NAPA Excellence Award

LT Nicole Oakley

Naval Branch Health Clinic Kings Bay

LT Oakley has embodied the standard of excellence as a Physician Assistant in every role and assignment while at NBHC Kings Bay. Multi-talented provider prioritized mission readiness of Military Medicine Clinic, for 26 tenant commands. Led joint shoreside medical care to the British Royal Navy vanguard submarine crew during a six-month deployment fostering alliances in COMSUBLANT AOR.

As a dedicated clinician, LT Oakley provided 200 hours of instructor-in-residence certification in Advanced Life Support (ALS), directly contributing to continuous learning, increased critical thinking, and enhanced warfighting experience. LT Oakley reinvigorated the enterprise Sick Call Screener Program (SCSP), improving clinic efficacy, and enhanced professional development supporting a Medically Ready Force and a Ready Medical Force.

LT Oakley maintains active membership in NAPA and AAPA

NAPA Leadership Award

LCDR Amber Love

NMRTC Camp Lejeune

LCDR Love has established herself as a leader in the USN PA community during her time at NMRTC Camp Lejeune. She was hand-selected to lead Active Duty and Civilian staff to day-to-day operations and care for Marines in two clinics attached to NMRTCCamp Lejeune. LCDR Love is a Department Head for Camp Johnson Branch Medical Clinic and Marine Corps Installation East Brig.

LCDR Love serves as an FMF board member and a point of contact for the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP), ensuring candidates are provided mentorship, career guidance, and assistance with packages and applications.

In addition to her role as a dedicated mentor to future Interservice Physician Assistant Program students, LCDR Love has been a staunch advocate for the Navy PAs, by presenting the Navy community at the annual American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) conferences.

NAPA Ensign Jerry “Buck” Pope Scholarship Award

LCDR Jake Wittenauer

NMRTC Cherry Point

LCDR Wittenauer graduated at the top of his class from the Army-Baylor Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship in December of 2023, earning a Doctor of Science, where he completed his primary research and defended a dissertation titled “Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Military Cohort Using Platelet-Rich Plasma”.

During his time as a fellow and doctoral candidate, LCDR Wittenauer served as the Joint Services Interservice Physician Assistant Program adjunct faculty, he provided 20 hours of continuing education and workshops to Physician Assistant candidates on casting and splinting of orthopedic injuries.

NAPA Admiral Zimble Award

CDR Robert Hanson

NMRTC Camp Lejeune

CDR Hanson is the Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (EMPA) Fellowship Medical Director at NMCCL. He has worked in close collaboration with the fellowship director to facilitate the successful creation of the program while the program was in the process of transitioning from NMMCSD to NMCCL.

CDR Hanson assisted in all aspects of creating the new fellowship on the East coast. He spent numerous hours of his “off duty” time establish clinical sites within the command and at the civilian health systems to ensure EMPAs fellows gain valuable hands-on experience during their training.

He continuously advocates for the education of PAs.

NAPA Lifetime Achievement Award

CDR (Ret.) Robert Wishmeyer

Over the course of 36 years of military service, 20 years as a Navy Physician Assistant, CDR(ret) Robert Wishmeyer has sought out opportunities to enhance our PA community.

His impact on the Physician Assistant community began with his first Assignment to Branch Health Clinic, Naval Air Station, Meridian Mississippi. CDR (Ret) Wishmeyer was directly involved in the early support and augmentation of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Regimental Combat Team for Operation Iraqi Freedom. His contributions to the Physician Assistant community continued through his continued support and mentorship of Hospital Corpsmen who progressed through both the Inservice Physician Assistant Program and Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). As one of the first Physician Assistants Assigned as Medical Department Head SEAL Team Seven his influence on the community continued to grow. This influence allowed Physician Assistants to follow in his footsteps and continue to mentor the next generation of PAs.

Serving as the Independent Dury Corpsman (IDC) Program Department Head, Fleet Training Officer, and Assistant Officer-in-Charge at the Surface Warfare Medical Institute, San Diego, CA, CDR (Ret) Wishmeyer developed multiple Medical Department Officer Fleet Training courses; he was part of a team creating the first ever training for Navy Expeditionary Surgical Team supporting multiple DoD assets. CDR (Ret) Wishmeyer’s leadership and willingness to share his knowledge guided many IDCs to pursue PA careers.

CDR (Ret) Wishmeyer has demonstrated outstanding dedication throughout his lifetime, including service to the Navy, his patients, and especially to the PA profession, which continues to this day.