| Board of Directors | ||
 John Tomasi, PA-C, MPASAPAC Northeast Regional Director Cardiac and Vascular Services The Reading Hospital Regional Heart Center John grew up in Defiance, Ohio (NW Ohio) and attended Ohio State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1997. I worked as an RN for 4 years in emergency medicine before attaining my PA certificate degree from Kettering College near Dayton, Ohio in 2001. My first job as a PA was with a private practice cardiology group, Cardiology Inc. affiliated with Mt. Carmel Health Network and OhioHealth Network of hospitals, in and around Columbus, OH from 2001-2007. During my stint with Cardiology Inc., I received my Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree with a specialization in Cardiology from the University of Nebraska in 2003. I moved away from clinical Cardiology for a few years and worked in Emergency Medicine with a private practice group called Immediate Health Associates in Westerville, Ohio at St. Ann's Hospital part of Mt. Carmel Health Network. I came to my senses and moved back into Clinical Cardiology in 2009 in my current position at The Reading Hospital Regional Heart Center in West Reading, PA. I currently supervise an outpatient ambulatory post cardiac procedure unit of 22 beds. This area is a 23 hour observation unit housing patients who received coronary stenting /POBA, pacemaker/ICD implant, lead revisions and catheter-based arrhythmia ablations. I also work in a noninvasive cardiovascular area where I supervise stress tests (stress echo, stress myocardial perfusion studies and pharmacological myocardial perfusion studies) and head-up tilt table studies. I am actively engaged in mentoring resident doctors, medical students, NP students, PA students and pre-PA students. I have been a part of APAC intermittently since 2005. I have gravitated towards Clinical Cardiology and enjoy the challenges that my job brings every day. I look forward to continuing in Cardiology for the rest of my career as a PA. I especially enjoy my time bonding with my patients and educating them on how to make heart healthy choices in their lives. I am excited to be involved in such a rewarding area of medicine and look forward with great anticipation to the future of Cardiology.  Eryn K. Smith, MS, PA-CAPAC North Central Director University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Cardiac Electrophysiology Service Eryn Smith is the North Central Regional Director of the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiology, and a member of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Cardiac Electrophysiology Service. Eryn graduated from of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a specialization in Law, Criminology, and Deviance; and Western Michigan University's Physician Assistant program, where he received the Class of 2005 Writing Award along with his Master of Science in Medicine. He is currently involved with clinical practice in both an inpatient and outpatient setting, as well as research both as a co-investigator and principal investigator through the University of Michigan. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 year-old son, as well as competitive road and mountain biking.  John R. Gerke, Jr., MMS, PA-CAPAC South East Region Director John “Robbie” Gerke, Jr. is a practicing Physician Assistant at Orlando Heart Center, the largest cardiology practice in Central Florida and a part of the Orlando Health Physician Group. He graduated from the Nova Southeastern University-Orlando Physician Assistant Program in August 2010, where he was awarded the “Distinguished Student Award” by his peers. He is also a published author, with his article on Ventricular Assist Devices printed in the November-December 2009 issue of ADVANCE for NPs & PAs. Since graduation, John has continued his efforts to become a leader in both the Physician Assistant profession and his community. Recently appointed to the position of Physician/PA Team Liaison for the East Central region of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA), he works to promote the PA profession and encourage physicians to hire Physician Assistants within their practices. As his career continues to grow, he aspires to move up the ranks of FAPA and assume higher-level leadership roles within the organization. He also participates in many volunteer activities in the central Florida area each year, ranging from large-scale Disney sponsored events supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to sorting food at local food banks. In addition to his career and volunteer ambitions, John has a passion for Academia. He has already begun mentoring pre-PA students as they begin their journey to become Physician Assistants, and hopes to start accepting students for clinical rotations in the near future. He also has plans to return to the classroom as an adjunct professor as opportunities arise. As the new South East Region Director for the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiology, he holds seats on both the Website and Membership committees. He encourages members and non-members alike to contact him with any questions about the organization or the profession.  Sondra DePalma, MHS, PA-C, AACCDirector at Large Sondra M. DePalma, MHS, PA-C, AACC is a Physician Assistant with ten years of cardiovascular experience, and certification as a Clinical Lipid Specialist. She completed a Master of Health Science degree in Physician Assistant studies in 2002 from the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania after graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. from Mercyhurst College and receiving a post-baccalaureate premedical certificate with honors from the Pennsylvania State University. Sondra has served patients in several cardiovascular sub-specialties. Over her ten year career as a cardiology PA, she has provided patient care, diagnosis and treatment in both rural and urban clinics and hospitals. She has extensive experience in general cardiology and heart failure, and uses her national certification as a Clinical Lipid Specialist to treat simple and complex dyslipidemias. Sondra also obtained valuable training in electrophysiology while employed at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Heart & Vascular Institute. During her time there, she was able to coauthor an article published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. She also has been a sub-investigator in several pharmacologic and interventional clinical trials. Sondra is a member of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and was one of the first Advanced Practice Clinicians to be honored as an Associate of the American College of Cardiology. She has had the opportunity to participate as a guest lecturer for the Pennsylvania chapter of the ACC (PaACC). She has been a member of the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiology (APAC) since 2004 and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors as a Director at Large. Sondra is also an active member of the American Association of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA), the National Lipid Association (NLA), and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). She has been involved with the American Heart Association (AHA), volunteering as a certified ACLS instructor and participating as an organizer and team captain in many Heart Walks and Go Red for Women campaigns. Sondra has spoken at several community education events. She also serves as a mentor and preceptor to medical, PA, and NP students. | ||
| President Joseph Faiella-Tommasino, RPA-C, MHS, Ph.D. Elect Linda Summers, MS, PA-C Immediate Past President AJ Farah, MS, PA-C President Elect Open Secretary Open Physician Liason Mort Diamond, MD, FACC Salvatore Trazzera, MD, FACC Chuck Mild, MD, FACC | Treasurer Zeb Shazad, RPA-C, MPAS Director at Large Sondra DePalma, MHS, PA-C, AACC Therin Hill, MBA, PA-C Ken Korber, Ph.D., PA-C North Central Regional Director Eryn Smith, M. Sci. Med., PA-C South Western Regional Director Matthew Thompson, PA-C | North East Regional Director Open West Regional Director Matt Thompson, PA-C South Central Regional Director Janelle Hardisty, Ph.D., MPAS, PA-C CME Chair Michael Clark, PA-C, MPAS, Ph.D., AACC |
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