Alicia Quella is the Director of Communications and PA Relations at the NCCPA. She has served as a PA Program Chair and Director and has practiced in emergency medicine and primary care. She has served as an epidemiologist and has published research on the PA workforce, global health and issues affecting diversity in PA program admissions. Alicia earned her Masters of PA Studies degree and her doctoral degree in epidemiology from the University of Iowa.

Tim Thornton, PA-C, has over 15 years of experience practicing as a solo Emergency Medicine provider in Critical Access Hospitals across Montana. He is a graduate of the University of Washington MEDEX Physician Assistant Program (2006) and has an extensive background in emergency medical services, including service as a flight paramedic with A.L.E.R.T. at Logan Health in Kalispell. Tim is an Emergency Medicine and EMS educator and currently serves as an EMS Medical Director. He is passionate about the role of Physician Assistants in Emergency Medicine and believes that well-trained, motivated PAs play a critical role in addressing rural emergency department staffing challenges.

Stacy Hermiller, PA-C, is a physician assistant practicing in orthopedics in Great Falls, Montana, with more than 23 years of clinical experience. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Montana and completed her physician assistant training at Alderson Broaddus College in West Virginia, one of the original PA programs in the United States. A native Montanan, Stacy returned to her home state to practice and raise her family. Outside of work, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Emily Hall, PA-C, is a physician assistant specializing in sleep medicine at St. Vincent Hospital, where she has practiced for the past four years. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology in Duluth, Minnesota, and completed her physician assistant training at the Rocky Mountain College PA Program in Billings, Montana. Emily’s clinical interests include the diagnosis and management of sleep-disordered breathing and supporting patients in achieving successful long-term treatment outcomes.

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Elizabeth Sherman, DMS, PA-C, practices perioperative medicine in Bozeman, Montana. She earned her Doctor of Medical Science degree in Healthcare Practice and Administration from Butler University in 2025 and completed her physician assistant training at Quinnipiac University in 2015. Elizabeth has a strong interest in perioperative optimization, professional development, and PA advocacy. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and exploring the mountains of the western United States with her family.

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Brennan Dodson, MD, FARS, earned his MD from the University of Oklahoma and completed his ENT residency at the University of Colorado. He founded Bridger ENT in 2006 and serves as the primary ENT for Bozeman and the surrounding communities. About half of his practice focuses on pediatrics, and as a Fellow of the American Rhinologic Society, he brings advanced expertise in nasal and sinus care for children and adults.

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Adam Christopher, PA-C, is a physician associate with more than 17 years of clinical experience, including 15 years in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. He currently practices at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Montana. In addition to his clinical work, Adam is a husband, father, musician, member of Missoula Search and Rescue, and an avid outdoor adventurer.

Anisha McClure, PA-C, is a physician assistant and health coach with over 10 years of experience in acute and urgent care. She currently practices in Great Falls, Montana, and serves as a First Lieutenant in the 120th Medical Group of the Montana Air National Guard. Anisha brings expertise in patient-centered care and integrative health, combining her clinical and leadership experience to advance community wellness.

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John Polley, MD, is an renowned board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He brings to his practice his extensive experience in cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery for both children and adults. Particular areas of interest include cosmetic surgery, individuals born with cleft lip, palate and other congenital or acquired facial anomalies, reconstruction following trauma and craniomaxillofacial surgery.

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Lindsey Gardner, PA-C, graduated from the University of Utah PA Program in 2007. She has fully embraced the latitude offered by the PA profession, working in urgent care, orthopedic urgent care, orthopedic surgery, and for a brief stint in General Surgery in Australia before moving back to Missoula in 2015 and embarking on her career as a Gastroenterology PA. She has been with Montana GI since 2016 and thoroughly enjoys reminding everyone to get their screening colonoscopies.

Blaine White, PA-C, ipracticed in a CAH rural emergency department in Glasgow Montana for the last 13 years. He has been an EMS medical director for 8 years and has been precepting PA students for the past 7 years. He is happily married to Megan White and has four children ranging from 20-12 years old. He enjoys the great outdoors and traveling with his family. He loves rural medicine and living in Montana .

Brian Van Ness, PA-C, is currently working for Stanford University Medical Center and has over 30 years of healthcare experience, working in a variety of settings from hospital medicine to critical care, acute care surgery and trauma, in the inpatient and outpatient settings. He has years of experience in treating patients with emergency cardiac arrhythmias and will present tips to help you identify and treat patients with emergency cardiac arrhythmias.

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Prescribe and order appropriate treatments with medications, injections, or referrals to specialists Discuss impact PAs make on patient outcomes About the Speaker Ashley Schnell, PA-C, is a physician assistant with 15 years of clinical practice, including ambulatory care, inpatient care, and assisting in the operating room. Though she has worked in multiple subspecialties of orthopedic surgery, her passion is total hip and knee replacement. She works to educate her patients, while providing the highest quality of orthopedic care. Additionally, she is a guest lecturer and a co-facilitator of an annual casting and splinting workshop for the Stanford physician assistant program.

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Robert Page, MD, is a Dermatopathologist who has been in practice for 25 years in Knoxville, TN. He is an assistant clinical professor at both the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University and has been working with and instructing both dermatologists and pathologists as well as physician assistants. A native Tennessean, he and his wife are the proud parents of two daughters who are both pursuing medical careers; his older daughter will graduate from Belmont University as a DNP next month.

Andrew (Andy) Ashford, PA-C, graduated from the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant (PA) program in 2014. Over the past year Andy has transitioned to academia and is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Assistant Director of Clinical Education at the University of Montana Physician Associate Program. Prior to this had been in clinical practice at the Providence Heart Institute in Missoula. Andy also retired from the Army in 2023 after serving twenty years in the Active and National Guard components a Special Forces Medical Sergeant (Green Beret, 18D) and Special Operations PA. Andy is an Associate of the American College of Cardiology (AACC), Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM), and he holds a Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM). He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at the University of Montana to advance his contributions in academic leadership.

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With over 26 years of experience as a clinician and educator, Carrie McMahon, is a dedicated PA whose career spans a diverse array of specialties including family medicine, women’s health, plastic surgery, and dermatology. Throughout her career, Carrie has consistently demonstrated a passion for quality patient care and medical education, making a significant impact on both the clinical and academic fields. Carrie has been committed to advancing the PA profession. After personally experiencing provider burnout in 2018, she has been dedicated to exploring research and literature about this important topic. Moreover, the link between burnout and financial wellness. Carrie is excited to share insights from her extensive clinical and educational experience at this year’s conference, where she will discuss prevention of healthcare provider burnout through the lens of financial freedom. She looks forward to engaging with fellow professionals and contributing to the ongoing advancement of the PA profession.