2009-2010 Student Board of Directors
From left to right: Crystal Powers, Special Projects Coordinator; Kara Larson, MSPAS, PA-C, Vice President; Aimee Larson, Chief Delegate; Mark Shepherd, President; Kate Callaway, Immediate Past President; Erica Jimenez, Director of Diversity; Betsy Severance, Director of External Affairs Senior; Joy Vonk, Director of Internal Affairs; and Lindsay Watters, Director of External Affairs Junior
Mark Shepherd - PresidentE-mail:
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Mark Shepherd has a passion for helping people and joined with the Henderson County, North Carolina Rescue Squad as soon as he turned 18 years old. He was a Hintermeyer Scholar prior to graduating from Belmont Abbey College with a degree in History. While attending Belmont Abbey, Mark also attended Gaston College for Paramedic training. Being a National Registry Paramedic, he has decided to take the medical profession a step further. Currently he is a Physician Assistant student at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia and is serving as Student Academy President 2009-2010 for the organization. Mark looks forward to a lifetime of service in the medical profession.
Kara Larson, MSPAS, PA-C - Vice President
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Kara is a recent graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. A South Carolina native, Kara graduated from Bob Jones University of Greenville in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Charleston, Kara worked one year as an Emergency Department Technician in the MUSC Pediatric ER before beginning PA school. Kara’s involvement with the Student Academy includes serving as MUSC’s AOR representative in 2008 and HOD representative in 2009, Student Academy Southeast Regional Chair (2008-2009), and currently Student Academy Vice President (2009-2010). When not working as an urgent care PA, Kara enjoys singing in her local church choir and with the Charleston Symphony Chorus and Chamber Singers, playing and teaching violin, and long-distance running.
Kate Callaway - Immediate Past President
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Kate Callaway is a native of southern Louisiana. She received her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University - Geaux Tigers! While in school, she worked in the emergency department at Our Lady of the Lake RMC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Currently, Kate is on rotations in Georgia and Florida. She has served as South University's AOR representative and third consecutive Student Academy President. Kate is looking forward to being the student voice on the AAPA Board of Directors for 2009-2010. In Savannah and Tampa, you will find Kate at the beach or boating with PA books in hand!
Joy Vonk- Director of Internal Affairs
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Joy Vonk is currently a second year clinical student at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Originally from North Carolina, she attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, receiving a bachelor's degree both in Biological Sciences and Animal Science in addition to a Spanish minor. Joy also worked at NC State University as a Biochemistry laboratory instructor and tutored collegiate athletes prior to beginning PA school in June of 2007. Her specific interests include international humanitarian and community medicine. Outside of clinic she enjoys hiking, traveling, photography, and playing gigs with her electric and acoustic violins. Joy is looking forward to her second term serving as Director of Internal Affairs for
the Student Academy.
Betsy Severance - Director of External Affairs, Senior
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Betsy Severance is a PA student at the University of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a BS in Biomedical Science, Betsy attended nursing school in San Antonio, Texas. She spent the next seven years working as a Registered Nurse in a Thoracic ICU, and still works as an RN when she can find the time. Betsy and her husband enjoy kayaking, cycling, and spending time with family and friends. She graduates in December 2009 and is looking forward to starting an exciting new career.
Lindsay Watters - Director of External Affairs, Junior
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Lindsay Watters is currently a second year student in the inaugural class of Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, with a minor in Chemistry from Shorter College in 2007 where she was a Presidential Scholarship Recipient. While in school Lindsay managed her own business and was an officer in Allied Health Club. Her medical background comes from working as a pharmacy technician throughout college, volunteering for the Medical Reserves Corp and serving on a medical mission team to Mexico. Lindsay served as her school's Student Academy AOR representative for 2008-2009 and HOD representative for 2009-2010. In her spare time Lindsay enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time with family. Lindsay looks forward to serving the Student Academy and advancing this wonderful profession.
Aimee Larson - Chief Delegate
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Aimee Larson is a native of Buffalo, New York and is currently on her rotations with D'Youville College, also located in Buffalo. Prior to PA school, she received her Bachelors in Health Care Management, with which she managed a neurology practice in Buffalo. Aimee was also an active duty medical technician in the United States Air Force for 8 ½ years. During this time, she was deployed to Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom where she worked in the Emergency Department. It was this experience that inspired her to apply to PA school, and gave her the skills and passion to provide top notch care. For the past two years Aimee has served as the President of her Student PA Association. She is also a wife and mother to three children. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her family and going on scuba diving trips with her husband. After graduation, she plans to return to Colorado to pursue her career and work on her snowboarding skills.
Erica Jimenez - Director of Diversity
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Erica Jimenez was born in Chicago, IL, however raised in Houston Texas. She attended the University of Houston were she received her Bachelor's degree in Health Promotion. After graduating she volunteered in Shanghai , China at the Ruijin Hospital for 3 months and started a cupcake company named Le Petite Cupcake. She is currently a PA student at the Baylor College of Medicine and will be graduating December of 2010. At Baylor she serves as the Diversity Representative for the Robert Luchi Student Society. Erica is interested in the fields of urology or plastic surgery.
Crystal Powers - Special Projects Coordinator
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Crystal Powers grew up in upstate, rural New York in the small town. She attended Siena College, where she majored in psychology. While attending school, she worked at a nearby hospital as a patient care associate, on the surgical trauma floor. She is currently a second year student at Le Moyne College in New York. She is very excited to transition from the classroom into the practice setting and is going into her rotations with an open mind to see what she enjoy practicing and where her skills will best serve the community when she graduates.
