Robert Jay Amrien, MSPAS, PA-C

Internal Medicine, Education

IPAP/University of Nebraska

Robert “Jay” Amrien is the Founding Program Director of the PA Program at Bryant University.  He arrived at Bryant in 2013 and implemented a successful graduate PA program from the ground up.  He helped develop a state of art facility, hired a world class staff, and has successfully graduated his first two classes.  Jay loves the “start-up” concept and gathering like-minded people together to create success.  He works clinically as a PA at the MGH Chelsea Health Center where he provides care to the wonderfully diverse community of Chelsea.  He also lectures nationally and internationally on topics in cardiac medicine, offers consultation services for PA related matters, and serves as an expert witness in PA related legal cases.  Prior to assuming his role at Bryant, Jay served as a PA and Military Officer in the US Coast Guard where he served for over 22 years. He provided medical care throughout the US, on several Coast Guard Cutters, but also in West Africa, Antarctica, and the remote Arctic Circle.  Jay is currently a member of the AHA Council on Hypertension, is a Cardiovascular Team Member of the American College of Cardiology, and a lifetime member of the Veteran’s Caucus of the AAPA.  Jay received both his BS and his MPAS from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, where he graduated as the Distinguished Honor Graduate.  He and his wife Donna live in Swansea, MA with two of their three children.  A passionate workaholic Jay finds some free time to support many local causes, pretend to be an amateur photographer, read non-medical, non-threatening, no-thinking involved, fiction novels, rock climb, kayak, raise his wonderful children, and not-often-enough, hang out with his best friend & wife Donna.

Christopher Ferreira, MS, PA-C

Emergency Medicine, Education

MCPHS University - Boston

Chris Ferreira is a lifelong Rhode Islander who keeps the best interests of this state, as well as the PA Profession in RI, as top priorities.  He is originally from Providence, RI and now resides in Warwick.  He attended PA school at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (Boston, MA) and graduated in May 2008.  Chris has practiced in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts in Urgent Care, ENT/Otolaryngology, Emergency Medicine, and now is full-time faculty at the Bryant University PA Program as the Director of Clinical Education and a Clinical Assistant Professor (while maintaining per-diem clinical work in the ED and outpatient ENT).  Chris has worked with Jim Carney, PA-C on the RIAPA Advocacy & Government Relations Committee, becoming familiar with (some of the) ins-and-outs of PA legislation and the legislative process in general.  "It is absolutely crucial that PAs, as a profession and individually, never cease to participate in the process of defining themselves on the local and national levels.  We are only allowed to practice medicine as PAs because legislatures grant us that ability; this is true for all medical professionals, including the physicians with whom we collaborate so well."  He is honored to work for you to continue to maintain and promote the PA Profession as we all continue to show the public and our legislature the truly excellent patient care we all provide day-in and day-out on healthcare teams across the State of Rhode Island.

Ariana Africo, MSPAS, PA-C
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Johnson & Wales University

Ariana is a native Rhode Islander. She grew up in North Providence, RI and briefly left Rhode Island to obtain her bachelor's degree at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine prior to returning to Rhode Island. She is a recent graduate from the Johnson & Wales University PA program and is currently working in emergency medicine at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She is adjunct faculty at Johnson & Wales University PA Program and enjoys teaching and empowering future PAs. She is excited to have this opportunity to serve on RIAPA to further advance and advocate for the profession in her home state.

Ray Cord, MHP, PA-C, DFAAPA

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Northeastern University

Ray has been a PA for 25 years starting at MHRI in General Surgery then moving into Cardiac Surgery at the Miriam Hospital.  He also worked in private practice doing Internal Medicine specializing in Nephrology before returning to Cardiac Surgery at RI Hospital.  He has served as President of the RIAPA in the past as well as President for the American Academy of Nephrology PAs.  His goals are to continue to make RI the best state to be a PA as well as a goal of building membership and improving communications for PAs in Rhode Island.

Craig Baille, MS, PA-C
Emergency Medicine, Education
MCPHS University - Boston

Craig Baillie is originally from MA where he attended Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences University Boston PA program. Craig has practiced as a PA since 2009 primarily in Emergency Medicine but additionally in; Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Urgent Care, and Occupational Medicine. He is now a proud Rhode Islander who has settled in with his wife Megan, raising their two young daughters. He is committed to the state healthcare system, Physician Assistant (PA) practice, as well as PA education. He has served as a clinical training preceptor for PA students for multiple years and now is full-time faculty at the Johnson & Wales Center for Physician Assistant Studies as an Assistant Professor and Associate Clinical Coordinator. He also continues active per-diem clinical work in the emergency department where he still clinically precepts PA students at the bedside. He has previously served on RIAPA committees as well as advocated for the PA Modernization Act of 2019. He is proud to continue to work with RIAPA on behalf of PAs and the PA profession.

Aleko Kimbouris, MPH, MSHS, PA-C
Education

Samera Nessralla, MSPAS, PA-C

Emergency Medicine

Bryant University

Samera is originally from Massachusetts but has worked in Rhode Island most of her professional career. Prior to becoming a PA, Samera was an exercise physiologist who worked at South County Hospital in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab. She attended the inaugural class at Bryant University’s Physician Assistant Program and graduated in 2017. Samera currently practices Emergency Medicine and is an adjunct professor and preceptor for Bryant University’s PA Program. When not at work you can find her outdoors staying active or helping on her family’s farm. She looks forward to continuing and building on the great work the academy has done for PAs in the state of RI and across the country.

Madison Macaruso, PA-S

Bryant University

Class of 2021

Madison joined the RIAPA in March of 2019 and currently serves as the student representative for the class of 2021 at Bryant University.  A RI native, Madison received her B.S in Athletic Training at Keene State College in 2014.  Madison still holds her athletic training certification and has been a member of both the NATA and RIATA since 2012.  Her patient care experience includes her work as a pharmacy technician, physical therapy aid, and athletic trainer at both the high school and junior college level.  Before she was accepted to Bryant, her most recent position consisted of a dual role as a medical assistant and physician extender / ATC, under the guidance of Dr. Philip Salko at University Orthopedics.  After graduating from Bryant, Madison hopes to work in orthopedics.  She is excited for her clinical year and everything her future rotations have to offer.

Meredith Mozzone, PA-S

Johnson and Wales University

Class of 2021

Meredith is from Rehoboth, MA and graduated from Connecticut College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.  She worked at Rhode Island Hospital in the Emergency Department as a medical scribe and then as a clinical research assistant in preparation for PA school. Meredith is a lover of New England and hopes to stay local after graduation and continue her RIAPA membership in her professional career. Meredith is grateful for this opportunity to advocate for the PA profession in her home state.

Derric Vigeant, PA-S

Bryant University

Class of 2022

Derric joined the RIAPA in March of 2020 and currently serves as the student representative for the class of 2022 at Bryant University.  Derric is a Rhode Island native from Johnston, RI and graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2019 with a degree in Kinesiology. Prior to PA school, his patient care experience included working as an intake coordinator in the ER of Butler Hospital in Providence, RI as well as a first responder for the University of Rhode Island Emergency Medical Services. He is excited for his clinical rotations and to help be an advocate for the PA profession in the future!

Spencer Rabidou, PA-S

Johnson and Wales University

Class of 2022

Spencer Grew up in Ashland, MA and attended the University of Massachusetts Lowell, graduating in the class of 2020 with a bachelor's Degree in Exercise Physiology. He worked as an EMT in Lowell, MA and worked at MetroWest Medical Center ER as an ER Tech prior to starting at the PA program at JWU. Spencer is excited to be a member of RIAPA and to be a part of such a growing career.