AF selects 50 physician assistant training program candidates Published May 31, 2017 By Kat Bailey Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force has selected 50 active-duty Airmen for the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, with the first phase of training to begin in August 2017 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The IPAP mission is to educate and train physician assistants for the uniformed services. The 29-month program is open to enlisted, officers and U.S. Air Force Academy and Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets. “Our graduates are commissioned into the officer corps and take their place beside other military health care professionals in providing medical services to active-duty military personnel, their dependents and retirees,” said Michelle Cardassi, the Air Force Personnel Center Biomedical Sciences Corps education manager. The military services combined their various physician assistant programs to form the IPAP in 1996 at the Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston. The program includes 16 months of academic training followed by 13 months of “clerkship” at a military medical facility. “Graduates of the program also earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from their affiliated university,” Cardassi said. Airmen selected for this year’s program include three officers, two cadets, 40 enlisted Airmen and five alternates. The names below are listed by grade for each class start date. August 2017 IPAP students include: 1st Lt. Jonathan Fonbuena 1st Lt. Nathaniel Mack 1st Lt. Ashley Webb Cadet Chase Cannon Cadet Cindy Yie Master Sgt. Rolando Smythe Tech. Sgt. Erin Beaver Staff Sgt. Mary Berry Staff Sgt. Brittany Wheat December 2017 IPAP students include: Master Sgt. Jonathan Courtright Master Sgt. Maren Smith Tech. Sgt. Michael Mondelli Tech. Sgt. Douglas Ryan Tech. Sgt. Brian Silva Tech. Sgt. Rachel Washburn Staff Sgt. Rowland Coyle Staff Sgt. Max Lindgren Staff Sgt. Jessica Rumsley Staff Sgt. Meagan Tavares Senior Airman Jamie Miller April 2018 IPAP students include: Master Sgt. Mindy Howard Master Sgt. Robert Perryman Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Brunson Tech. Sgt. Kayla Miller Tech. Sgt. Daniel Perales Staff Sgt. Luke Bates Staff Sgt. Dustin Bennett Staff Sgt. Gloria Calvillo Staff Sgt. Kylie Hamilton Staff Sgt. Karen Leal Staff Sgt. Michael Litherland Staff Sgt. Mellissa Taylor Senior Airman Adrianne Amituanai Senior Airman Ifeyinwa Anene Senior Airman Melissa Baker Senior Airman Bradley Burkey Senior Airman Jeffery Lerma August 2018 IPAP students include: Master Sgt. Andrew Tishim Tech. Sgt. Emmerson Galupo Tech. Sgt. Andres Paredes Tech. Sgt. Bechara Rahbani Staff Sgt. Tyrone Bills Staff Sgt. Whitney Galloway Staff Sgt. Franko Salazar Staff Sgt. Megan Weiler More information about Air Force medical commissioning opportunities is available to common access card holders at the Air Force Medical Service Knowledge Exchange website or publicly on AirForce.com. Additional information about eligibility criteria, process and other specifics can be found on myPers. Select “Any” from the dropdown menu and search “IPAP.” For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to myPers. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions.