WSPA/OSPA Joint Spring Conference 2026

Ashlee Baltich is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Clinical Education in the School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Pacific University. She earned her DPT at Pacific University, and she is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy. Her current teaching responsibilities include a lab-based course instructing students in performance of MMT and ROM, clinical education oversight, and various lectures regarding pelvic health. She is passionate about providing pelvic health education not only to her students and patients but also to other healthcare professionals, including physician assistant students at Pacific University, and has presented at the Physical Therapy and Medical Assistant State Conferences in 2024.

Ashley Holsen, MD FAAP, is a pediatrician at East Portland Pediatric Clinic, a community pediatric clinic in Portland, OR. She completed her pediatric residency at OHSU in 2014. Originally from Clovis, CA, she received her B.S. in genetics at University of California, Irvine (go Anteaters!), and her medical degree at UC Davis. In her spare time with her husband and energetic children, they enjoy biking, hiking, legos, and reading. On her own, she enjoys dancing ballet and a good book.

Boyd Hammond is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes. His clinical practice spans inpatient diabetes care and outpatient endocrinology, with a focus on gender-affirming hormone therapy, diabetes, thyroid disease, and other endocrinopathies.

In the hospital, he manages complex and hard-to-control diabetes, diabetic emergencies, and other causes of hyperglycemia. The inpatient diabetes service is consulted on all hospitalized patients using insulin pumps, requiring up-to-date expertise in diabetes technology and insulin delivery systems.

Outside of clinical care, he serves as a sub-investigator on research related to gender-affirming hormone therapy and is actively involved in endocrinology education for physician assistant students, both at the bedside and in the classroom.

Brian is a PA at Stanford Health Care on the inpatient hospitalist team. Mr. Van Ness spent the previous 20 plus years working in critical care, trauma, and acute care surgery. Prior to his career as a PA, Mr. Van Ness also worked as an RN in critical care and the ED. Mr. Van Ness speaks nationally and locally at several PA conferences and teaches at several PA programs across the country. In his spare time he enjoys, skiing, hiking and traveling.

Born in raised in Seattle, Chris has worked and volunteered in healthcare throughout Washington State. Working as a Phlebotomist, EMT, then ER Tech prior to PA school, he is now working as a Neurocritical Care PA at the University of Washington Medical Center. Chris is a new grad PA and attended MEDEX Seattle (Graduated class of 2025), where he served as Class 57’s class president. Outside of medicine, Chris enjoys skiing, fishing, scuba diving, ultimate frisbee, camping, hiking, and running. He lives in North Seattle and continues to help mentor PA and pre-PA students.

Dr. Dale Robertson is an experienced Physician Assistant/Associate and educator with a Doctor of Medical Science degree from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and a Master of Clinical Health Services from the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Training Program. Dr. Robertson currently serves as Program Director and Associate Professor at Franklin Pierce University Arizona Hybrid. Dr Robertson has over 18 years of experience as a PA and over 9 years of experience in PA education. Dr. Robertson also served in the United States Army, where he received the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and was honorably discharged. Dr. Robertson’s clinical experience spans urgent care, emergency medicine, family practice, and correctional medicine. He also has a background as a Respiratory Therapist.

Dr. Griffin is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland Oregon. His passion and focus of semi-retired work involves prevention of Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease complications in the foot with emphasis on racial disparities and community based solutions. He coordinates his “diabetes dream team” of providers to volunteer in the high risk amputation communities in Portland OR-Vancouver WA  providing information and screening as the “Love One Another” project.  Outside of playing with feet, he enjoys boomer exercise, cycling classes and traveling with his beautiful wife Maureen.

Dwight C. Macero, MS, PA-C is an advanced practice provider in the Bezos Family Immunotherapy Clinic at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington with a focus on adoptive cellular therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and autoimmune disorders. He received his bachelor of arts cum laude in biology from Boston University in 2006 and previously worked in the biotech industry prior to becoming a physician assistant. He received his master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the Weill Cornell PA program in New York City in 2015 and began his career at NewYork Presbyterian – Columbia University Medical Center on the acute leukemia inpatient service. He then joined the Blood Cancer and Bone Marrow Transplant program at the University of Colorado where he focused on lymphoma and multiple myeloma and was the former APP lead of the plasma cell disorders program prior to joining Fred Hutch in 2024. His research interests are in improving the treatment of toxicities associated with CAR-T and access to cellular therapies.

Lauren Trew, PA-C, MCHS, is a board-certified physician assistant and a teaching associate with UW Urology. She attended MEDEX Northwest in Spokane. She is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Associates, the Washington Academy of Physician Associates, the American Urologic Association, and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. She specializes in the care of sensitive issues of sexual dysfunction as well as helping men and AMAB patients with general urologic concerns.

Graduated university of Washington MEDEX program 2003

Employed by Radia for past 22 years as lead PA in interventional radiology.

Manichanh: Feral PA-C with a focus on rural emergency medicine and improving outcomes in low resource settings. Experiences include working in large trauma centers, rural communities, no fee for service sites, and humanitarian aid in Nigeria, Mexico, Guatemala, and Ukraine. Tobi is a Staffordshire Terrier that came from a rescue in C. California where the was found full of shotgun pellets and very malnourished. Tobi recently received the title of “First Responder Therapy Dog”. He has performed site visits at emergency rooms, field medical sites, and fire stations to provide comfort and emotional support. One of his future goals is to assist in wild land disasters and obtain 2nd breakfasts.

Nicole Reichhart, PA-C, MPAS is an Associate Professor of PA Medicine at Northwest University with 13 years of clinical experience in Emergency and Urgent Care medicine and 7 years as a PA educator. She completed a post-graduate Emergency Medicine fellowship at Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she was trained in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). Nicole has led hands-on ultrasound at the AAPA iScan national conference over the past 5 years and has helped build and expand POCUS training for both students and faculty at two PA programs. She loves making ultrasound practical, approachable, and fun. She enjoys breaking down complex images into skills clinicians can immediately use at the bedside, helping them make sense of the many shades of gray. When she’s not scanning, Nicole and her family enjoy traveling and trying new foods. Michelle Matyseck, DMSc, PA-C is an Assistant Professor of Physician Associate Education at Oregon Health & Science University. She has 11 years of clinical experience in Primary and Urgent Care and 2 years as a PA educator. She completed a postgraduate point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training program where she was trained in the clinical application of POCUS. As a new educator, Michelle is working to create POCUS training modules for the next generation of Physician Associates. Outside of clinic and education, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Robert Olsen MD has provided mental health care for 25 years, and TMS for TRD since 2017. Remission rates with TMS far exceed depression treatment as usual with medications and psychotherapy. Assertive treatment of depression reduces all health care spending since people who are happier take care of themselves better throughout life. My mission is to provide access for TMS for whomever needs it. I am medical director for Best Mind, now the largest provider of TMS in OR.

Ryan Hassan, MD MPH, is a board-certified pediatrician working at Pediatric Associates of the Northwest in Oregon, and the Medical Director of Boost Oregon. He attended Paul L Foster School of Medicine in El Paso, Texas, where he completed his MD and MPH in 2014, and subsequently completed pediatric residency in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2017. His professional work is centered around improving the lives of children by promoting preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyle choices at the individual, community, and policy levels, and by empowering physicians to become better advocates for their patients. Dr. Hassan has been speaking with healthcare providers, community advocates, and patients about vaccine science on behalf of Boost Oregon since 2018.

Dr. Ryland Stucke is a native Oregonian and Board Certified in General Surgery and Obesity Medicine. He completed his residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Oregon Health & Science University. He currently serves as the Chair of Surgery at Adventist Health Portland and the Director of Bariatric Surgery and the Medical Weight Loss programs. Dr. Stucke is passionate about creating a patient-centered, individualized approach to improving wellness and metabolic health. In his spare time, Dr. Stucke enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with his wife and 3 kids.

Shawn has worked as a PA at Harborview Medical Center with neurosurgery as a neuro-hospitalist serving WWAMI region since 2010. He has about a year and a half experience as a surgical assist at Group Health. He later returned to Harborview Medical center where he has remained. He 15 years experience in the acute care treatment of patients with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, Cerebrovascular pathology and brain and spinal cord malignancies. In his spare time, Shawn volunteers at his children’s school as a speech team coach and is an instructor trainee at Seattle Taekwondo working with young kids and teens.

Dr. Stephanie Benao, MMS, PharmD, PA-C, is a PA at MultiCare Pulmonology in Yakima, Washington, where she has been honored to care for patients with chronic lung conditions for the past three years.

Dr. Benao earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology (2010) and Doctor of Pharmacy (2016) degrees from Idaho State University and went on to complete her Master of Medical Science degree at Yale University in 2022.

Before becoming a Physician Associate, Dr. Benao spent over a decade in community pharmacy, where she gained extensive expertise in medication management and health education. Her experience as a pharmacist deepened her understanding of how meaningful connections and compassionate, accessible care can profoundly impact patients’ lives.

Her current work in pulmonary medicine allows her to combine her clinical and pharmacological proficiency to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care. Dr. Benao is passionate about serving medically underserved populations and is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help improve her patients’ health and quality of life. She finds great fulfillment in the complexity and evolving nature of pulmonary medicine, particularly in light of the rapid advances in therapy seen in recent years.

Valerie Mazziotti, PA-C, PCC has over 30 years of clinical experience as a Physician Assistant and is also a Professional Certified Life Coach supporting healthcare professionals. She currently practices with Altea Healthcare in geriatric medicine, providing care in skilled nursing facilities. Valerie helps Physician Assistants sustain long, fulfilling careers without burnout. Her interactive, career-planning sessions offer practical, evidence-informed strategies that attendees can apply immediately to support professional longevity, career satisfaction, and overall well-being.

A Minnesota native whose path reflects both service and dedication to community care. After earning an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Augsburg University in Minneapolis, I enlisted in the military with the goal of becoming a medevac pilot. Selected to fly scout reconnaissance helicopters, I also served as a maintenance test pilot and deployed overseas to Iraq, while completing extensive training assignments across the United States. After ten years of service, I separated to pursue a career in medicine.
I went on to become an EMT and firefighter, later earning a Master of Science in PA Studies (MSPA) from Heritage University in eastern Washington. Now calling Olympia home, I work in the emergency department at Providence St. Peter Hospital.
When not in the ER, I can be found tending to my small homestead, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with family and a beloved crew of animals.

In my 40 years of practice, my 20 years as a rural family medicine PA have been the most rewarding. The lifelong friendships and unlimited opportunities to make a significant difference are unparalleled. It’s the hardest job you’ll ever love

Dr. Tim Herrick is an academic family medicine doctor who spent over 25 years in Northwest Africa,
providing medical care to residents of Ivory Coast, Mali and Mauritania, and working in capacity-building
for local providers in those areas as well. During his years in the United States he has been a teaching
physician at the Ohio State University and at Oregon Health Sciences University. During these decades, he
has received or participated alongside dozens of visiting students and professionals, with variable results!
At present he continues locums work at OHSU and travels back to Mauritania where he works in
underserved contexts.

Ben Garfinkel, PA-C is a clinician at the Harborview Sexual Health Clinic in Seattle. Prior to Harborview, he
worked in interventional pain management, addiction psychiatry, and emergency medicine. Apart from
STIs, his clinical interests include social determinants of health, LGBTQIA+ healthcare, and health equity.