2024 CME Conference Speaker Bios
Jeremy A. Adler, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA
Events: Myrtle Beach • Pensacola Beach-Sept • Orlando-Oct • Las Vegas
Topic: Pain Management & Pharmacology
Jeremy A. Adler, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, has practiced in the specialty of pain management for over 20 years and is a partner and chief operating officer at Pacific Pain Medicine Consultants in Encinitas, CA. As a licensed PA, he has earned a doctorate in medical science and a master’s degree specializing in pain management/physical medicine. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow from the American Academy of Physician Associates and is a recipient of the Pride of the Profession awarded by the California Academy of PAs. He was also selected as the 2022 America’s Top PA in Pain Management by POCN.
Dr. Adler has been an active advocate for appropriate pain care for all patients. He is a published author and lectures regionally and nationally on various pain topics. In addition, he has co-authored evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on opioids and urine drug monitoring.
In addition to patient care and medical education, Dr. Adler has participated in healthcare leadership. He founded the San Diego Society of PAs and functioned as the President of the Society for ten years. He has served as President of one of the largest state PA professional societies in the county, the California Academy of PAs, and currently is a task force chair. He is Vice-President of the Pain Medicine Special Interest Group at the American Academy of PAs and co-chairs the APP Committee of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
Shauna Applin, A-NP, AAHIVs
Events: Pensacola Beach-Sept • Orlando-Oct
Topic: HIV
Shauna Applin, A-NP, AAHIVs, has practiced in Infectious Disease since 2006. She serves as the HIV Clinical Director for the second largest HIV practice outside of King County in the state of WA. She provides Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and PrEP care in a community health-based setting. She is on faculty with the Mountain West AIDS Education and Training Center (MWAETC) and with the Community Health Care (CHC) Multidisciplinary Residency where all residents learn the above specialties under her supervision. She serves as primary investigator on HIV and HCV clinical trials in Tacoma as well.
Nancy Berman, MSN, ANP-BC, NCMP, FAANP
Events: Destin • Virginia Beach • Orlando-Oct • Las Vegas
Topic: Women’s Health
Nancy R. Berman specializes in women’s healthcare at Michigan Healthcare Professionals in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She has been a nurse practitioner since 1978 and holds certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and a NAMS Menopause Practitioner. Her BSN is from the University of Michigan, and her MSN is from Wayne State University.
She has been a nurse colposcopist and expert in HPV and lower genital tract disease for over 35 years. Nancy served on the board of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) from 2010 through 2016 and as a Course Director of the ASCCP Comprehensive Colposcopy Course for a two-year term from 2017 to 2019. In addition, she served on the Michigan Cervical Cancer Consortium and the Governor’s Task Force on Cervical Cancer. She currently represents Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) as a member of the ASCCP Committee for the Enduring Guidelines for the Management of Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Tests and Cancer Precursors.
Nancy is the author of numerous publications in journals, including Advance for Nurse Practitioners, The Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Healthcare, and A Clinical Journal for NPs. In addition, she has written numerous educational programs and participated in podcasts and webinars for continuing education for organizations, including NPWH, AANP, Healthy Women, and PER. She has authored book chapters in Advanced Assessment of Women, Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care, and the Atlas of Primary Care Procedures. Her expertise to NPs, PAs, and physicians with presentations on HPV, cervical cancer prevention, HPV vaccine, vulvar and vaginal disease, colposcopy, menopause, and osteoporosis at over two hundred national continuing education conferences. She has participated in resident education and has been invited as a guest speaker for the hospital Grand Rounds. She was inducted as a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in 2015.
Midge Bowers DNP, FNP-BC, AACC, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN
Events: Pensacola Beach-May • Virginia Beach • San Antonio
Topic: Cardiology & Emergency Medicine
Midge Bowers is a Clinical Professor and Lead Faculty for the cardiovascular specialty at Duke University School of Nursing in Durham, NC. She holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Medicine, division of cardiology, as a nurse practitioner. Dr. Bowers earned her BSN from Binghamton University, her MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in critical care at Duke University School of Nursing, and completed a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Duke. Subsequently, she joined the faculty in 1999. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Colorado-Denver. Her clinical practice focuses on patients with heart failure, and her scholarly work is focused on the care of patients with cardiovascular diseases. As an Associate in the American College of Cardiology and a certified health simulation educator, she is the only nurse practitioner on the leadership team of the ACC simulation council. She is actively involved in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as the Chair of the Cardiology Special Practice group and is an active member of the Gerontologic Advanced Practice Nurses Association. She received the American Association of Nurse Practitioners State Award for Excellence in 2014 and was inducted as an AANP Fellow the same year. In 2019 she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Aleece Fosnight, PA-C, CSC-S, CSE, NCMP
Watch Speaker VideoEvents: Pensacola Beach-May • Orlando-June • Myrtle Beach • Pensacola Beach-Sept • San Antonio
Topic: Women’s Health
Aleece Fosnight is a board-certified physician assistant specializing in sexual medicine, women’s health, and urology. She earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Kentucky in 2011 and completed a postgraduate certificate in sexual
health counseling and education from the University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program in 2014. She is currently a certified sex counselor, sexuality educator, and sex counselor supervisor through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and
Therapists (AASECT). Fosnight is also a North American Menopause Society certified menopause practitioner and ISSWSH Fellow.
Fosnight is an LGBTQIA+, BDSM/kink-aware, and trauma-informed healthcare professional. Her clinical expertise includes pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, decreased sexual desire, interstitial cystitis, menopause transition,
pregnancy/postpartum sexuality, female sexual health, gender-affirming medicine, low testosterone, and erectile difficulties including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and delayed ejaculation.
Fosnight is a past president for the Association of PAs in OBGYN (APAOG) and serves on many local, state, and national professional organization committees. She has published and contributed to several medical journals, including ones in the Journal of American Academy of
Physician Assistants and the PA Clinics Journal, Special Topic: Women’s Health. Fosnight regularly lectures for state, regional and national audiences, guest lectures at Wake Forest and the University of Kentucky PA programs and is adjunct faculty at Brevard College teaching
human sexuality.
Fosnight was the recipient of the 2022 and 2019 Point of Care Network Top 10 PA Award for her contributions to the field of sexuality, urology, and women’s health. In June 2020, Fosnight opened her own private practice, the Fosnight Center for Sexual Health in Asheville, NC, a multidisciplinary medical center. Fosnight is also the founder of the Fosnight Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of professionals in the sexual health field and providing funding for access to healthcare services in her local community.
Zachary Hartsell, DHA, PA-C
Watch Speaker VideoEvents: Myrtle Beach • Pensacola Beach-Sept • Las Vegas
Topic: Cardiology & Emergency Medicine
Zachary Hartsell is a Hospital Medicine PA and Adjunct faculty member at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Zachary also works as a healthcare consultant specializing in workforce design and optimization and has extensive healthcare administration experience. Zachary originally graduated from Touro College in 1999 and has nearly 20 years of experience as a PA in hospital medicine, emergency medicine, and cardiology. Additionally, he participated in the initial pilot program introducing PAs to the National Health Service Scotland and worked outside Glasgow in emergency medicine for a year. Zachary serves on the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants editorial board and is a frequent speaker nationally and at hospital medicine conferences. Zachary is completing his Doctorate in Health Administration and, when not studying, enjoys baseball and scuba diving with his family.
Christopher Hemmer, DNP, ANP-BC, ONP-C, FAANP
Events: Orlando-Oct • Las Vegas
Topic: Orthopedics
Chris has been board certified as an adult nurse practitioner since 1999. He has also gone on to earn his Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Certification (ONP-C). His specialty has been in the adult orthopedic spine for the last 23 years. Chris has spent over 12 years moonlighting in the emergency department near his hometown in the St. Louis area. He is on the executive board for the Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners (AMNP). He has also published in JNP, Orthopedic Nursing, & the International Journal of Therapy and rehabilitation. Chris has also presented numerous webinar presentations for various organizations in his field of expertise over the years. Dr. Hemmer started teaching as an adjunct for Saint Louis University in 2007. In 2013, Christopher accepted a full-time position with the nursing school as an assistant professor for graduate students. He has since been promoted to full tenure Associate Professor at Saint Louis University School of nursing. Chris frequently presents orthopedic and radiologic talks on the local, state, and national levels over the years.
Certifications/ Organizations: Dr. Hemmer is board certified by ANCC as an adult nurse practitioner. Fellow of the American Associationof Nurse Practitioners. Member of North American Spine Society. Member Saint Louis Spine Society. Valentine Award Recipient for excellence in teaching. Shirley A. Martin Distinguished Nurse Award. The association of Missouri Nurse Practitioner Excellence in APN leadership award. AANP State Award for Excellence in MO.
Education: DNP, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MOMSN, Adult Nurse Practitioner, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MOBSN, Southeast Missouri State, Cape Girardeau, MO
Volunteer: Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (Mo DMAT) Oral presentation for Deaconess Faith Community Nurses, St. Louis, MN.
Deborah Hinnen, APN, BC-ADM, CDCES, FAAN, FADCES
Events: Pensacola Beach-Sept • Orlando-Oct • Las Vegas
Topic: Diabetes
Deborah Hinnen has been a clinician and diabetes educator for over forty years. As an advanced practice nurse, Debbie currently does patient work live and virtually at Memorial Hospital, University of Colorado Health, in Colorado Springs with a multidisciplinary team. She also provides diabetes services at Tri-Lakes Cares.
Debbie is involved extensively with the American Association of Diabetes Educators, having served as their national President. She was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Award and was honored with their “Fellow” designation. Debbie was also inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing in 2003.
She has also served on the national board of directors for the American Diabetes Association. Currently Debbie serves on the ADA board for Colorado and the mountain states.
Debbie currently serves adjunct faculty for the University of Colorado College of Nursing and Wichita State University, graduate nursing department. She has served as faculty with the School of Pharmacy at the University of Kansas and Creighton, and Physician Assistant Program at Wichita State University. In addition to clinical and academic efforts, Debbie publishes and speaks nationally.
Gina Mangin, MPAS, PA-C
Events: Pensacola Beach-May • Destin • Pensacola Beach-Sept
Topic: Dermatology
Gina Mangin has been a passionate and dedicated PA for 24 years, having graduated from East Carolina Physician Studies in 1999. Her career has included practicing gastroenterology and neurosurgery, though she has found her true home in dermatology for the past 15 years. During this time, she has served in various leadership roles for the Florida Society of Dermatology PAs and The Society of Dermatology PAs, including the role of President. In addition to her clinical work, Gina has been an educator, taking on PA students as preceptees and acting as a speaker for pharmaceutical companies and at educational conferences. She currently works at Sand Lake Dermatology in Orlando, Florida, where she has been for the past 10 years. When not working, Gina enjoys traveling to sunny places with her husband and two daughters, always applying sunscreen first!
Kara Roman, MMS, PA-C
Watch Speaker VideoEvents: Orlando-June • Myrtle Beach • Orlando-Oct
Topic: Dermatology
Ms. Roman received her Master of Medical Science degree from Midwestern University in 1997. Before PA school, she obtained her undergraduate degree at Houghton College in western New York, combining three majors in chemistry, psychology, and elementary education and graduating with honors in 1990. After teaching elementary school for several years, Ms. Roman followed her passion for science and medicine from the east coast to the Midwest.
Ms. Roman has practiced in family medicine, internal medicine, and urgent care. She was the Associate Director and Assistant Professor at her alma mater, the Midwestern University PA Program, for 25 years. In the summer of 2022, Kara heard the call to “Go West Young (wo)Man” and relocated to the Pacific Northwest to help start the George Fox University PA Program. She currently serves as this new program’s Associate Director and Director of Didactic Education. Kara has a special interest in women’s health, dermatology, and adolescent medicine. She was honored to receive the Golden Apple Award for outstanding teaching in 2001 from the PA students at Midwestern.
Ms. Roman lectures nationally at the AAPA, PAEA, and SPAP annual conferences on dermatology, pediatric, and women’s health topics. She can’t imagine a day without teaching someone something and is looking forward to sharing her energy and enthusiasm for dermatology with attendees at this event.
Kristin Rygg, PA-C
Events: Virginia Beach • San Antonio • Las Vegas
Topic: Dermatology
Kristin practices dermatology in Denver, CO. She graduated from the University of Florida – College of Medicine in 2008 and earned her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies. She earned her B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Physiology from the University of Minnesota. Kristin spent seven years practicing as a Hospitalist PA before switching to dermatology in 2015. She is both a preceptor and guest faculty member at the University of Colorado PA program and a pharmaceutical speaker.
Kristin is an SDPA Director at Large and was voted SDPA Committee Member of the Year in 2020 and Board Member of the Year in 2022. She was co-host of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Huddle, “Ask Me: Dermatology” in 2022, and the AAPAs “PA Like a Pro” dermatology edition in 2023. Kristin is also a Director at Large for the Colorado Dermatology PAs (CDPA) and previously served as a Director at Large for the Florida Society of Dermatology PAs (FSDPA) and Trustee at Large for the Dermatology PA Foundation (DPAF). She is an SDPA Diplomate.
Kristin lives an active lifestyle and can often be found hiking, skiing, or exploring Colorado.
Sarah Schettle, PA-C, MS, MBA
Events: Orlando-June • Destin • Orlando-Oct
Topic: Cardiology & Emergency Medicine
Sarah Schettle has worked for over 13 years as a PA-C in cardiovascular surgery, where she provides care for advanced heart failure patients with surgically implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). She remembers that cardiology gave her palpitations at the beginning of her career, so she hopes to make cardiology understandable, helpful, and fun for all attendees because it is now her favorite area of medicine. Sarah has experience breaking down complex ideas into understandable and digestible bites that make sense and do not require memorization because the concepts become intuitive. In her role, she has given hundreds of lectures and talks and invited presentations on cardiology topics in both national and international venues. Research has also been a passion of hers, and she has a special interest in introducing novel therapies to treat complications experienced in the LVAD population. Sarah has extensively published on cardiology-related topics in numerous journal articles and book chapters and has also shared research concepts and cardiology expertise through podcasts and webinars. Recently, Sarah was honored with the “America’s Top PA” award, was the recipient of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Professional Community Award for Excellence, recognizing interdisciplinary contributions and independent research efforts, has achieved academic rank as an Assistant Professor in Surgery, and has obtained certification in the Academy of Educational Excellence at the Fellow Level. When Sarah is not studying, researching, or practicing medicine, she is an avid runner and has completed numerous marathons and half marathons. She also enjoys traveling, devours nonfiction books, and has never met chocolate she did not enjoy. It is her hope that each attendee can add cardiology to their list of interests and come away with a better understanding and appreciation of cardiology as a result of attending this course.
Laurel Short, DNP, FNP-C
Watch Speaker VideoEvents: Orlando-June • San Antonio
Topic: Orthopedics
Dr. Laurel Short is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Nurse Practitioner with Kansas City Bone & Joint Clinic in Overland Park, Kansas. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nursing from Luther College and a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Kansas. She completed her Doctor of Nursing degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with an emphasis on self-management for chronic migraine. Self-management for chronic conditions has been a focus for Dr. Short throughout my nursing career, and she often says that a major treatment goal is to “put patient’s back in the driver’s seat of your life.”
Dr. Short is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and an active leader with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals. Her clinical practice includes comprehensive musculoskeletal and neurologic rehabilitation medicine.
She is passionate about working with rehabilitation patients to maximize their function and wellness. Outside of the office, you’ll find her training for endurance events, cooking, and chasing her two young kiddos.
Gerald Weniger, PhD, ATC, PA-C
Watch Speaker VideoEvents: Myrtle Beach • Virginia Beach • Pensacola Beach-Sept
Topic: Orthopedics
Gerald (Jerry) Weniger is an Associate Professor at James Madison University in the Department of Health Professions and is in his 11th year as the Director of the Physician Assistant Program. He teaches all of the orthopedic/musculoskeletal portions of the curriculum. He also teaches some of the emergency medicine topics, imaging topics, and the hands-on skills workshops.
Dr. Weniger has over 12-years of clinical experience as a Physician Assistant working in Orthopedic Surgery, Student Health, and Emergency Medicine. He also serves as a case reviewer and expert witness for medico-legal cases and has regularly presented at national conferences including NATA’s Annual Symposium, AAPA’s Annual Conference, and PAEA’s Annual Education Forum.
Dr. Weniger completed his undergraduate degree in Health Sciences-Athletic Training from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. He earned a Master’s degree in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training from the University of Virginia (UVA), while maintaining a graduate assistantship with the UVA football program. After working as an athletic trainer at the collegiate level, he earned a second Master’s degree, this time in Physician Assistant Studies from James Madison University. Later after getting involved in academics, he completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration & Educational Leadership from Liberty University.
Dr. Weniger enjoys serving his local church, spending time with his wife and three children, and watching college football and basketball.