Student Leadership

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 2024 KAS officers and committee members:

Position Boone Dual Winston-Salem
President Kendra Clingerman   James Itaya
Vice President Katrina McTigue   Haley Rodham
Secretary Maddie Gibson   Grace Morrow
Treasurer Bernice Chen   Maria Shaia
SID Representatives Kane French;
Simran Mehta
  Maria Gomez;
Virginia Niver
SAAPA Alison Brandt    
NCAPA Rep Emily Tiehen    
PAPA Rep     Kailee Alred
AppAPA Rep Courtney Jackson    
Student Engagement Rachel Shepherd;
Emma Fiore
  Kennedy Proctor;
Brenna McNamee
Community Engagement Christina Santosa   Ari Elfenbein
IT Support Reid Gilbert-Vass   Lindsey Baker
Scrapbook/Yearbook Jordan McKain-Miller   Tiye Young
Fundraising Melissa Ayala;
Brianna Monserrate
  Bailey Boka;
Erika Horback

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