December 18, 2013
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Vicki Anton Athens, of Grosse Ile, and Susan Laham, of Grand Rapids, and the reappointments of Dennis Dobritt, of Bloomfield Hills, and Pamela Gnodtke, of Charlevoix, to the Michigan Task Force on Physician’s Assistants.
The 13-member task force currently oversees nearly 3,300 physician's assistants throughout Michigan and determines and approves qualifications of physician's assistants.
"These individuals are great additions to this group and I am confident they will contribute greatly to the task force's mission of accountability for Michigan's physician assistants and their patients," said Snyder.
Appointed
Athens is the president of Athens Podiatry Group, and has more than 30 years of experience in the practice of podiatric medicine and surgery. She previously served as chair of the division of podiatric medicine and surgery at Riverside Osteopathic Hospital, as well as podiatric residency trainer for the Oakwood Hospital System. She has been the project director for pediatric and adult foot and ankle surgery for numerous mission trips. Athens holds a bachelor’s degree in both biology and psychology from Lake Forest College and a doctor of podiatric medicine from the William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. She will represent the Board of Podiatric Medicine and replaces Louis Geller.
Laham is a physician’s assistant for the pediatric orthopedic department at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital where she is responsible for the evaluation and treatment of patients, development of patient education material, and pre-operative clearances. She previously served as a physician’s assistant for Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. Laham holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Valparaiso University and a Masters of Medicine: Physician Assistant Studies from Western Michigan University. She will represent physician’s assistants and replaces Christopher Noth.
Reappointed
Dobritt is the president and medical director of Tri-County Pain Consultants PC. He previously served as president of Northland Anesthesia Associates and Michigan Pain Management Consultants. Dobritt has degrees in chemistry and mathematics from Western Michigan University and a medical doctorate from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He will continue to represent the Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
Gnodtke is a retired public servant, after working with the state Department of Treasury, Commerce Department, Department of Transportation, and Department of Technology, Management and Budget, with a focus on computer programming and data systems design. Gnodtke holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Michigan. She will continue to represent the general public.
Members will serve four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2017, and their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the state Senate.
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