NCAPA

North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates

PA

PA Allen Stephens’ Journey: Flight Paramedic to Leading the Way

Mar 24, 2025
“The more our voices are heard, the more people are aware of PAs and what we can bring to the table.” -Allen Stephens, PA-C The NC Academy of PAs recently sat down with Member Allen Stephens, PA-C, who currently practices in Outpatient Cardiology at Duke Health. A practicing PA for over nine years, PA Stephens […]

PA Allen Stephens’ Journey: Flight Paramedic to Leading the Way

by Pauline Bulala

“The more our voices are heard, the more people are aware of PAs and what we can bring to the table.” -Allen Stephens, PA-C The NC Academy of PAs recently sat down with Member Allen Stephens, PA-C, who currently practices in Outpatient Cardiology at Duke Health. A practicing PA for over nine years, PA Stephens […]

PA Joshua Newton Reflects on the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Feb 24, 2025
FOUR MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE HELENE made landfall in Western North Carolina, Joshua Newton, PA-C still remembers the feeling of being, “shellshocked.” As a PA and family medicine practice owner, his town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina was battered and left devastated in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Floodwaters had ravaged not only his home and […]

PA Joshua Newton Reflects on the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

by Pauline Bulala

FOUR MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE HELENE made landfall in Western North Carolina, Joshua Newton, PA-C still remembers the feeling of being, “shellshocked.” As a PA and family medicine practice owner, his town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina was battered and left devastated in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Floodwaters had ravaged not only his home and […]

Military PA M. Tiye Young Leads Western NC Relief & Recovery

Feb 24, 2025
Being both in the military for fourteen years and practicing medicine is “an honor to be trusted to do both,” described Wake Forest PA graduate, Major Makeda Tiye Young, PA-C. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, the PA journey was anything but linear for Major Young. “I was actually going to the Army’s PA […]

Military PA M. Tiye Young Leads Western NC Relief & Recovery

by Pauline Bulala

Being both in the military for fourteen years and practicing medicine is “an honor to be trusted to do both,” described Wake Forest PA graduate, Major Makeda Tiye Young, PA-C. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, the PA journey was anything but linear for Major Young. “I was actually going to the Army’s PA […]

How Getting Involved in State Academies Led PA Trey Boyd to NCAPA

Jul 1, 2024
“PAs will always change and evolve as healthcare continues to change and evolve. The big thing I hope to continue to see is for PAs to become the ‘change agents’ of healthcare, especially in North Carolina.”  – Trey Boyd, DMSc, MSM, PA-C With his avid involvement in many different state academies, healthcare organizations, free clinics, […]

How Getting Involved in State Academies Led PA Trey Boyd to NCAPA

by Pauline Bulala

“PAs will always change and evolve as healthcare continues to change and evolve. The big thing I hope to continue to see is for PAs to become the ‘change agents’ of healthcare, especially in North Carolina.”  – Trey Boyd, DMSc, MSM, PA-C With his avid involvement in many different state academies, healthcare organizations, free clinics, […]

PA Alex Leng on the Power of Social Media and PA Mentors

May 28, 2024
“Patients come from all types of underrepresented backgrounds. It is an unexplained bond that occurs when you see community and patients that speak the same language as you and relate with you on core experiences that you share. That level of trust carries them through their entire patient experience.” -Alex Leng, PA-C For May’s monthly […]

PA Alex Leng on the Power of Social Media and PA Mentors

by Pauline Bulala

“Patients come from all types of underrepresented backgrounds. It is an unexplained bond that occurs when you see community and patients that speak the same language as you and relate with you on core experiences that you share. That level of trust carries them through their entire patient experience.” -Alex Leng, PA-C For May’s monthly […]

PA Savannah Junkins, from NHSC Scholar to Integrated Behavioral Health

Mar 26, 2024
For the March #IamNCAPA Member Highlight, the NCAPA sat down and spoke with Savannah Junkins, PA-C, MPAS. A West Virginia native and a graduate of the Chatham University PA Program in Pittsburgh, Junkins has been a PA for over thirteen years. She is currently the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Freedom Hill Community Health […]

PA Savannah Junkins, from NHSC Scholar to Integrated Behavioral Health

by Pauline Bulala

For the March #IamNCAPA Member Highlight, the NCAPA sat down and spoke with Savannah Junkins, PA-C, MPAS. A West Virginia native and a graduate of the Chatham University PA Program in Pittsburgh, Junkins has been a PA for over thirteen years. She is currently the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Freedom Hill Community Health […]

In Memoriam – Mufiyda Abraham, MPAS, PA-C

Feb 14, 2024
“Life is a precious gift, and we never fully know the length of that gift. My friend, Mufiyda would encourage all to always attempt to serve others and to never stop dancing!” Truett Smith, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA “Some people just make the world a better place! Mufiyda was one of those people. I first met […]

In Memoriam – Mufiyda Abraham, MPAS, PA-C

by Pauline Bulala

“Life is a precious gift, and we never fully know the length of that gift. My friend, Mufiyda would encourage all to always attempt to serve others and to never stop dancing!” Truett Smith, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA “Some people just make the world a better place! Mufiyda was one of those people. I first met […]

PA Candidate Spotlight | Mark Hollo

Feb 7, 2024
The NCAPA is a nonpartisan, membership organization that serves and represents PAs in the state, and advocates for the PA profession within North Carolina. The North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA) is interviewing current NCAPA members who are running for office, and this week, the NCAPA had the opportunity to talk with Mark Hollo. Hollo […]

PA Candidate Spotlight | Mark Hollo

by Pauline Bulala

The NCAPA is a nonpartisan, membership organization that serves and represents PAs in the state, and advocates for the PA profession within North Carolina. The North Carolina Academy of PAs (NCAPA) is interviewing current NCAPA members who are running for office, and this week, the NCAPA had the opportunity to talk with Mark Hollo. Hollo […]

PA Ziad El Tannir, NHSC Scholar to FQHC Provider & Clinical Informaticist

Jan 17, 2024
For the first #IamNCAPA Member Highlight of 2024, the NCAPA sat down and spoke with Ziad El Tannir, PA-C. Ziad is a 2020 graduate of the Wake Forest University PA Program, and is currently practicing in Family Medicine. He was also a participant of Wake Forest’s Emerging Leaders Program, a three-year program consisting of earning […]

PA Ziad El Tannir, NHSC Scholar to FQHC Provider & Clinical Informaticist

by Pauline Bulala

For the first #IamNCAPA Member Highlight of 2024, the NCAPA sat down and spoke with Ziad El Tannir, PA-C. Ziad is a 2020 graduate of the Wake Forest University PA Program, and is currently practicing in Family Medicine. He was also a participant of Wake Forest’s Emerging Leaders Program, a three-year program consisting of earning […]

PA Julie Niemi’s Journey from Student Membership to Professional PA Member

Dec 18, 2023
For the last edition of #IamNCAPA Member Highlights for 2023, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (NCAPA) spoke with Family Medicine PA, Julia Niemi, DHSc, MSPH, PA-C, CHES, CPH, BC-ADM. With her role as a board-certified PA in Advanced Diabetes Management, PA Niemi also teaches quarterly diabetes education classes at the community health center […]

PA Julie Niemi’s Journey from Student Membership to Professional PA Member

by Pauline Bulala

For the last edition of #IamNCAPA Member Highlights for 2023, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (NCAPA) spoke with Family Medicine PA, Julia Niemi, DHSc, MSPH, PA-C, CHES, CPH, BC-ADM. With her role as a board-certified PA in Advanced Diabetes Management, PA Niemi also teaches quarterly diabetes education classes at the community health center […]

PAs Go Beyond at Every Stage: Ginger Sims, PA-C, DFAAPA

Oct 12, 2023
As part of the 2023 PA Week Celebration from Oct. 6 through Oct. 12, the NCAPA is highlighting NCAPA Members and North Carolina PAs Going Beyond at *every stage* of their PA career, from being a Pre-PA, to PA student, to Early Career PA, to having been a practicing PA for over 20 years – and everything in […]

PAs Go Beyond at Every Stage: Ginger Sims, PA-C, DFAAPA

by Pauline Bulala

As part of the 2023 PA Week Celebration from Oct. 6 through Oct. 12, the NCAPA is highlighting NCAPA Members and North Carolina PAs Going Beyond at *every stage* of their PA career, from being a Pre-PA, to PA student, to Early Career PA, to having been a practicing PA for over 20 years – and everything in […]

Christopher Craig, PA-C is the 2023 North Carolina PA of the Year!

Oct 11, 2023
This year, the NCAPA Membership Committee received a record number of submissions and the committee conducted a thorough review of the nominations for this year’s group of very deserving PAs. We are so excited to announce that the 2023 NC PA of the Year is Christopher Craig, PA-C! PA Craig started his long career of […]

Christopher Craig, PA-C is the 2023 North Carolina PA of the Year!

by Pauline Bulala

This year, the NCAPA Membership Committee received a record number of submissions and the committee conducted a thorough review of the nominations for this year’s group of very deserving PAs. We are so excited to announce that the 2023 NC PA of the Year is Christopher Craig, PA-C! PA Craig started his long career of […]

PA Nicole Burwell: Founding PA Program Director of NC A&T State University

Sep 25, 2023
I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have people who were willing to invest in me.  It’s my responsibility to pay it forward. One of my favorite quotes is by Mary Church Terrell: ‘lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go.’ Nicole Burwell, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA For September’s edition of #IamNCAPA Member Highlights, […]

PA Nicole Burwell: Founding PA Program Director of NC A&T State University

by Pauline Bulala

I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have people who were willing to invest in me.  It’s my responsibility to pay it forward. One of my favorite quotes is by Mary Church Terrell: ‘lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go.’ Nicole Burwell, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA For September’s edition of #IamNCAPA Member Highlights, […]

Chief Population Health Officer and PA, Lisa Shock

Aug 29, 2023
“It takes a team to raise a patient. We all do our good parts to improve health, and PAs can give great care, they can diagnose and treat, and can be very independent in their healthcare delivery.” Lisa Shock, DrPH, MHS, PA-C For August’s Member Highlight Interview, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (NCAPA) […]

Chief Population Health Officer and PA, Lisa Shock

by Pauline Bulala

“It takes a team to raise a patient. We all do our good parts to improve health, and PAs can give great care, they can diagnose and treat, and can be very independent in their healthcare delivery.” Lisa Shock, DrPH, MHS, PA-C For August’s Member Highlight Interview, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (NCAPA) […]

Jeff LaFuria and John Goldfields are both Assistant Medical Directors of the North Carolina Medical Board.

Getting to Know PAs Jeff LaFuria John Goldfield of the NC Medical Board

Jul 17, 2023
The NCAPA sat down with two special guests for the July edition of Member Highlights. For this month, we spoke with Physician Assistants (PAs) Jeff LaFuria, PA-C and John Goldfield, MHS, PA-C. Both are Assistant Medical Directors of the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) and they had much to say about their roles and responsibilities, […]

Getting to Know PAs Jeff LaFuria John Goldfield of the NC Medical Board

by Pauline Bulala

Jeff LaFuria and John Goldfields are both Assistant Medical Directors of the North Carolina Medical Board.

The NCAPA sat down with two special guests for the July edition of Member Highlights. For this month, we spoke with Physician Assistants (PAs) Jeff LaFuria, PA-C and John Goldfield, MHS, PA-C. Both are Assistant Medical Directors of the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) and they had much to say about their roles and responsibilities, […]

Headshot of Jennifer Holley, PA-C

PA Jennifer Holley: How PA Day at the Legislature Inspired Her to Act

Jun 20, 2023
For June’s #IamNCAPA Member Highlight, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (NCAPA) sat down with Goldsboro Family Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) and President of the Central Coastal Plains Association of PAs (CCPAPA), Jennifer Holley, PA-C. “I hope that we align with the model that allows us to practice to the best of our ability […]

PA Jennifer Holley: How PA Day at the Legislature Inspired Her to Act

by Pauline Bulala

Headshot of Jennifer Holley, PA-C

For June’s #IamNCAPA Member Highlight, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (NCAPA) sat down with Goldsboro Family Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) and President of the Central Coastal Plains Association of PAs (CCPAPA), Jennifer Holley, PA-C. “I hope that we align with the model that allows us to practice to the best of our ability […]

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 30, 2023
In honor of May being Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the NCAPA is highlighting Bowie Tran, a North Carolina Physician Assistant, Wake Forest University PA Program graduate, and proud Vietnamese-American whose dedication for his patients and profession shines bright. Bowie shares, “Being a PA in the AAPI community holds great significance for me. Throughout […]

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

by Pauline Bulala

In honor of May being Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the NCAPA is highlighting Bowie Tran, a North Carolina Physician Assistant, Wake Forest University PA Program graduate, and proud Vietnamese-American whose dedication for his patients and profession shines bright. Bowie shares, “Being a PA in the AAPI community holds great significance for me. Throughout […]

Getting to Know Wilmington FQHC PA, Israel Mendez

May 15, 2023
For May’s #IamNCAPA Member Highlight, NCAPA sat down with Family Medicine Physician Assistant (PA), Israel Mendez. Team-based care is certainly the way to go and gives patients the best outcomes. It also helps prevent burnout in the medical field since you have a reliable team you can pull ideas from and lean on. Israel Mendez, […]

Getting to Know Wilmington FQHC PA, Israel Mendez

by Pauline Bulala

For May’s #IamNCAPA Member Highlight, NCAPA sat down with Family Medicine Physician Assistant (PA), Israel Mendez. Team-based care is certainly the way to go and gives patients the best outcomes. It also helps prevent burnout in the medical field since you have a reliable team you can pull ideas from and lean on. Israel Mendez, […]

How Her Children Inspired PA Jo Hughes to Pursue Medicine

Apr 24, 2023
“I think there are so much more opportunities to utilize the PA services for patients, especially with telehealth and within rural places.” Jo A. Hughes DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-PSY This month’s #IamNCAPA Member Highlight is Jo Hughes, a Michigan native and Greensboro Physician Assistant (PA) in Psychiatry. Jo spoke with the NCAPA about how she found […]

How Her Children Inspired PA Jo Hughes to Pursue Medicine

by Pauline Bulala

“I think there are so much more opportunities to utilize the PA services for patients, especially with telehealth and within rural places.” Jo A. Hughes DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-PSY This month’s #IamNCAPA Member Highlight is Jo Hughes, a Michigan native and Greensboro Physician Assistant (PA) in Psychiatry. Jo spoke with the NCAPA about how she found […]

PA Day at the NC Legislature

Apr 5, 2023
march 22, 2023 2023 PA Day at the NC Legislature The North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates’ annual advocacy day at the Legislature was one for the books, with a record amount of 79 physician assistants (PA) and PA students traveling from across the state to Raleigh for the 2023 PA Day at the Legislature […]

PA Day at the NC Legislature

by Pauline Bulala

march 22, 2023 2023 PA Day at the NC Legislature The North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates’ annual advocacy day at the Legislature was one for the books, with a record amount of 79 physician assistants (PA) and PA students traveling from across the state to Raleigh for the 2023 PA Day at the Legislature […]