About: Shekitta Acker has practiced as a PA for the last 17 years in family and adolescent medicine. During this time, she has accumulated 13 years of experience in PA education with adjunct professor appointments at Duke University (Durham, NC), St. Augustine University (Raleigh, NC),MGH Institute of Health (Boston, MA). Currently serving as the Program Director at the Mayo Clinic PA program.

Current Research Interests: The role of PAs and NPs in the care of children who have been trafficked; Cognitive Test Anxiety

Fun facts: Ms. Acker has three beautiful children. They enjoy going to movies, having family game nights, and traveling. She is also serves on the Commission on Research and Strategic Initiatives for the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

About: Taneasha Muonio, PA-C is a Minnesota native and new Physician Assistant graduate, starting her career in internal medicine in Philadelphia. She is a first generation high school graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Biopsychology. Before becoming a PA, she spent her time working  for a non-profit  clinic as a case manager and later Substance Use Pain Management program director. Here she developed a program to use alternative healing mechanisms and the integrated health model to taper patients off of opioids and other substances. 

Interests: The intersections of systemic and institutionalized racism and their impact on the  health outcomes for Black patients specifically have always been a passion of hers, which she lives out through active advocacy and as a DE&I consultant.

Fun fact:  If she is not in the clinic, you will find Taneasha teaching zumba/ yoga on the Northside of Minneapolis or at her local knitting group.