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

 Message from the President

Now is your time to impact the community! Solicit the association and get speakers to the Interservice Conference in August. Secondly, be prepared to open your purses and wallets with the association close to a decision and ordering of new NSPA Swag! Lastly Leaders and hard chargers start generating up your packages for Awards and Nominations for the new FY26/27 BOD. See below if you are interested in changing the future of the NSPA!

-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 whom are interested in Social Media Sub Committee to help bolster our online presence - Contact President & Ryan Boudreu
• Looking for Conference ideas; Speakers, Banquet ideas.

Upcoming Events & Training

• MAY 15-19 2026: AAPA Conference – New Orleans, LA
  • https://www.aapa.org/events/
• NLT JUNE 30 2026: FY26 NSPA Award Packages Due
  • Submission To: Awards Chair, Lindsay Jensen. and  as well as Nicholas Evans at . 
• NLT JULY 31 2026: FY26 Awards Committee Convenes and Confirms
• NLT JULY 15 2026: FY26-27 NSPA Board of Directors (BOD) Nominations Due
  • Nominations To Elections Chair, Secretary Patrick Goldsmith .
• JULY 16 2026 TO JULY 31 2026: FY26/27 BOD Elections (Pending Hyperlink)
• AUG 2026: FY26-27 Election Board Convenes and Confirms Election
• AUG 2026: SAPA/NSPA AWARDS PRESENTATION & FY26/27 BOD ANNOUNCEMENT– San Antonio, TX
• 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
• 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

PA in the Spotlight

For nominations send to:

LT Oluwakemi Mogayi, PA-C

Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System 4, Guam.

This months PA in the Spotlight is Oluwakemi Mogayi whom was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to Syracuse, New York, in 2009 with my mother and sisters. Before joining the Navy, She attended a civilian physician assistant (PA) program and later completed PA school at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY. Her interest in becoming a PA developed while working as an ER scribe and nurse aide, where she gained an appreciation for the collaborative nature of healthcare. She joined the Navy initially for educational and financial support during PA school, but motivation has grown into advocating for PAs in surgical specialties and helping expand their role in this field. In my free time, I enjoy staying active through Jiu Jitsu, CrossFit, and dancing, and baking.

Log in to the website to read more.

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

Quote of the Month

"Remember that the fear of pain does more harm than pain itself."— Marcus Aurelius

Administrative Items

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

CME Opportunities

Call for Speakers & Exhibitors

Society of Army PAs (SAPA) and NSPA are joining forces to host the Joint Military PA Conference, 18–21 August 2026 in San Antonio, TX, focused on Warfighter Readiness and Entrepreneurs 101. We are seeking dynamic speakers and mission-focused exhibitors to help shape this year’s educational program.

Speaker Topics of Interest:

• Combat medicine lessons from modern conflicts (Ukraine, MDROs, evacuation under fire)
• Medical support in multi-domain, littoral, and irregular warfare
• Ethical decision-making and leadership in high-threat environments
• Medical intelligence, acquisition pathways, and innovation (DARPA, USAMRDC, USAMRIID, NMRDC, USMC Warfighting Lab, JTS)
• CPG evolution for LSCO
• Business 101: Formation(LLC, S-Corp), tax strategy, and post-service professional success

Presentation Formats: 20 or 30 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A
Submit a Presentation Proposal:
https://fs26.formsite.com/LzjAeQ/appzgpxqzh/index

Exhibitors:
Organizations supporting operational medicine, readiness, or professional development are invited to exhibit.
Exhibitor Registration:
http://www.esvw.com/sapa

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;
• Vice President: Lindsay Jensen;
• Secretary/Elections Chair: Patrick Goldsmith;
• Treasurer: Tiffany Burnett;
• Director of Legislative Affairs: Ryan Smith;
• Director of Professional Education: Lee Boujie;
• Webmaster: Ari Doucette;
• PA in the Spotlight POC: Carolan Whitney;

 ⚓ NEXT NSPA MEETING: 05 April 2026 - 1600 EST (Virtual) ⚓