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. She has also served as a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association Go Red For Women since 2007. She has a passion for public health advocacy and 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. Her two older children are competitive in mixed martial arts and her emergency medicine education has paid for itself in caring for them. The toddler has not yet started formal training but he is as scrappy as his brothers.
Jena Morcelle has been a PA for 13 years and practices in both adult and pediatric general surgery & trauma. She is the wife of a restaurant owner and mom to two incredible boys, ages 5 and 9. She has been involved with PAs for Women Empowerment since its inception as the secretary, president elect and president. She is passionate about advocating for women PAs with a goal of fostering positive relationships between women and leadership roles, to allow for more women to represent this amazing profession. She is also the membership co-chair for the American Pediatric Surgical Association: Section of Affiliated Professionals and is actively involved with Childhood Cancer Society, for which her boys are brand ambassadors.
Dr. Venee Cunningham has quietly made significant strides in the medical field, combining her knowledge with a genuine warmth. She earned her Doctorate in Medical Science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and obtained her degree in Physician Assistant Studies from The City College of New York. She started practicing Emergency Medicine fresh out of PA school in 2008, and it has seemingly had her in the chokehold since. Her dedication to community service shines through in her roles on the board of ‘Embrace Her Legacy’, mentoring with ‘I am Cultured’, coaching for Baldwin PAL Track & Field and initiating the ‘Physician Assistant Council of NYU – LI’.
Juggling these commitments along with her family life and her role as a business owner, she demonstrates the ability to handle multiple responsibilities gracefully – also read as teetering on the edge of sanity. Mom to an 18y/o college-bound boy, an 11 y/o middle school-bound boy, and a 4 y/o preschool-bound girl… she is apparently up for the long haul adventure of spacing them 6 or 7 years apart.
Venee aims to cultivate an environment where women are celebrated for their expertise and leadership, driving transformative change and innovation in the medical field.
Samantha Riley has been practicing as a physician associate for 8 years, in emergency medicine, cardiology, and correctional medicine. She enjoys working with underserved patient populations, and she is looking forward to supporting women on a national level. She loves spending time with her family, and has recently started volunteering with a local children’s ministry.
Jackie Huff has been practicing both urgent care and emergency medicine for the past 13 years. Starting her career in deep Appalachia KY, she’s developed a strong love and respect for the community and the unique medical challenges present in rural America. More recently she has moved with her family to North Carolina and continues to serve a population who face challenges in navigating a difficult healthcare system. She has a special connection to educating parents and providers about the dangers of button batteries after losing her youngest son, Johnathan (2), to this type of accident. She’s excited to support women in healthcare leadership and work to ensure the growth of this profession.
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.
Breanna Voigt, PA-C, Public Relations Chair
Breanna Voigt currently resides in Buffalo, NY and has been practicing as a PA-C in primary care since 2009. Her career highlights include being a lead PA at her office and also playing an integral part while volunteering on the social committee. Additionally, she has helped to develop and lead the obesity medicine program at her office. Beyond the confines of her workplace, she is engaged in the meaningful work of Survivors Teaching Students through a national organization called OCRA (ovarian cancer research alliance) in which she volunteers her time to teach the next generation of medical practitioners. Breanna lives with her husband, 2 daughters and her black lab named Tupper. She enjoys fitness, spending time with her family outdoors and coaching her daughters’ soccer teams. Breanna is excited to be serving as the new public relations committee chair this year for PAWE
Lisa Kerr Ringley graduated from Daemen College in 2011 and went on to complete a post graduate fellowship program in urology at UTSW Medical Center. She spent the majority of her career practice urology, with a focus on procedural urology and robotic first assisting. In 2022 she graduated from the DMSc program at Lynchburg University and transitioned from clinical practice to industry, becoming a Medical Science Liaison. Lisa is passionate about supporting women in medicine and is excited to work with the amazing board members of PAWE to advocate for women PAs in leadership.
Brittanie Hamlin is the sole provider of a rural school based health center in beautiful lower northern Michigan. She is a mom of two beautiful, goofy girls and married to a physical therapist and business owner. She is an avid crossfitter, skier, reader and also enjoys camping, boating and sleeping. She has been a Michigan delegate on her fourth year now and is very active in her local community. Brittanie aims to assist PAWE with breaking down barriers, promoting equality, and fostering environments where women can lead, innovate, and inspire future generations. This work is not just about achieving gender parity but also about creating a more inclusive and just society where diversity is celebrated and everyone has equal opportunities to contribute and succeed.
Jenny Ursoy, PA-C, Community Outreach Co-Chair
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.
Erin Hunt, a dedicated PA since graduating from Pace-Lenox Hill Hospital in 2012, practiced in breast surgical oncology and inpatient psychiatry before finding her true passion in urgent care medicine, where she has excelled for the past decade. As Lead PA at Northwell GoHealth Urgent Care, Erin oversees 18 clinics in NYC and Westchester, ensuring exceptional patient care. Her leadership has improved clinical quality standards and streamlined operational efficiency.
Erin is an advocate for the PA profession, serving on the NYSSPA Legislative Committee and representing PAs for Women Empowerment in the AAPA House of Delegates. Honored as NYSSPA’s 2023 Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion PA of the Year, she is committed to fostering inclusivity both for patients and within the PA profession.
Balancing her career and motherhood, Erin is a proud mom of three young children and resides in the Hudson Valley region of NY. As Legislative Director for PAWE, she will advocate for policies supporting women in the PA profession and beyond.
Sabrina Denton is a second-year PA student at Duke University. She serves on her Student Board as the Student Academy Representative and is a member of various University clubs including Duke Navigators Program and Medicine in Motion, and student-led clubs including Wilderness Medicine and Reproductive Health and Justice.
Sabrina looks forward to starting her Clinical Rotations and is especially excited about the opportunity to learn and observe at Machame Hospital in Tanzania for four weeks. She is passionate about continuing her work in advocacy and advancement of the PA profession and volunteering in her community. She hopes to increase student engagement in advocacy and leadership roles and spread awareness about how students and practicing PA’s can aid in the passage of legislation at the local and national level that will benefit our patients. She is excited about continuing this mission as the Student Director of PAs for Women Empowerment.
Board Advisors
Deepthi, the Communications & Editor-in-Chief of PAs for Women Empowerment (PAWE), previously served as the organization’s Vice-President. An advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), she currently holds a two-year term on the AAPA DEI Committee. Additionally, she represents New York for a second term in the House of Delegates (HOD) and chairs the NYSSPA DEI Committee. Through the NCCPA Step Up Grant, Deepthi leads the ‘Future PA: Wilderness First Aid Essentials for Girl Scouts’ program, providing hands-on first aid workshops to young scouts. Her commitment to mentorship is evident in her efforts to advance the PA profession by promoting leadership and healthcare equity, with a specific focus on DEI initiatives.
Raquelle Akavan is a PA with a passion for advancing the PA profession through education, advocacy, and support. With over 12 years of experience in surgical sub-specialties, including plastics, neurosurgery, and orthopedics, she has made significant contributions to the profession. She is the founder of PA Moms, an AAPA Constituent Organization, and co-founder of PAs for Women Empowerment. Akavan serves as an assistant professor at a PA program in Austin, Texas, mentoring and educating future PAs. She also chairs the Membership Relations and PR Committee at the Texas Academy of PAs. Beyond her professional achievements, Akavan is a committed mother. She met her husband in high school, and together they are raising two children: a nine-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. Her family is her greatest source of strength. As the Chief Delegate for PAWE, she looks forward to contributing to new resolutions and policies that have the best interests of PAs and women.