The NCAPA Nominating Committee has finalized the slate of candidates for the 2025 Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. Voting will be open to Fellows and Associate members in good standing, starting September 1st through September 15th. Keep an eye out for an electronic ballot sent directly to your email containing an individualized link to voting.
Candidates for President-Elect
Truett Smith, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA
It would be a great honor to be considered as your 2025 North Carolina Academy of PAs President-Elect. I was recently asked why I wanted to run for this position and my answer was very simple, I believe that I can make a difference. It’s honestly what gets me out of bed every morning. I feel that through leadership and advocacy, we can continue to move our profession forward. I believe that we have made significant progress over the last 5 years, but our work is not complete. I currently serve as Director of Advanced Practice over a large team of primary care providers in the Charlotte region. Through this job, I have learned so much about developing cohesive teams that function better than the sum of their parts. This invaluable experience has given me the additional skills needed to lead the NCAPA into the future.
Candidates for Vice President
Emily Epling, PA-C
I have been honored to serve in the role of NCAPA Vice President since March 2024 and am seeking your support to continue serving in this capacity. Over the last two years, I served on the AAPA HOD B-05 Task Force to develop core leadership skills and competencies for our profession. Investing in professional development for PAs will ensure current and future PAs will be well positioned to deliver quality healthcare to the citizens of North Carolina. If elected to continue serving, I will continue to advocate for our profession, support the growth and development of PAs, seek ways to connect across the state, raise your voice, engage students and members and give back to the PA profession that has granted me so many amazing opportunities.
Brian Robinson, PA-C
After moving to North Carolina in 2014, I joined NCAPA immediately. Coming from another state I wanted to learn more about PA practice in North Carolina and better advocate for the profession. NCAPA was a great resource for that and remains so today! In 2018, I founded the Appalachian Association of PAs (AppAPA) NCAPA regional chapter and continue to serve as the founding President. My goals as VP include 1) furthering PA practice and education in NC, 2) increasing access to care, 3) supporting optimal team practice, and 4) increasing collaborative partnerships with other health professions. I am humbled to be considered and excited to serve as your next NCAPA Vice-President.
Candidates for Secretary
Beth Ehlers, DMS, PA-C
I have been involved in NCAPA since PA school. I have served as a Student Representative and on the board as Student Director-at-Large. I am currently serving on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion HBCU Outreach Committee and I am the Chair of the Government Affairs Legislative Subcommittee. I am passionate about PA advocacy and getting more PAs and PA students involved. I would be honored to serve on the NCAPA board as Secretary. In this role I will continue my passion for advocacy and ensure that all information regarding meetings is recorded and shared appropriately and efficiently. It is important that we keep our records organized and our members informed.
Candidates for Directors-at-Large
Ziad El Tannir, PA-C
With years of experience as a practicing PA at a federally qualified health center (FQHC), I bring a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our profession. As a dedicated and passionate Physician Assistant, I am honored to present my candidacy for the role of Director at Large for the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA). With a solid background in clinical practice, leadership, and advocacy, I am committed to advancing the interests of our profession and enhancing the impact of our organization. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to our collective success and look forward to the chance to serve as your Director at Large.
Israel Mendez, PA-C
I am a proud graduate of East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) and have been an active member of the NCAPA since my first year of PA school. Upon graduating, I embarked on a career in family medicine at a federally qualified health center (FQHC), where I provide comprehensive prenatal, adult, and pediatric care. North Carolina, the birthplace of the PA profession, stands as a beacon of excellence, leadership, and innovation in healthcare. Our strong partnerships with the NCAPA have been instrumental in this success, driving us to achieve remarkable progress. If elected to the NCAPA board, I will work diligently to ensure our continued success and strive to make you proud.
Michael Sulewski, MMSc, PA-C
My primary goal as a Director-at-Large is to provide every PA in North Carolina with the resources they need to practice at the top of their license and achieve the highest level of job satisfaction. I am passionate about the PA profession and believe that together, we can make significant strides in advancing our field and improving healthcare in North Carolina. With your support, I am confident that we can increase membership, expand educational resources, and ensure that every PA has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s work together to create a brighter future for PAs and the patients we serve.
Savannah Taylor, PA-C
As a practicing PA, I currently enjoy sitting on the NCAPA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committe and HBCU Outreach Subcomittee where I have continued the work of making our profession in North Carolina more equitable and inclusive to all. I also enjoy mentoring/preparing pre-PA students for their PA school applications and teaching them by providing shadowing opportunities in my family medicine practice. It has been inspiring to work alongside the current NCAPA members for the past few years in their pursuit of advancing our profession in a multitude of ways. As a voting member on the board, I look forward to the opportunity of continuing to elevate our profession.
Jessica Veale, PA-C
For the past four years, I have proudly served on numerous NCAPA committees including the government affairs, conference management planning (CMP), and the political action committee (PAC). Currently, I serve as the co-chair of the diversity equity and inclusion (DE&I) committee. Participating in these committees has provided me invaluable insight into the inner workings of NCAPA. I am confident that my previous professional endeavors have equipped me with the tools necessary to be a meaningful addition to the NCAPA Board of Directors.
Miranda Weavil, MPAS, PA-C
As an early career PA, currently at the Novant Health Cancer Institute – Hematology at Forsyth Medical Center as a Hematology Transplant PA, my passion and dedication to our profession is unwavering. I am interested in initiatives that support PAs throughout their careers, starting early with pre-PA, current PA students, and early career PA professionals. I am also committed to furthering the academy’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. If given the opportunity, I would be honored to serve my NCAPA colleagues as a member of the NCAPA Board of Directors.
Candidates for Nominating Committee
Melissa Ricker Bridges, DMSc, PA-C
For over a decade, I have served in North Carolina as a practicing PA, PA Fellowship Director and in various state and national leadership roles. This constellation of experiences has been vital to the growth of our profession, building a network of highly skills PAs serving in nearly every capacity of medicine and surgery and personal service to a critical population in the ICU. If selected as a Member-at-Large on the Nominating Committee, I will steadfastly work to identify and recruit dynamic, hard-working, and motivated PAs from across the state to serve in formal leadership capacities for the NCAPA. If elected, I sincerely look forward to this service, and will vow to continue to enhance the value of being a PA and member of the NCAPA!
