The James Van Rhee Student Society

Nikki was born in Cincinnati, Ohio but currently lives and calls Jacksonville, Florida home with her husband and mini goldendoodle. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders as well as her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology at Jacksonville University. Prior to PA school, she worked at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and acute care hospital. It was through her time as a SLP that she discovered her passion for medicine and decided to pursue becoming a physician assistant. She is passionate about leadership and started a mentor program at one of the local hospitals for newly graduated Speech-Language Pathologists. She is part of the Leadership Jacksonville community and attended their collegiate leadership program. After graduating from the YAPO program, she hopes to stay and be able to serve her community. She is interested in Neurology, Dermatology, Critical Care Medicine, and Women’s Health.

Veronica grew up on Long Island, New York, where she currently resides, but she truly feels most at home on the West Coast after living in San Diego for some time. Presently, Veronica works as a Flight Paramedic for Stony Brook University Hospital and has accumulated about 10 years of experience in trauma and emergency care. It was during this time that she discovered her love for critical care medicine and her passion for patient advocacy, particularly in the area of women's health, which drove her to want to become a PA. Veronica completed her undergraduate degree in Law and Public Policy at Stony Brook University, and later pursued a post-baccalaureate degree in Medical Sciences from American Military University. In her free time, she enjoys distance running, traveling, and spending time with her dog, Mollie.

Lauren was born in Ketchikan, Alaska, raised on different islands around the Gulf of Alaska, and now resides in the state’s biggest city, Anchorage. She earned a Bachelor of Science in 2021 in Natural Sciences with a focus in both Biology and Chemistry and had been a medical assistant in orthopedic surgery for over three years before attending the program. Lauren's health challenges, including a major spinal fusion surgery and subsequent complications, have deeply influenced her career path. Her goal of providing comprehensive care to Alaskans stems from her own experiences navigating the healthcare system. She aims to be the supportive and understanding healthcare provider she wished for during her own medical journey. Outside of her professional pursuits, Lauren finds joy when in the great Alaskan outdoors. In her free time, you will likely find her fishing, hiking, camping, and exploring everything nature has to offer. As she progresses in her career as a PA, she is determined to create meaningful connections with her patients. She believes in treating each patient as a whole person, not just a collection of symptoms, and is dedicated to ensuring that they feel heard and understood. She serves as the class of 2026 Treasurer. In her role as the Treasurer for the class of 2026, Lauren plays a vital role in managing the finances of her cohort and overseeing charitable initiatives. She is very excited about this next step working towards her dream career.

Christina Velazquez, a South Texas native now residing in Miami, Florida for the past 7 years has been and continues to be an advocate for the under resourced populations. With a background in serving under-resourced populations in both South Texas and Miami, Christina has dedicated herself to bridging the gap in healthcare by directly aiding those in need. Her passion lies in providing support and services to women and children in shelters, food-insecure populations, migrant workers and educating at-risk populations on nutrition. Having faced personal challenges, including homelessness in high school and trying to navigate the health system while also trying to establish a stable financial foundation, Christina deeply understands the importance of supporting individuals who lack basic necessities. Drawing from her family's tradition of service to others regardless of what they lacked, Christina sees outreach as a vital tool in addressing the social determinants of health that impact countless people. As she takes on her new role as Outreach Chair, Christina is eager to continue her journey in outreach and make a positive impact at a larger scale.

Doris was born and raised in China and now lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Communication and a Master of Communication from Purdue University. Her interest in the medical field began from her academic journey in researching culturally sensitive care during her graduate school. From volunteering in free clinics to presenting at international conferences about culturally sensitive care, she is passionate about advocating the diversity and equity of healthcare. Before PA school, she worked as a pathology grossing tech, ER tech, and mental health assistant for years. As a PA student and by serving as the Diversity Chair of the JVR Student Association, she plans to leverage her experiences to drive meaningful change and foster an environment where individuals from all backgrounds feel valued and included.

Katie was born in the small town of Calhoun, GA, about an hour north of Atlanta. As a teen, she always knew she wanted to become a health care major. She focused her studies on respiratory therapy. In this program, she excelled at the top of her class. In 2018, she graduated with honors and earned her Registered Respiratory Therapist license. By 2020, she had become quite proficient in her career. She earned her Bachelor’s degree and took time off work to have her first beautiful daughter, Raleigh. Upon her return to the workforce, she began working on the frontlines of the COVID 19 pandemic. During this time, it was growing more apparent that she could do more in her community in terms of preventative care and education. When her father passed away unexpectedly at the end of 2020, her decision was solidified. Katie began working towards applying for many PA programs. She was accepted into the Yale PA Online Program in 2023, the same year she became engaged and had her second beautiful daughter, Loni. Katie is excited to start in this role and hopes to serve as a resource and voice for her class.

Jillian grew up on Long Island, NY. She still lives there with her fiancé, Rob, and their dog, Ruby. Outside of school and work she enjoys the beach, reading, field hockey, and spending time with family. During undergraduate studies she was an intern autopsy assistant at the county medical examiner’s office and a hospital dietary aide. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from Stony Brook University and worked as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist for 4 years. During that time she became the Lead Technologist for the Transfusion Services. Her experiences with massive transfusion scenarios, as well as complex hematology-oncology blood transfusions, encouraged her to seek out more patient care roles, and ultimately to become a PA! Her fields of interest include critical care, emergency medicine, hematology/oncology, and OBGYN.

Tiffany was born in Portland, Oregon, and was raised—and continues to live—in Southern California. For over 15 years, she has made her home in the Greater Palm Springs area, also known as Coachella Valley. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Kansas State University in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and an Associate Degree in Business. Before embarking on her journey to become a Physician Assistant, Tiffany operated a private nutrition practice for over a decade, specializing in autoimmune conditions and gastrointestinal health. She also embraced the dual role of nutritionist and medical assistant in pain management for over eight years, gaining invaluable insights into patient care complexities. During this time, a mentorship with a dedicated physician assistant planted the seed and inspired her current academic pursuit. Beyond her clinical work, Tiffany has been an integral part of various non-profit organizations' boards, actively contributing to causes she is passionate about. She continues to champion women's higher education, works to expand healthcare education and access, and supports local, at-risk youth. Tiffany is married, with two children and two German Shepherd dogs. In her free time, she enjoys golf, tennis, hiking, and traveling with family and friends. As she continues her journey in service to others, she looks forward to providing exceptional medical care in her hometown post-graduation in 2026, inspired by the community that has shaped her and the people she is dedicated to helping.

Kendahl was born near Tacoma, WA and has lived there ever since. Her main motivation for a career in medicine had to do with receiving exemplary care as a child, and wanting to share that with members of her own community some day. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she competed a Bachelor’s of Science in Physiology. While at UW, she worked on research projects studying the development of new drugs for autoimmune conditions, served as a camp counselor through Camp Kesem, and volunteered with multiple organizations in the Seattle area. Post-graduation, Kendahl mainly worked as a CNA all over the hospital: in imaging services, preop/postop, the emergency department, and even a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. She has spent the last two years in a rural town called Yakima, WA while her partner completes medical school and is very excited to be headed home soon for clinical rotations! As a member of the JVR Student Society, Kendahl is most excited to support her classmates through the stressful PA educational journey and keep everyone up-to-date on what is happening in the PA world!