Leadership in the Wake Forest PA Program centers on the Katherine Anderson Society (KAS), the school’s chapter of the Student Academy of the American Academy of PA (SAAAPA).
The Katherine Anderson Society was named for the first Medical Director of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine PA Program and a much-respected physician in both the community and the institution.
“Katie,” as Dr. Anderson was affectionately known, was a pediatrician in Winston-Salem for 25 years and the first woman to be elected president of the local medical society. As the Medical Director of the PA Program from 1969 until her retirement in 1976, Katie’s understanding of physician assistants and their role on the medical team was instrumental to the development of the educational philosophy and curriculum of the program.
Class of 2026 KAS officers and committee members:
| Position | Boone | Winston-Salem | |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Alina Alvarez | John Kensinger | |
| Vice President | Brody Davis | Jessica Lapnow | |
| Secretary | Anna Gaskin | Alissa Sherrill | |
| Treasurer | Gianna Belza | AJ Sekhon | |
| Community Engagement |
Paige Sidwell, |
Julianna Griffin, Isabel Savine |
|
| Student Engagement |
Nick Chihlas, |
Cady Elredy, Alexcy Shmat |
|
| Fundraising | Meredith Swift, Kaleb Reynolds |
Lauren Hall, Grace Royster |
|
| Scrapbook | Julianne Lewis | Caroline Suddath | |
| IT | Hugo Santos | Helena Bui |
Dual Appointments
| SAAPA | Lynn Barr |
| NCAPA | Matt Lyons |
| AppAPA | Nathan Davidsen |
| PAPA | Alex Dayton |
You can learn more about the accomplishments of our student leaders by reading Inside Wake PA, our quarterly digital magazine for students, alumni, and friends of the program