MISSION
The mission of ASPA is to promote cost effective, high quality, accesible health care to all Alabamians as part of a physician directed team; to provide for professional development of individual PAs; and to work with physicians, patients, government officials and others to promote and represent the PA profession in Alabama.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Heather Neighbors, President
Heather graduated from the UAB Surgical Physician Assistant Program in 2008. Following graduation, she practiced with a vascular surgeon in Birmingham until 2018 when she joined the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program as the co-Director of Clinical Education. Heather lives in Birmingham with her husband and 3 sons. She is excited to serve as the ASPA president and looks forward to working with the PAs of Alabama.
Bellamy Davis, President Elect
Bellamy serves as the Vice President of ASPA for 2022-2023. She graduated from UAB in 2017 with her MSPA. She also has a Masters of Public Health. Since graduation, she has been working at Urology Centers of Alabama in Birmingham.
Lindsay Kolasa, Vice President
Lindsay is a native of Birmingham who graduated from the UAB Physician Assistant program in 2015. She has experience in both primary care and radiation oncology and currently practices in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UAB.
Katie Beckham, Secretary
Katie graduated in 2012 from the UAB Surgical Physician Assistant Program. She currently practices with an orthopedic surgery group at Andrew’s Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham.
Bonnie Minton, Treasurer
Bonnie Minton serves as Co-Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor at the University of South Alabama PA Program. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University and a Master of Health Science in PA Studies from the University of South Alabama. She enjoys teaching clinical medicine and pathophysiology in the specialties of hematology and oncology. Other areas of interest include PA student resiliency and emotional intelligence as they relate to admission practices and matriculation in addition to higher education leadership. She is currently serving as one of ASPA's board members at large representing the Alabama Gulf coast. She lives in Mobile with her husband, Mark, and 2 children.
Paul Harrelson, Immediate Past President
Paul has been in PA education for 20+ years. Currently, he is the Chair of the Samford Physician Assistant studies program and works in General surgery.
Natalie Barefield, Treasurer
Natalie Barefield, PA-C, is serving as treasurer for ASPA. Natalie obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and biology from Troy University. She earned her Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from the UAB in 2010. She worked in orthopedic/spine surgery for 7 years in Montana and then in general /trauma surgery back in Alabama. Currently, she is an Instructor of Primary Clinical Skills at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan, AL.
Board Members at Large:
Chelsea Bares
Jeremy Kersey
Molly Miller
Molly graduated from the UAB Physician Assistant Program in 2019. She has worked in radiology at UAB doing image guided procedures for three years and is looking forward to serving on the ASPA Board of Directors this year.
Stephanie McGilvray
Stephanie McGilvray, MMSc, PA-C, has been a physician assistant since 2000. She currently serves as the Department Chair and Program Director for the Physician Assistant Studies Program at the University of South Alabama and has been in that role since January, 2018. Prior to 2018, she was an Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) PA Program. Her clinical experience prior to entering academia includes working in the UAB Trauma and Burn Intensive Care Unit and working in orthopedics for Alabama Sports Medicine. McGilvray has worked part-time in the emergency department and in an urgent care. She holds a Master of Medical Science from Emory University, a Master of Education in Exercise Technology from the University of South Alabama, and Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Troy University.
Kristen Osterreider
Kristen graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2009. She practiced family medicine her first 2 years, and then moved to endocrinology where she's been practicing in the Auburn/Opelika area in a private practice endocrinology office for the past 10-11 years. A member of the Alabama National Guard since 2011, Kristen has been deployed to Kuwait, and has also been to Romania. In June 2023, she resigned from the endocrinology position to be the full time PA for the 46th CST/WMD in Montgomery, AL. Kristen looks forward to being a part of the ASPA team!
WHAT IS A PA ?
Physician Assistants (PAs) are nationally certified and state licensed medical professionals who can examine, test, treat and prescribe medicine for patients. The exact work they can do depends on their level of experience, the setting in which they work, their specialty and state laws. For instance, PAs can diagnose and treat illnesses, assist in surgery and order and interpret tests among other duties.
Interested in knowing more? Click to view What Is a PA by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
EMPLOY A PA
For nearly 50 years, PAs have been part of the healthcare team. In today's changing healthcare climate, the PA-phyician team can enhance the quality of care patients receive.
Click to learn more about the PA-physican team and hiring a PA from the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
To learn more about your responsibilities as a supervising physician and/or to list a position on our job board visit our For Physicians page.