School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Committee Member – Diabetes Prevention and Control Program – Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
Committee Member – American Diabetes Association Health Care Professional Legal Advocacy Network.
Clinical Preceptor for various PA programs
Volunteer medical provider at multiple Diabetes Kids Camps

Student Representative

Sean Flynn, PA-S

Email - sflynn1@mghihp.edu

Education

MGH Institute of Health Professions, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Class of 2018
University of San Francisco, Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2014

Clinical Experience

Junior Clinician, Crimson Care Collaborative, Boston, MA, 2016-Present
Ophthalmic Technician, Pacific Eye Associates, San Francisco, CA, 2014-2016
EMT-B, Event Medical Services, San Francisco, CA, 2014-2016

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA): Student Member
California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA): Student Member
PAs for Tomorrow (PAFT): Student Member
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants (ASEPA): Student Member

Vanessa Rivas, PA-S

Email - vanessari@pcom.edu

Education

DeSales University, Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2016
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Class of 2018

Clinical Experience

Physician Assistant Observation Program, Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 2014-2015
Recreation Assistant, The Cranbury Center, Monroe, NJ, 2013-2016

Volunteer Experience

Make a Wish Foundation
The Cranbury Center

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA): Student Member
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants (ASEPA): Student Member

Paige Ielati, PA-S

Email - piela001@fiu.edu

Education

Florida International University, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Class of 2018
California State University, Fullerton, Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology with a minor in Chemistry, 2015
Butte Community College, Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Studies and Diversity Studies, 2012

Clinical Experience

Medical Assistant, Brain and Elective Spine Treatment, Fountain Valley, CA 2015-2016
Medical Assistant, Neurology Center of North Orange County, Fullerton, CA 2013-2015
Emergency Medical Technician, Orange County, CA

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA): Student Member
Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA): Student Member
American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants (ASEPA): Student Member
Florida International University Physician Assistant Student Organization (PASO): External Affairs Representative