NAVAL SOCIETY PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES (NSPA) AUGUST 2026 NEWSLETTER ⚓ Advancing Naval Medicine Through Leadership and Service ⚓

 Message from the President

Now is your chance to directly shape the future of our community and make a lasting impact on the Navy Physician Assistant Association (NSPA). If you have not already done so, finalize your registration and travel arrangements for the Interservice PA Conference as soon as possible. Finally, for the leaders and hard-chargers ready to step up, start compiling your nomination packages for the FY26/27 Board of Directors to help steer our organization's trajectory for the coming years.

-LT Wilt Chemell, MSC, USN
President, NSPA

 Monthly Highlights & Updates

• Accepting Early Submission of Annual FY26 NSPA Awards – Contact President & VP
• Accepting Submission monthly for “PA In the Spotlight” – Contact Carolan Whitney;
• CME Topics needed for SAPA Conference, reach out to Lee Boujie; and (Interim DPE)
• Looking for personnel who are interested in Social Media Sub Committee to help bolster our online presence - Contact President & Ryan Boudreu
• Check out our SWAG table at SAPA/NSPA Conference days 17AUG-19AUG.

Upcoming Events & Training

• NLT AUG 15 2026: FY26-27 NSPA Board of Directors (BOD) Nominations Due
  • Nominations To Elections Chair, Secretary Patrick Goldsmith .
• JULY 16 2026 TO AUG 31 2026: FY26/27 BOD Elections (Pending Hyperlink)
• AUG-SEPT 2026: FY26-27 Election Board Convenes and Confirms Election
• AUG 2026: SAPA/NSPA AWARDS PRESENTATION & FY26/27 BOD ANNOUNCEMENT– San Antonio, TX
• AUG 20-21st , CDBs with Senior Pas. Stand by for time and place. POC is LCDR Brittany Hout.
• AUG 18-21 SAPA/NSPA Conference – San Antonio, TX
  • NSPA Members (Paid up on Dues) Receive $100 off conference fee. Ask Ari Doucette or Tiffany Burnett for code if not sent prior to paying.
  • Click here to register for event: https://cvent.me/7Bgdx2
  • Click here to pay your dues! https://navypa.com/members/membership-management
  • Questions:
• AUG 24-28TH – BOD TURNOVER COMPLETED
• NLT 30SEPT – FINAL ELECTION RESULTS SENT TO AAPA

Annual Awards

https://navypa.com/awards

NAPA Leadership Award

This award honors an outstanding Navy Physician Assistant during the current year. Nominees must be 0-3 or above, active duty, reserve or retiree.

• Incumbent Recipient: LT Nicole Oakley
• FY26: Pending

NAPA Excellence Award

Outstanding Navy Physician Assistant during the current year with less than four years commissioned service. Nominees must be on active duty or in the reserves.

• Incumbent Recipient: LCDR Amber Love
• FY26: Pending

NAPA Admiral Zimble Award

Outstanding PA Preceptor Physicians, one in medicine and one in surgery.

• Incumbent Recipient: CDR Robert Hanson
• FY26: Pending

NAPA Lifetime Achievement Award

Outstanding Navy Physician Assistant who has made a significant impact on the Navy Physician Assistant community.

• Incumbent Recipient: CDR Robert Wishmeyer
• FY26: Pending

Ensign Jerry "Buck" Pope Research Award

Best publication or ongoing research by an active duty, reserve or retired Navy Physician Assistant who has had an article published in a regional or national medical periodical.

• Incumbent Recipient: LCDR Jake Wittenauer
• FY26: Pending

Any Award Nomination should be sent to the following emails; ; ”,  “”

PA in the Spotlight

For nominations send to:

LT Mikey Chai, a Hawaii native from Hilo and former athletic trainer, is a Navy Physician Assistant currently stationed at NMRTC Okinawa. He joined the military to fund his PA education at A.T. Still University and expand his medical scope of practice. LT Chai cherishes the unique Navy mission, values the connections he built at MCAS Iwakuni and on the USS Ronald Reagan, and advises others that networking is the ultimate key to a successful career. Guided by his Christian faith to prevent burnout, he views his medical profession not as his core identity, but as a purposeful mission to serve his patients.

Log in to the website to read more.

https://navypa.com/blog/pa-spotlight

Quote of the Month

"Doctors keep their scalpels and instruments at hand for emergency surgery. Keep your philosophy ready too - to look at things as a soldier, to face both the divine and the human." - Marcus Aurelius

Administrative Items

• Join Now! https://navypa.com/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/550472168351644/

CME Opportunities

If you or someone you know is interested, or if you have someone in mind, please pass along the information above or have them contact me. Thank you!

For additional information or coordination, contact:
LT Lee Boujie, NSPA Director of Professional Education

Contact Information

• President: Wilt Chemell; ; 
• Past President: Nicholas Evans; ; 
• Vice President: Lindsay Jensen; ; 
• Secretary/Elections Chair: Patrick Goldsmith; ; 
• Treasurer: Tiffany Burnett; ; 
• Treasurer elect: Andrew Holeman; ; 
• Director of Legislative Affairs: Ryan Smith; ; 
• Director of Professional Education: Lee Boujie; ; 
• Director West Coast: Ryan Boudreau; ;  
• Webmaster: Ari Doucette;
• PA in the Spotlight POC: Carolan Whitney;

 ⚓ NEXT NSPA MEETING: 06 Sept 2026 - 1600 EST (Virtual) ⚓