Board of Directors

President - Brian Bizik, MS, PA-C

Brian brings over two decades of health, nutrition and wellness experience to his patients. Brian’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Nutrition. After working for almost 10 years in the health/wellness field Brian went back to school and completed Physician Assistant training in 2003. Brian currently practices as a PA in Twin Falls, Idaho with Asthma and Allergy of Idaho. Brian enjoys running, photography and traveling.

Past President - Bill Sanders, PA-C

Bill’s career in medicine began in the early 1980s following his time in the service as an Army Ranger. After working as a paramedic in Central Florida and later as a flight medic at the University of Florida in Gainesville, he attended and graduated from the PA program there in 1988. Five years later he began working with an allergist in Gainesville and, through a series of events, ended up starting his own practice in 2000. He received a master’s degree in Health Care Management in 2002. In 2006 Bill joined the Army Reserves as a medical officer and has been deployed twice. He has been an active member of AAPA and ACAAI for most of his career and is currently pursuing doctoral studies. He is also a past president of this club.

President Elect - Nicole Soucy, PA-C

Nicole Soucy received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Florida in 2011. She then pursued her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of North Texas Health Science center and graduated in 2015. Nicole has been a member of the Association of Physician Assistants in Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (APA-AAI) since 2016. She has served as Secretary of the organization and currently produces the organization’s newsletter. She is an allied health member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and is a fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Nicole resides inDallas, Texas with her husband and daughter. She currently works at the Allergy and Asthma Center of Duncanville in Duncanville, Texas. Nicole is passionate about treating patients with allergies and asthma and is honored to serve on the board of directors.

Treasurer - Gabriel Ortiz, MPAS, PA-C, Founder

Gabriel Ortiz, MPAS, PA-C, has been a Physician Assistant in Allergy and Asthma since 1991. He has participated in numerous clinical trials for allergy and asthma medications and antibiotics. He received his third BS degree in Physician Assistant studies from the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston in 1989 and his Masters of Physician Assistant studies in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1999. Gabe is Co-founder and past president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Gabe is the former Liaison from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and the AAAAI Liaison to the AAPA. He is also the former AAPA Liaison to the National Institutes of Health-National Asthma Education and Prevention Program –Coordinating Committee. His research on the use of pharmacotherapy in the management of asthma and topics related to the treatment of allergies has appeared in Annals of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, Physician Assistant, Journal of the AAPA, Journal of Asthma, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Advance for the PA, Advance for NP and PA, Clinical Advisor, The Journal of Family Practice and CHEST. He has served as chair or co-chair for several PA and NP conferences and has given numerous lectures at local, state and national conferences including the AAAAI. In February 2008, Gabe was awarded the recognition of Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA.

Secretary - Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C

Amanda earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Wilkes University in WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania in 2009. She then decided to pursue a career as a physician assistant and graduated from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona with her Master of Medical Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2012. Amanda currently works as a physician assistant at Arizona Asthma & Allergy Institute in Scottsdale and Mesa, Arizona. She previously was employed by San Tan Allergy & Asthma in Gilbert, Arizona and also has previous experience in clinical research trials as a subinvestigator with Arizona Allergy and Immunology Research. Amanda is a fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). She is also an allied health member of the Arizona Allergy Society, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), and a junior member of the European Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI). She is a member of the Allied Health Professionals Committee of the ACAAI. Her special areas of interest are allergic contact dermatitis, food allergy and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease. She enjoys exploring the outdoors and hiking with her two dogs, as well as traveling, cooking, and playing ice hockey. She is excited to be a part of the AAPA-AAI Board of Directors.

PA Member at Large - Heather O'Connell, PA-C

PA Member at Large- Wendy Readling, PA-C

NP Member at Large: Ashley Stroud, NP-C

Ashley earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Degree from Washington State University. She is currently working at Asthma and Allergy of Idaho. Prior to going into her DNP program, she developed an interest into the asthma and allergy field from working as a registered nurse at another practice. She is also an allied health member of the Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). She enjoys working with pediatric patients and their families as well as military families. Outside of professional work, her interests are to help on her family’s farm in Montana and swimming and boating with her family.

CME Chair - Brian Bizik, MS, PA-C

Executive Director - Monique Ochoa, CMP

Monique is the owner of Plan-it Satisfaction, an association management company which specializes in small medical associations. Monique is a certified meeting professional with a bachelor’s degree in business and a concentration in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management from the University of New Orleans. Monique has over 10 years of meeting planning experience and many years of managing physician assistant groups.