MHSA – About Us

Michael currently serves as the Dean of Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs at the Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and Program Director for the Master of Health Science in Anesthesia Program at Bluefield University. Founder of both Avance Education Solutions (private management consultancy) and the Foundation for Advancement of the Anesthesia Care Team (non-profit organization), Michael Nichols has held Assistant Professorships of Anesthesiology within the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and Nova Southeastern University. He served in leadership positions in both locations as the Director of Program Development and Assistant Program Director, respectively. As the Director of Program Development at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he oversaw all business development, project management, operations, and shared services for the regional program locations for the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine.

Practicing as a respected anesthesia clinician for over 22 years, Michael currently holds a Master of Science from Case Western Reserve University and his Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Business Analytics from the University of Dayton. He continues to be involved in his profession’s national organizations, as he has for many years. Most notably, his having served as the President of the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants in 2007 and in 2011. Additionally, he holds the honor of having served as the first non-physician to be appointed to the Executive Board of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee.

Dr. GaryBridges is both a registered pharmacist as well as a physician anesthesiologist and has worked as a partner with Anesthesia Associates of East Alabama (AAEA). Throughout his career, Dr. Bridges has assumed several administrative positions with both his practice group, East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), and the Alabama medical community—he currently serves as Chief of Staff at EAMC, Chief of Anesthesia within AAEA, President–Elect of the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists, and Chair of the Board of the Political action committee for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. During his clinical career as a physician anesthesiologist, Dr. Bridges has taught rotating Anesthesiologist Assistant and NurseAnesthetist students, medical students rotating in anesthesiology, as well as advanced airway management to respiratory therapy practitioners.

William (‘Will’) Potter is a Georgia native and currently serves as the Co–Medical Director of the program and is based at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Dr. Potter received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and then a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Alabama Birmingham. He completed his anesthesiology residency and regional anesthesia fellowship at UAB and joined the Anesthesia Associates of Gainesville in 2019. In his role as Co–Medical Director, Dr. Potter oversees the learning curriculum for students rotating in the Northeast Georgia region, is a member of the Division of Clinical Affairs, serves on the Admissions and Programmatic Effectiveness Committee, co–chairs the Educational ContentSubcommittee of the Advisory Council, and is the Course Director for the Capstone Project in Quality Improvement.

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Ralph Dapaah currently serves as Chief Anesthetist with Anesthesia Associates of Gainesville, where he specializes in Cardiothoracic and Obstetric Anesthesiology. He completed his Masters of Health Sciences in Anesthesiology at Nova Southeastern University in 2011 with honors and subsequently earned the Chancellor’s Award. Currently, Ralph serves on the American Academy of Anesthesiologists Assistants (AAAA) as a member of the Board of Directors. He previously served as President of the Georgia Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (GAAA), and as a board member of (GAAA). His involvement in both the state and national level anesthesia academies has always been his passion along with academia, “the chance to help educate, influence, and mold our future anesthesia professionals is undeniably one of the most gratifying aspects of being an anesthesia professional and educator.” His hobbies include playing multiple sports, wake surfing, snowboarding, going to the beach, attending concerts, and is a huge foodie.

Gary currently serves as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the Master of Health Science in Anesthesia Program. He was the Chief Learning Officer of both Avance Education Solutions and My Chief Learning Officer LLC (private management consultancies). Gary has held Assistant Professorships of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine within the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and Nova Southeastern University. He is the former Program Director Case Western–Houston Anesthesiologist Assistant Program. Gary holds a Master of Science from Case Western Reserve University and additional graduate M.Ed. work from the University of Georgia. He has been a practicing anesthesiologist assistant for 23 years, 16 years in Atlanta, Georgia, and 7 years in Houston Texas. He has remained very active in the profession’s national organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) and the Texas Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. He has served on CAAHEP’s Accreditation Review Committee for Anesthesiologist Assistants as a site visitor. Mr. Jones holds the honor of being the second Anesthesiologist Assistant to be appointed to the Executive Board of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Political Action Committee.

Dr. Daniel Cawley is a Georgia native and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Currently, he serves as the course director for the Master of Health Science in Anesthesia program and teaches lectures and cadaver labs in the DO program. Before coming to VCOM, he taught gross anatomy to students in the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Physician Assistant program at Barry University in Miami, FL. Earlier in his career, he taught undergraduate anatomy and physiology. In addition to teaching, Dr. Cawley pursues research in diverse areas related to functional anatomy. His research goal is to better understand the myofascial system and how manual therapies improve functioning and decrease pain. Before pursuing an academic career, Dr. Cawley worked as a Chiropractic physician in private practice.
After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in nutrition science, a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Master’s in Sports Health Science from Life University, and a Master’s in Biology from Georgia State University. In addition, he pursued additional graduate coursework at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey Pennsylvania. Currently, he is enrolled in an online Master’s in Imaging program through the University of Edinburgh. He hopes to expand his knowledge in medical imaging to integrate it into his research and academic pursuits. In his free time, Dr. Cawley likes to hang out with his wife Rebecca, and their 2 kids. Together they enjoy camping, hiking, going to the beach, and watching UGA football.

Katie graduated in 2007 from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in French. Two weeks after graduation, Katie moved to sunny Fort Lauderdale to attend Nova Southeastern University, completing her Master of Health Science in 2009. Among her accomplishments at Nova, Katie was awarded the Dean’s Award for the highest student GPA at graduation and was a member of the winning Anesthesia Jeopardy team at the 2008 AAAA conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Katie has spent her entire CAA career working for Physician Specialists in Anesthesia at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta as both a general and cardiac anesthetist. In 2022, Katie joined the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants as an exam committee member, where she helped write, edit, and review questions for the recertification exam. Katie resides in Chamblee, GA with her two dogs, Glavine and Maddux.

Laura Knoblauch, a faculty member, and a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA), hails from the bustling city of Denver, Colorado. In 2015, she achieved her Master of Medical Sciences in Anesthesia from the University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus. Her pursuit of knowledge and diverse skill set led her to attain a Master of Business Administration in Health Administration from the University of Colorado-Denver Campus in 2018.

Laura’s unwavering dedication to her profession is evident through her leadership roles. She served as the President of the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, consecutively in 2019 and 2022, with her presidential term spanning from 2018 to 2023. In addition, she held the position of President for the Colorado Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants from 2017 to 2018 and currently serves as the President-Elect for the South Carolina Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. Furthermore, Laura actively contributes to the executive leadership of the Illinois Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, advocating for legislative changes to advance the profession within the state. Laura has previously guest lectured at other AA educational programs and has held multiple leadership positions in anesthesia groups and at hospitals.

Beyond her professional achievements, Laura’s adventurous spirit shines through her love for exploration. She has ventured to remote and captivating landscapes, including the pristine wilderness of Antarctica. Laura enjoys going on hikes and being outside. She is married to Nate, and they have a cherished fur baby, Sadie. In her full-time role, Laura passionately practices as a CAA at a level-one trauma center and a surgery center.

Elizabeth Maddox is originally from Atlanta and completed her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2013 at the University of Georgia. While attending UGA, she worked as a research assistant and published articles. Before pursuing a career in Anesthesia, Beth worked as a Project Assistant at a global healthcare consulting firm to improve overall patient care in various healthcare facilities. She received her Master of Science in Anesthesia from Nova Southeastern in 2016 and worked at one of the highest acuity hospitals in Atlanta for six years. Having spent her summers at the lake for the last twenty years, Beth found the closest hospital to Lake Martin, East Alabama Medical Center. She currently lives on the lake with her golden retriever, Jolene. Her passions include hiking, camping, paddle boarding, and water skiing. She is well on her way to visiting all of the U.S. National Parks and traveling to a different country every year.

Dr. Gary Mount graduated in 1990 with a BS in pharmacy from Auburn University; in 2006 with his PharmD from the University of Florida, Magna cum Laude and recognized with a Superior Academic Achievement Award. Gary is married to Fatima, and they have three children Zack, Nick, and Gabby, and two daughters-in-law, Merry and Ilga. Gary has served as a staff pharmacist, clinical pharmacist, assistant director and director of a small hospital, and director of the pharmacy for a large institution for eleven years, where he provided strategic leadership for 80 employees. Gary’s retail experience has been in the chain and independent and as director of an independent. Having worked in many settings, Gary has a broad view of the pharmacy profession. Currently, Gary is an Assistant Pharmacology Professor at Edward Via College of Medicine, where he lectures on all body systems and conducts research with a special interest in pharmacogenomics.

Will is a born and bred Alabamian who graduated from Auburn University with both a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences and a Master of Science degree in the same field. After sadly leaving Auburn, Will worked as a neurophysiologist throughout the states of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. He provided intraoperative neuromonitoring services for various surgeries, particularly surgeries of the head, neck, and spine. Will then completed his Master of Health Sciences in Anesthesiology from Nova Southeastern University in Tampa, FL in 2013, completing his degree with honors and earning the Chancellor’s Award. After graduating from Nova, Will has worked as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant at hospitals in Georgia and Alabama. Will recently formed and serves as the President of the Alabama Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (ALAAA). His hobbies include deer and duck hunting, saltwater fishing, mediocre golfing, and spending time with his two children.

Jacob currently serves as the Director of Simulation Education. He deeply understands the value of a safe learning environment for future healthcare workers. His role at the MHSA program is facilitating learning through simulation alongside program faculty and staff to help prepare students to practice anesthesia in the clinical setting. Jacob previously served as the Director for Standardized Patients at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and as a paramedic in his community. His favorite part about working in education is the relationship he can form with students to encourage them and help them succeed. Jacob enjoys spending time with family and friends in his free time and serving as a community group facilitator at his church.

Ashley Anne is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Auburn in 2011. She graduated from Auburn University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education and moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she taught for two years. She returned to the Plains to teach Special Education for five more years in the Auburn and Opelika area. In 2021, she obtained her Master’s degree from Auburn University in Early Childhood Special Education. Ashley Anne has always had a passion for education, developing meaningful relationships with students, and finding a way to help them succeed. She is looking forward to the opportunity to continue expanding her passion for Higher Education and working with the incoming MHSA students. She currently resides in Opelika with her husband KJ, and two French Bulldogs, Stevie and Axl. They are welcoming a daughter early in 2024. She loves to travel, walk, and spend time outdoors with family and friends. She frequents Lake Martin and loves all things Auburn, especially sports, War Eagle!

Rebecca has worked as an adult and secondary educational and instructional leader both in Georgia and Alabama. She served in multiple capacities, including teacher, principal, instructional coordinator, and curriculum director to provide innovative curricula and engaging instruction. Under her leadership, she has led the development and implementation of strategic goals to achieve organizational continuous improvement. Rebecca worked collaboratively with stakeholders to utilize efficient instructional design to address ongoing professional learning to build the capacity of others. She has created and executed successful instructional programs to move schools forward with quantifiable increases in scores on the Alabama State Report Card. Through her experience and partnership with academic departments and workforce development, she has built instructional programs and integrated educational training to obtain measurable performance and growth.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Georgia Southern University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Athens State University. Additionally, she has earned a Master of Education Administration and an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership from Auburn University. In her free time, Rebecca loves being with her family and daughters, boating on the lake, cheering on her Auburn Tigers, and traveling both domestically and internationally.

Olivia Segars, the Director of Medical Education for the MHSA program, was born and raised in Alabama. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Auburn University at Montgomery, and immediately after, completed a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Auburn University. While attending Auburn University, she served as a graduate assistant for the First Year Experience department, where she spent two summers working with the locally famed Camp War Eagle freshmen orientation program.

Olivia then joined the VCOM-Auburn family as their campus’s Student Services Coordinator. Her lifelong respect for the medical field, influenced by several family members who worked in healthcare, blends well with her passion for education. Furthermore, Olivia’s high school sweetheart and husband is a proud graduate of VCOM-Auburn and now practices as a family medicine physician.

When she’s not at work, Olivia enjoys spending time with her two children and four dogs getting into mischief. She loves camping, hiking, and kayaking. After a day of exploring, you can often find Olivia and her family trying out new recipes on the grill at a campground. When asked what Olivia’s favorite teams are she will proudly shout War Eagle and Go Braves!

MaryBeth Smith, the Director of Clinical Rotations, was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama. Previously, MaryBeth served as the Executive Assistant to the Dean of the MHSA Program. Before joining the VCOM – Bluefield team, MaryBeth received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology from Auburn University while working in the Athletics Director and Head Football Coach’s Office. MaryBeth worked for Auburn Sports Properties as the Partner Services Assistant from 2019 – 2021, while pursuing a Master of Science in Sports Administration, which she received in May 2021. MaryBeth then joined the Hunger Solutions Institute in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University to research food insecurity on community college campuses in the state of Alabama.

Beyond her professional commitments, MaryBeth finds joy in spending quality time with her husband, Clarke, their son, Henry, and their two dogs, Basil and Kena. She is also an active member of the Church of the Highlands.

Sonja Pezant, the Executive Administrative Assistant for the Anesthesiologist Assistant Program, is originally from Natchitoches, Louisiana but currently resides in Auburn, Alabama. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University (2018) in Sport Administration, a Bachelor’s degree from Liberty University (2021) in Sports Venue and Event Management, and a Master’s degree from Northwestern State University (2022) in Human Health and Performance. While attending Northwestern State University, she worked as the Director of Football Operations for three years and was a Graduate Assistant for the Human Health and Performance Department. She also worked as a Field Crew Supervisor for ASM Global based in New Orleans, Louisiana serving the Superdome, Smoothie King Center, and Champions Square.

Sonja recently moved to Auburn to be with her fiancé, a graduate assistant for the offensive line at Auburn University. When not working, she can usually be found cheering on her fiancé and the Auburn Football Team, playing with their dog Reb, or at any sporting event or concert she can go to.

Fran Burke, Medical Education Specialist for the MHSA program in Auburn, was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. She earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Auburn University in 2017. Her professional journey has seen her excel as the SenioRx Administrator at the Lee Russell Council of Governments, where she honed her skills in client coordination, program development, and professionalism for six years. Her commitment to service is evident in her extensive work with diverse populations.

Fran joined the VCOM family as the first Medical Education Specialist for the Auburn MHSA program in March 2024. Fran’s background, blending administrative excellence with a deep understanding of community needs, positions her perfectly to contribute to the educational and professional development of MHSA students. Her role is crucial in ensuring that the students are academically prepared and empathetically aligned with the needs of the communities they will serve.

Fran enjoys spending time with her husband and two children when she’s not at work. She loves being outdoors, concerts, the beach, and cheering on the Auburn Tigers. War Eagle!

Georgia Edwards is from Prattville, Alabama, and currently resides in Auburn, Alabama. Georgia currently serves as an Administrative Assistant. She earned her Associate’s degree in Science from Southern Union State Community College. She is now attending Troy University, working on her Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management with a minor in Applied Health Science, Tourism, and Event Management. When she’s not at work, Georgia enjoys practicing the piano for herself and her family. She loves playing tennis, running 5k’s, hiking, and going out on the lake. Georgia enjoys keeping a consistent schedule and loves managing her time wisely.