APAO Board of DirectorsPast PresidentThe President position is a three-year commitment of volunteer leadership – serving one year as President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President. The President is the elected volunteer leader of APAO and designated chair of the BOD. They serve as the primary spokesperson for APAO. In concert with the other officers of the BOD, the President oversees the implementation of corporate policies and bylaws. The President reports to the APAO members.
Tiffany Marie Statler, DMSc, PA-C
Tiffany, a doctoral-trained physician assistant and a medical science liaison at Menarini Stemline, is deeply committed to advancing patient care and the role of PAs in the field of oncology. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Nutrition from East Carolina University. Tiffany furthered her education by obtaining dual Master of Science degrees in Public Health and Physician Assistant Practice from Campbell University in 2016. Committed to advancing her knowledge and skills, she pursued and achieved a Doctorate of Medical Science (DMSc) from the University of Lynchburg in 2019. Before joining Menarini Stemline, Tiffany practiced as a dedicated PA and co-founded the Oncology Supportive Care Clinic at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, where she delivered compassionate and high-quality palliative care to cancer patients and their families. In addition to her clinical and research work, Tiffany remains actively involved in advocacy and education within the oncology community. As the President of APAO, Tiffany will continue to champion the recognition and advancement of PAs' pivotal role in oncology practice. Tiffany's dedication to advancing the field of oncology is not limited to clinical practice. She actively engages in advocacy and inclusion efforts, striving to foster growth and engagement within committees and among APAO members. Her overarching goal is to advance the field of oncology through evidence-based practice, education, and collaborative efforts. She is deeply committed to making meaningful contributions that positively impact the lives of patients, families, and providers affected by cancer, and she looks forward to continuing this journey of innovation and advocacy in oncology care. PresidentThe President-Elect is an officer of APAO and succeeds to the office of President at the expiration of the President's term, or earlier, should that office become vacant for any reason. 
Kerri Ann Rall, MPAS, EdD, PA-C
Kerri Ann Rall, MPAS, EdD PA-C is a member of the 2008 class of the Kings College BS/MS PA Program and more recently completed her doctoral degree in Leadership and Education from the College of St. Mary in 2021. Kerri Ann has practiced in oncology since graduation. She started her career in a community hospital practice, than narrowed her clinical focus to hematopoietic stem cell transplant, hematologic malignancy and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells. She practiced at Dana Farber Cancer Institute & Brigham and Women Hospital in Boston, MA and currently practices at Yale New Haven Smilow Cancer Hospital. Kerri was an integral member of the committee to develop and implement the CAR-T program at Yale New Haven Hospital. In addition to her clinical work Kerri currently serves as an assistant professor and the Clinical Director at the University of St. Joseph PA program. She is passionate about PA education and creating a framework to enhance physician assistant hematology and oncology curriculum to heighten students’ depth of understanding. She serves as a member of ConnAPA philanthropic arm: CT PA Foundation to develop and promote PA education in the state of CT. Her dual employment in both academia and clinical practice allows her to interact with PAs throughout the spectrum of their career. As an APAO Board member, Kerri hopes to enhance student participation, education, and mentorship using her experiences in academia and clinical practice. President ElectThe Director-at-Large is an officer of APAO who must participate fully in the work of the BOD and contribute constructively to its deliberations.
Cory Edgar, PA-C
Cory has practiced in malignant hematology and stem cell transplant since graduation from PA school, working in both large NCI-designated academic centers in Texas and now in a community oncology practice in Florida. Cory currently works in a joint appointment with both academic responsibilities as an Assistant Professor in the PA Program at AdventHealth University and clinical responsibilities in the BMT/Malignant Hematology clinic at AdventHealth Orlando. Cory is passionate about training and mentoring PA students and Pas new to the specialty to the field of oncology. His joint appointment has allowed him the chance to interact with PAs throughout the entirety of their careers. Cory hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the APAO Board representing a spectrum of experiences from academia to clinical practice and from academic centers to community practices. SecretaryThe Secretary is an officer of APAO who ensures that the actions of the BOD are documented. Kathleen Boyle, DScPAS, MMSc, PA-C
Kathleen Boyle, DScPAS, MMSc, PA-C is enthusiastic to join the APAO Board in the role of Secretary. After earning her dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies from Fordham University, Kathleen’s first introduction to oncology care was in an administrative role at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This opportunity ignited her interest in oncology care and opened her eyes to the variety of roles that PAs can have in clinical care, research care, and healthcare reform. She furthered her education by obtaining her Master of Medical Science from Yale University School of Medicine, Physician Associate Program and then her Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The majority of Kathleen’s career has been practicing cancer care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA in a variety of roles including solid tumor inpatient oncology, thoracic medical and surgical ambulatory oncology, and currently gastrointestinal ambulatory oncology. She is passionate about inclusion of high-quality palliative care conversations into care and the efficient coordination of multidisciplinary care to best meet patient clinical needs. Applying her knowledge from her doctorate concentration on Health System Administration, Kathleen is eager to learn from her fellow board members and APAO colleagues and best support efforts for enhanced PA education, networking, and advocacy. TreasurerThe Treasurer is an APAO officer responsible for overseeing accurate accounts of APAO’s properties and funds, including cash, outstanding advances, investments, accounts receivable and other assets, accounts payable, and fund balances [net assets].
Sarah Vitulli, PA-C
Sarah graduated from Rutgers University in 2010 with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She then earned a dual degree, an M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies and a B.S. in Health Sciences, from Touro College Manhattan in 2016. Since then, Sarah has dedicated her career to working in Hematology/Oncology, both at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Hospital’s Inpatient Leukemia Service and Mount Sinai’s Outpatient Myeloma Procedural Clinic. She has served on the APAO Board since 2020, initially as Director at Large from July 2020 to July 2022 and as Treasurer from July 2022 to the present. Sarah is passionate about mentoring and guiding new PAs in the oncology field and has developed and chaired the APAO Mentorship Program Director-at-LargeThe Director-at-Large is an officer of APAO who must participate fully in the work of the BOD and contribute constructively to its deliberations.
Leesha Gunnink
Leesha Gunnink graduated from Duke University PA Program in 2018 and has worked in Hematology/Oncology ever since. She started her career on the inpatient Hematology/Oncology service at Yale Smilow Cancer Hospital, and now for over 6 years, Leesha has held roles not only on the inpatient Hematology/Oncology service, but also on the Medical Oncology Consult team and in the Smilow Extended Care Clinic, where Oncology patients can be seen for urgent complaints and supportive care. Throughout her career, Leesha has held a passion for training new PA’s as well as advocating for the PA role within the healthcare team and the value they add to patient care. As an APAO board member, Leesha hopes to empower and further the community of Oncology PA’s and students, knowing how meaningful an impact PA’s have on the care of Oncology patients.
Student RepresentativeThe Student Representative represents the voice of PA students across the country. The Student Representative embraces APAO’s mission with a focus on student-oriented engagement, professional development, and advocacy.
Sydney Tharp
Sydney Tharp is a third-year PA student at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Louisville and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies with an additional pathway in Community Health. Sydney has completed clinical rotations in inpatient hematology, surgical oncology, and palliative care, where she developed a strong interest in cancer care and the role of PAs in multidisciplinary oncology teams. She is a student member of APAO and has participated in both the mentorship program and the advocacy committee. As student representative, she is committed to elevating student engagement, expanding mentorship and networking opportunities, and highlighting the vital role of PAs in oncology. |
