James Carney, PA, DFAAPA

Government Advocacy

Albany Hudson Valley PA Program

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Jim Carney has once again stepped into the drivers seat at the RIAPA.  For those of you that don't know Jim, he has had a distinguished career first serving our country in the Military then becoming a PA in 1981.  He has spent his professional life serving RI working in Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Behavioral Health and Cardiac Surgery.  He is one of the reasons that RI is one of the best states to practice in.  When not at home working on the RIAPA you can usually find him at the RI State House advocating for PAs across Rhode Island.

Robert Jay Amrien, MSPAS, PA-C

Internal Medicine, Education

IPAP/University of Nebraska

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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.

Ray Cord, MHP, PA-C, DFAAPA

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Northeastern University

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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. 

Jennifer Geremia, MSPAC, PA-C

Gastroenterology

MCPHS University - Manchester

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Jennifer is a Rhode Island native and has been practicing in RI for over 10 years after graduating from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Manchester, NH. She is currently practicing in Gastroenterology with Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates.  In addition to spending her time in private practice she lectures and serves as a Preceptor for UNE and MCPHS PA programs.  She is excited to have this opportunity to be a member of the RIAPA BOD and looks forward to further building upon the great work the academy has done for RI PAs and further advance our profession.

Christopher Ferreira, MS, PA-C

Emergency Medicine, Education

MSCHS University - Boston

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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 reside 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).  Since 2014, 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.

Allegra Bernardo, MSPAS, PA-C

Oncology

Bryant University

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As a lifelong resident of Rhode Island, Allegra is proud to have earned her master of physician assistant studies at Bryant University. She has recently graduated and begun her PA career at Lifespan Cancer Institute at Rhode Island Hospital, practicing hematology and oncology. This will be Allegra’s third year on the RIAPA BOD and first as a practicing PA-C. She is excited to participate in the enrichment of our profession, and build upon the solid work already set in place by this great organization.

Rodolfo Galinatti, MPAS, PA-C

Family Medicine

Northeastern Universtity

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Rodolfo (Rudy) Galinatti, is the assistant medical director for quality and practice at Care New England Internal Medicine Center for and holds a master’s in physician assistant studies from the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University. Rudy has had a broad experience in health care with concentration in Primary Care and represents PAs on various boards within Care New England Medical Group, including Integra Community Care (ACO), Medical Practice & Quality Committee, and Primary Care physicians & Advanced Practitioners. He has been an active RIAPA member supporting recent State legislature changes for PAs in the State of Rhode Island and plans to continue contributing for the advancement of Physician Assistants’ goals locally and nationally. 

Rebecca Ginsburg, MS, PA-C

Cardiac Surgery

George Washington University

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Rebecca is a New England native who has spent her career working in RI. After graduating from The George Washington University in 2001 she worked at Kent Hospital as a critical care/hospitalist PA, at TMH in cardiology, and at RIH initially as a hospitalist, and now as a cardiac surgery ICU PA. This is her third time acting as a Director at Large for RIAPA. She is very excited to have another chance to serve the PA community of RI, and hopes to motivate her colleagues to get involved in this great organization!

Karen Sclama, PA-C

Family Medicine & Psychiatry

Wagner College

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Karen is a Rhode Island native who has practiced here for more than 20 years.  She is a graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy.  Her medical education consists of a Bachelor of Science in biology, a minor in chemistry, as well as a PA Certification from Wagner College in New York City.  The majority of her career has focused on Family Medicine, however, she recently transitioned into a challenging role in inpatient psychiatry.  She resides in Norther RI with her husband, daughter, and three dogs.

Cheryl Barber, PA-S

Bryant University 

Class of 2020

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Cheryl Barber is a native Rhode Islander and is currently in her clinical year at Bryant University’s PA Program. She graduated from Trinity College with a bachelor of science degree in Neurochemistry and a minor in Music. Prior to starting PA school, she served as a volunteer EMT-C and as a medical assistant at the Rhode Island Free Clinic. Cheryl is excited to join RIAPA and advocate for the PA profession in the state of RI. 

Kendra Dawless, PA-S

Johnson and Wales University

Class of 2020

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Kendra is  a native Rhode Islander from West Greenwich, RI and graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence, RI in 2011 and the University of New England in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in medical biology and a minor in neuroscience.  She worked at Tufts Medical Center as a Clinical Care Technician after college before starting PA school. Kendra is grateful for this opportunity to advocate for the PA profession in her home state.

Madison Macaruso, PA-S

Bryant University

Class of 2021

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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

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Meredith grew up in Rehoboth, MA and graduated from Providence Country Day in East Providence, RI in 2013 and 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 after college before starting PA school. Meredith is excited to be a member of RIAPA and hopes to stay local after graduation from JWU and continue her membership in her professional career.