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Texas Gulf Coast

Physician Assistant Association

Committee Chairs


CME I Committee Chair

Shanae Ivey, PA-C

cmemember@tgcpaa.org

Shanae received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2006. Shortly after, she worked at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Behavioral Science Department with the Tobacco Treatment Program. After working as a Research Coordinator for a couple years, she returned to school to pursue a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Shanae returned to MD Anderson after graduating in 2012. She worked as a surgical PA in The Department of Urology and then transferred to The Department of Surgical Oncology with a focus in Colorectal Surgery. Shanae has been a member of TGCPAA since 2016 where she has participated as a member of the CME1 committee.


CME II Committee Chair

Ashley Allen, PA-C

cmemember@tgcpaa.org

Ashley received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005. She subsequently received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Baylor College of Medicine in 2021. Shortly thereafter, she began her career at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department. Ashley began her participation in TGCPAA as a student member and served as the TGCPAA Baylor College of Medicine Student Liaison.


IT Chair

Tushar Patel, PA-C

itsupport@tgcpaa.org

Tushar received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from University of Kentucky in 2011. Since then, he worked in the technology and healthcare sector for several years before deciding to pursue a career as a PA. Tushar is nearing the end of his clinical phase at Baylor College of Medicine and looking forward to his graduation. He also serves as a volunteer at San Jose Clinic. In his free time, he likes to run outdoors and catch up on movies and TV shows.


Membership Committee Chair

Milan Sheth, MS

membershipchair@tgcpaa.org

Milan received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Ohio State University in 2012 and completed his Master of Science in Biomedicine at Eastern Mennonite University in 2019. Upon graduation, he worked as a research assistant at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA and recently moved to Houston, TX. Currently, he works as a data manager for phase 1 pediatric oncology trials with Baylor College of Medicine. Milan plans to pursue a career as a PA and continue to be involved in clinical trials. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering for the Spina Bifida Association, running, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with friends & family.


Professional Development Committee Chair

Thuy Nguyen, PA-C

pdcchair@tgcpaa.org

Thuy completed her undergraduate studies at LSU in Baton Rouge with a degree in Information Systems and Decision Science. She went on to work for an environmental engineering group for 3 years in Atlanta, GA before deciding to pursue a career as a PA. She completed her Physician Assistant studies at Long Island University- Brooklyn campus in 2010. During her clinical year of PA school, she traveled to Haiti on a medical mission group for relief efforts following the Haiti earthquake of 2010. She then relocated to Houston, Texas after graduation and has since been an employee at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery department. She has been a member of TGCPAA since 2011 and previously served as Professional Development Chair and Publicity Chair. She currently also serves as PR chair for TAPA (Texas Academy of Physician Assistants). She recently was recognized as a finalist for the MD Anderson 2019 PA Excellence Award.


Publicity Committee Chair

Christine Vu, PA-C

publicitychair@tgcpaa.org

Christine graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. She went on to work for a year as a respiratory therapist at North Cypress Medical Center before she knew she had to go back to her alma mater and graduate with a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies in 2013. Christine went on to begin working at MD Anderson in the Department of Leukemia as an inpatient PA for about a year and a half before transferring to the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Christine has been an assistant instructor for suture workshops for the UTMB PA program, Baylor PA program, TAPA, and TGCPAA since 2016. She also volunteers for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Health Committee since 2016. Christine has been a member of TCGPAA since 2016.

Student Chair

Allison Gould, PA-C

studentchair@tgcpaa.org

Allison received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from The University of Texas at Austin in 2016. She attended The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and received her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies in 2019. After graduation, Allison joined the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department at MD Anderson Cancer Center and has loved being a surgical PA. She has been an active member of TGCPAA since she was a PA student. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking and traveling.


Student Liaison (Baylor)

Laura Funk, PA-S

laura.funk@gmail.com

Laura completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Science-Business. In college she was heavily involved in social justice clubs and working with individuals with disabilities. She’s currently in her clinical year at Baylor College of Medicine's PA program and is set to graduate this December! When she’s not studying, she enjoys reading for leisure, walks in the park, and trying out new recipes or restaurants.


Student Liaison (UTMB)

Sarah Oswald, PA-S

sjoswald@utmb.edu

Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of North Texas in 2016 where she was involved in Alpha Phi Omega and helped organize service opportunities for UNT students. Currently, she is in her didactic year at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. In her free time, she enjoys reading the latest thriller, trying new restaurants, and listening to her favorite podcasts.