We are pleased to introduce the 2012 GAAA Leadership Team. Take some time to get to know the following GAAA members that have accepted leadership roles within the GAAA to serve in order to further the mission of the GAAA.
CURRENT PRESIDENT/ TREASURER
Bill Buntin, AA-C
Graduate from Emory University 1996
AAAA Board of Directors
Employed at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, GA.
Member of GAAA, TAAA, CAAA, GSA, ASA, & AAAA
PRESIDENT ELECT
Joy Rusmisell, AA-C
I am a Georgia native, and spent most of my life living in the metro Atlanta area. I graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Masters of Health Science after making a career change; the prior 7 years I spent in business upon graduating from the University of Georgia. During my career as a student, I served as the Class President, Student Representative for the Academic Review Committee for the University, Student Representative on the University Student Governing Association, and was instrumental in the creation of the AAAA Student Component. I am currently a member of the ASA, AAAA, GSA & GAAA.
I live in Macon, GA and enjoy my dream job at the Medical Center of Central Georgia. I am a part of the specialty cardiac and pediatric anesthetist team, and could not have designed a more perfect career. Passion for my career is the cornerstone for my involvement in the GAAA. I will be instrumental in ensuring that Georgia AAs have representation on a local, state, and national level. I believe it is imperative to develop an organization that can emerge triumphant when issues that affect our profession arise in the face of a new healthcare system in order to protect this profession that we all enjoy.
I am honored to be selected as the President-Elect of the Georgia Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and it is my goal to represent the GAAA membership with integrity, vigilance, and strength as I serve as your voice.
Thank you for the opportunity!
SECRETARY
Sandra Bargeron, AA-C
Professional Appointments:
Anesthesiologist Assistant, Medical Center of Central Georgia
Anesthesiologist Assistant representative to Physician Assistant Advisory Committee, Georgia Composite State Medical Board
Physician Assistant, Liberty Regional Medical Center, Emergency Department
AAAA Involvement
AAAA Fellow Member 2010 –present.
Co-Editor of AAAA quarterly newsletter 2011-2012
AAAA Student Member 2008-2010.
Affiliations
ASA Educational Member 2008-present
AAPA Fellow Member 2004-present
WAPA, (AAPA constituent group), Founder and Fellow Member 2004-present
GAPA Fellow Member 2004-present
Education and Honors
Masters of Science in Anesthesia, South University 2010
Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies-South University 2004, Magna cum Laude
President Honors Society –Armstrong Atlantic State University 2000
Personal Notes
After relocating from Savannah, Ga in 2010, Sandra and her husband, Lee, reside in Macon, GA with their three boys. In their spare time, the family likes to travel, scuba dive and go camping. Sandra is an avid runner and rower.
I look forward to being an integral part of the GAAA's mission to advocate and serve AAs across Georgia.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christian Allen, AA-C
The GAAA is the best thing going for the AAs in Georgia. I recently attended the GSA meeting and spent time at the GAAA booth. Speaking with Joy, Bill and the other AAs present , I learned of the many issues affecting AAs in Georgia, and that the GAAA is the sole entity representing us.
I grew up in Cartersville, Ga. and moved back there after graduating from Emory in 1996. I am employed by Wellstar Kennestone as an AA, and have gone into business by myself as owner and operator of the gymnastics team and center called the Devilrays. My wife, I, and my two kids have benefited from the profession I love and depend on. I am hoping to give back to the profession by not only being a member of the Georgia GAAA and GSA, but also by using my business and anesthesia skills to assist the GAAA leadership as a director.
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Ralph Dapaah, AA-C
My name is Ralph Dapaah and I'm originally from Southern California and raised in Northern California as well as North Georgia. I attended Georgia State University where I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry, at GSU I founded the Allied health Sciences club for students interested in the Allied Health fields and engaging in community service activities such as the Autism Walk, etc. In 2011 I graduated from the Nova Southeastern University Anesthesiologist Assistant program where I served as the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants student representative. I now practice in Gainesville, Georgia. I enjoy water sports, hunting, fishing, snowboarding, and traveling. I admire this profession and its growth and I couldn't be more proud to be an AA.
Mark Dooley, AA-C
I graduated from the Emory University Anesthesiologist Assistant program in 1996 and have been practicing as an AA at Scottish Rite Medical Center, now Childrens’ Healthcare of Atlanta, since graduation. Susan, also an AA, and I have two great kids, Ben and Kate, whom our lives revolve around. We spend our time working, playing and raising the kids.
My profession is very important to me and my family, and I am very grateful for what it has given me for the past 16 years. Sometimes it is hard to find the right way to give back to your profession. This opportunity for me to take on a position with the board of directors for the GAAA will allow me to support and protect the profession that has given so much to me. I have many great ideas and a vast network of resources that I am bringing to the GAAA.
My family and I thank you for this opportunity.
Brad Maxwell, AA-C
I graduated from the Emory University Anesthesiologist Assistant program in 1998 and began my career as a staff anesthetist in the Emory University Hospital System. I spent four years in the EUH system before deciding to transition to the private practice setting. I joined the anesthesia group of DeKalb Anesthesia Associates in October 2002. Over my career I have had the opportunity to wear many different hats in efforts to advance our profession. I was appointed to the ARC-AA (Accreditation Review Committee for the Anesthesiologist Assistants) in 2002 and served until 2008. I served as the chair of the ARC-AA from 2005-2008. The ARC-AA functions under the umbrella of CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) and has the primary purpose to regulate and make recommendations in regards to the academic standards of the Anesthesiologist Assistant programs. CAAHEP serves as the accrediting body for all of the AA programs. I was elected to the CAAHEP Board of Directors where I served from 2007-2010. I also served on the AAAA Board of Directors from 2003-2009. My experiences have given me many different perspectives of the profession. The clinical experiences that I anticipated, the academic side in terms of accreditation and the political workings of the AAAA. I hope to bring all that I have learned to the GAAA Board of Directors so that we continue to solidify of our profession in the state of Georgia and encourage its growth beyond our state borders.
Leigh Salz, AA-C
Graduated from Nova Southeastern University's Anesthesiologist Assistant Program in August 2011 with a Masters in Health Science. I received my Bachelors degree at University of South Florida in 2006 in Biomedical Sciences. Before becoming and Anesthesiologist Assistant, I worked for Florida Blood Services as a Nationally Certified Medical Technologist/Laboratory Scientist. I have also worked as a Quality Assurance Specialist for Ascent Healthcare Solutions, a medical device reprocessing company.
Currently, I am working at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant. I look forward to helping the profession of anesthesiologist assistants in any way possible, from teaching current students that rotate through Phoebe Putney to working together with our state and national societies to further the progression of our profession.
Gina Scarboro, AA-C
Gina Scarboro is the Program Director and Assistant Professor for the Anesthesiologist Assistant Program at South University in Savannah, GA. She graduated from Emory University in 1998 with a Master of Medical Science Degree in Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring Systems where she was the recipient of the Steinhaus Award for Academic Excellence. She is a member of the AAAA, ASA, GAAA and is currently serving as the chair of the Association of Anesthesiologist Assistant Program Directors. Gina is a certified Anesthesiologist Assistant and currently practices at Memorial Health University Medical Center.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
Lindsey Hopkins, AA-S
Lindsey Hopkins, AA-S, BS, is an anesthesiologist assistant student at South University in Savannah, GA who was born and raised in McDonough, GA. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. While attending college, Lindsey was an integral member of the women’s fastpitch softball team and was a key leader in Student Athlete Advisory Board projects including volunteer efforts for Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes and Operation Noah Rebuild in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Lindsey also became a certified EMT-I in 2009 and worked in the emergency room at Southern Regional Medical Center. Passionate about helping others, Lindsey went on a Jeff Beech Foundation mission trip to Nakuru, Kenya in 2011 and was able to assist setting up and running a health clinic in this much needed area. She is now a proud member of the AAAA, ASA, GAAA, and GSA and she is willing to support and promote the profession of AAs with her leadership capabilities.
Claire Wainwright, AA-S
Claire Wainwright, AA-S, MSc, BSc, is an anesthesiologist assistant student at South University, Savannah. Originally from England, she completed a Bachelors in Science in Psychology in Neuroscience from the University of Leicester, UK, and a Masters in Science in War and Psychiatry from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK before working as a Project and Editorial Manager for the healthcare communications agency, InterComm, and moving to the USA in 2008 with her US Air Force husband.
Claire has recently been elected co-chair of a new Philanthropy Committee for the AAAA Student Component and is also a Health Professions Network AAAA Representative. In addition, she headed the South University “Lifebox Africa” project and is currently planning a US-wide AA-student community outreach initiative set to roll out in February 2013.
Looking to call Georgia her permanent home after graduation, Claire is a student member of the GAAA, GSA, ASA and AAAA, and has attended multiple conferences so far in 2012, including both winter and summer GSA meetings.