PAs for Women Empowerment has eleven directors, including its officers. Collectively, they serve as the board of directors.
Katerina Dons is one of the founding members of PAs for Women Empowerment, and has been practicing emergency medicine since 2011 in the Philadelphia area. In 2025, she joined principle faculty at St Joseph’s University’s Physician Assistant Program.
Beginning her career with a focus in Evolutionary Anthropology, Geology, and Biological sciences at Rutgers University, she had every intention of pursuing a career in Forensic Anthropology but life had other plans. After suffering an Aortic Arch Dissection at the age of 22, Kat learned about the PA profession and shifted her focus to attending Arcadia University’s PA program. She uses her experiences as both a PA and as a cardiac disease survivor to spread awareness and education as an Ambassador for the American Heart Association.
Katerina’s passion is for public health advocacy & community outreach for the undeserved and under-represented communities. Kat hopes that through leadership, she can provide a platform and give a voice to women are seen and heard, and so that women are recognized as capable and assertive professionals. She is also busy with her family: her husband, her three hooligan sons, a crazy rescue dog, and an embarrassing amount of hermit crabs.
Sabrina Denton is a graduate of the Duke University PA Program and currently works in urgent care serving a rural population in North Carolina. She has previously served in numerous leadership positions including as a student delegate in the AAPA HOD, PAWE Student Director and Secretary, and as a PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow. She is passionate about equitable and affordable healthcare and expanding accessibility in rural regions. She hopes to encourage other students and early career PA’s to pursue opportunities in advocacy and legislation, and believes that everyone’s voice matters, and that sustainable change begins on the ground level. In her free time, she enjoys camping and hiking, dog sitting, experimenting with new recipes, gardening, and learning new hobbies.
Kirsten Reutebuch currently resides in Orlando, FL, and has been practicing as a PA-C in orthopedic surgery since 2013 and pediatric orthopedic surgery since 2016. Her career highlights include being a lead PA for the Orlando branch of her division, APP Council Chair, and active member on the surgical quality and safety committees. She has also served on AAPA HOD as a member representing Florida. Additionally, she has helped to develop and lead the DVT prevention quality project after pediatric hip surgery and many scoliosis quality and safety initiatives. Kirsten lives with her husband, 2 daughters, and her boxer, Bacon. She enjoys running, a good book, and spending time with her family. She can usually be found at one of the Disney parks on the weekend. Kirsten is excited and honored to be the treasurer for PAWE!
Marilyn Perez is the newly elected secretary of PAs for Women Empowerment. She has been working in family practice for the past 15 years in California. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology from California State University, Bakersfield, before obtaining her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of California, Davis. As a dedicated physician assistant, she is driven by a lifelong passion for science and a deep-seated desire to serve historically underserved communities. The daughter of an immigrant, Marilyn is committed to providing culturally sensitive care to the populations she serves. Outside of the medical field, she is a mother of two children and a talented musician who enjoys playing the violin and performing as a vocalist in mariachi music, which keeps her closely connected to her cultural heritage.
CME Director
Shameice Fischer is an active duty Army Officer of 17 years and currently serves as the deputy director of her medical organization in Colorado Springs. Shameice has extensive experience in organizational leadership and management and has served in many leadership positions throughout her career. As an Army PA, she prides herself in her ability to care for the health and well-being of her fellow Soldiers across the globe. Outside work, she loves volunteering to lead her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and spending quality time with her family. She and her husband of 17 years, Chris, live in Colorado with their son, age 13, and their daughter, age 11.
Kathleen D. Moneghan, DHA, MPAS, PA-C, is a nationally recognized Physician Associate, healthcare leader, educator, and advocate dedicated to advancing patient care, professional development, and healthcare policy. She earned her Doctor of Health Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Leadership in 2021, and holds a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from MCPHS University, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Bloomsburg University.
Kathleen currently serves as Regional Lead Physician Associate at Work Health where she specializes in occupational medicine, workplace health, and regulatory compliance. She also practices urgent care medicine as Lead Urgent Care PA with ConvenientMD. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions spanning emergency medicine, surgery, hospital administration, and healthcare operations.
A passionate advocate for the PA profession, Dr.Moneghan serves as President of the Association of PAs in Occupational Medicine (APAOM), Vice Chair for PAs within the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), and Legislative Director for PAs for Women Empowerment. As President and Government Affairs Chair of the Maine Association of Physician Assistants (MEAPA), she led statewide advocacy efforts that resulted in Maine becoming the first state in the nation to successfully achieve all three of the American Academy of PAs’ national PA modernization initiatives.
I was born and raised in Western New York small town close to the Pennsylvania border. I graduated from D’Youville College with my BS/MS of physician assistant studies in 2011. Prior to joining the PA profession, I worked for multiple human service agencies that serve adults with developmental abilities as well as children and foster care. As a PA, I’ve worked in family medicine and hospital medicine. I even worked as a contractor for the Buffalo VA in primary care. These are very rural areas and very limited resources so primary care is definitely a specialty of its own. I coordinate physicals for a charity football game of New York and Pennsylvania youth all stars in my area. It’s called the Big 30 classic. I am on committees for a local charity for breast cancer called the pink pumpkin project, in honor of my cousin Lorie. We do local fundraising, as well as awareness, support, fighters and survivors, help them get to treatment, and offer scholarships to local youth, both in Pennsylvania in New York. I’ve been married to my current husband for the eight years, who has given me three stepchildren and a step grandson. I additionally have four stepchildren and many step grandchildren from my previous marriage. We have two cats and two dogs, and I enjoy volutneering at my local animal shelters and rescues.
Heather Gehrke, PA-C, serves as the Public Relations Director for PAs for Women Empowerment (PAWE). She is a board-certified Physician Associate with nearly 18 years of experience in orthopedic spine, trauma, and cardiovascular/thoracic surgery. Throughout her career, Heather has practiced in high-acuity healthcare environments, including a Level I Trauma Center in North Texas, where she specialized in emergent spine trauma, elective spine surgery, and comprehensive perioperative patient management.
Beyond clinical practice, Heather is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and advancing opportunities for women in healthcare. She believes that empowering women to pursue leadership roles strengthens the healthcare profession and creates lasting impact for future generations of clinicians. Through her work with PAWE, she is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women in medicine, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting professional growth at every stage of a PA’s career.
Heather has played a key role in developing and implementing an Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR) program and authored spinal cord injury protocols and patient education standards adopted across HCA North Texas. She has also served on Advanced Practice, Neuroscience, and Employee Advisory committees, where she championed collaboration, professional development, and patient-centered care.
Heather is currently completing her Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree at the University of Pittsburgh, with an anticipated graduation in August 2026. As she relocates from Texas to Florida to begin a new role in cardiovascular surgery, she remains committed to clinical excellence, lifelong learning, and servant leadership. Heather hopes to inspire and support the next generation of women leaders while helping shape a more inclusive and empowered future for the PA profession.
Marcella Stanley has practiced as a PA since 2011, with the majority of her career spent in cardiology. She has experience in interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and structural cardiology.
Prior to PA school, she received her Bachelors degree in Life Sciences from Kansas State University, where she met her husband. A Kansas City native, she relocated to Wichita, KS to attend PA school and has lived there ever since with her husband, 2 children, and 2 beagles. After welcoming her first child, who was born with a rare skeletal dysplasia, Marcella has focused her career on the importance of shared decision making and multidisciplinary team based medicine, and her personal life on advocacy for medically complex children and their families.
Jordan Jones is a Physician Assistant student with a passion for patient-centered care, leadership, education, and empowering women in healthcare. Throughout her training, she has remained committed to academic excellence while seeking opportunities to support and uplift fellow students. Jordan believes mentorship, advocacy, and representation are key to helping future healthcare professionals succeed. In addition to her studies, Jordan is the creator of Jay The PA, a social media and educational platform that provides study strategies, educational resources, and encouragement for PA students. She is also the founder of Thrift Relic, a brand that reflects her entrepreneurial spirit and creativity outside of medicine. Through both platforms, she enjoys building communities that inspire personal and professional growth. Jordan is honored to serve as the Student Director for PAs for Women Empowerment (PAWE). In this role, she hopes to strengthen student engagement, foster meaningful connections among members, and create opportunities that support and inspire future women leaders in healthcare. Outside of PA school, Jordan enjoys spending time with her dogs, Teddy and Jaycee, creating content, exploring beauty and lifestyle interests, and connecting with others through social media. She is excited to contribute to PAWE’s mission and help empower the next generation of women in the PA profession.
Board Advisors
Erin Sherer is a PA and registered dietitian (RD) who also holds a (Certificate of Added Qualifications) CAQ in Emergency Medicine. She currently teaches at the Michigan State University PA Medicine Program, where she is dedicated to educating the next generation of healthcare providers. As the past president of the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants (AASPA) and the current Leadership Chair for the New York State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA), Erin is excited to join the PAWE team!
Stephanie Anselmi, is the newly elected Chief Delegate for PAs for Women’s Empowerment. With a 17-year career as a PA primarily in Neurology, Stephanie serves as the Lead PA at a private neurology practice in Detroit, Michigan.Â
Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Central Michigan University and her Master of PA Studies from Wayne State University. She is currently completing her Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree at the University of Lynchburg, graduating this summer (2026).
With passion and commitment in shaping the next generation of healthcare providers, Stephanie is a clinical preceptor for Wayne State University and will join the University of Detroit Mercy PA program as an adjunct faculty member in the fall of 2026. As Chief Delegate, her mission is to fiercely advocate for the PA profession, mentor fellow PAs, and champion impactful leadership pathways for women in the healthcare field.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Stephanie is the proud mother of two boys, ages 9 and 10. She enjoys spending her free time golfing, gardening, traveling, and leading a book club she founded.