SFBAPA was started in 1997 by a group of volunteers and is still run by volunteers today. We are the largest PA organization in the Bay Area with more than 350 members. We remain a no-cost organization providing our members an opportunity to network, keep up with CME requirements (some of which offer CME 1) and share job opportunities. Meetings are free, every other month (odd-numbered months) and open to members. For more information, visit the membership page.

SFBAPA encourages all members to join California Academy of Physician Assistants, our state organization. CAPA is our voice in Sacremento, affecting legislative change to improve working restrictions for PAs in California. They also offer CME meetings which are well run and low-cost several times per year. Money sent to CAPA directly impacts our practice in California! Visit our summary of guidelines in California to get familiar with practice legislation in the state.

**Get Involved! CAPA's Grass Roots Means YOU Initiative**

GET INVOLVED! CAPA is asking for people from SFBAPA who are interested in getting involved in grass-roots efforts to affect PA practice in California- by emailing our legislators, or getting involved in activity in Sacramento. Everyone needs to make their voice known to make change, we can do that by contibuting to the Political Action Committee at CAPA, which pays for our lobbyist in Sacramento, or by emailing our legislators about issues pertientinent to PAs or visiting them in person. SFBAPA encourages our voice in Northern California to be as loud as possible and we encourage everyone to get involved! Email capa@capanet.org and let them know you're interested in getting involved. www.capanet.org

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Shelby Edwards PA-C, MPAS. A NY transplant, Shelby serves on the SFBAPA steering committee as webmaster since 2000 and boasts near-perfect attendance at SFBAPA meetings since moving to SF almost 10 years ago. When not at her laptop, she can be found working in private practice orthopedics, emergency medicine or as faculty at Samuel Merritt College PA program. She has a BA in philosophy, tries to speak French and Finnish, and travels as much as possible.

Martin Kramer PA-C, AAHIVS. Martin graduated as a Physician Assistant from St. Louis University in 1988. Over the years he has worked in urgent care and internal medicine. His primary focus is HIV primary care. He holds a certification from the American Academy of HIV Medicine as an HIV specialist. He is also a board member of the PA AIDS network (PAAN), and is one of the cofounders of SFBAPA. He has held positions at the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic and has worked at the renowned Conant Medical Group. He currently works in a private internal medicine practice in San Francisco. In his spare time he enjoys travel and exercise. He is fluent in German.

Kurtis Opp PA-C. A native of San Francisco, Kurtis earned a BA degree from San Francisco State University after working a decade as a respiratory therapist. Kurtis attended PA school at Stanford's Primary Care Associate Program, graduating with honors in 1991. After working 2 years in cardiac surgery, urgent care, and occupational medicine, Kurtis began working at UCSF with professor Marcus Conant, MD. As the first dermatology PA in San Francisco, Kurtis's derm training spanned over a 10 year period with Dr.Conant. Kurtis enjoys a busy private practice at Davies Medical Center, while working part-time at Mission Neighborhood Health Center and St. Mary's Medical Center. Kurtis is past president and co-founder of the Society of Dermatology PAs, a steering committee member of the SFBAPA, and founder of the Derm PA Journal Club of San Francisco. His hobbies include swimming, running, and playing the accordion.

Nais Raulet, PA-C, AAHIVS practices in internal medicine, HIV medicine, and women's health at Conant Medical Group with Marcus Conant MD in San Francisco. She received a BA in Anthropology from the University of Michigan and her physician assistant education from UC Davis. Memberships include AAPA, CAPA, AAHIVM, the Sierra Club, and the National Audubon Society. She likes hiking, cooking, and hanging with friends and family almost as much as she likes medicine.

Carl Stein MHS, PA-C, AAHIVS received his PA education at Duke University Medical School. Since 1994, he has worked in San Francisco in HIV and general internal medicine with Bill Owen, MD. He is a cofounder of SFBAPA. He is a member of AAPA, CAPA, PAAN, San Francisco CPCRA, and AAHIVM. He has a B.A. in history from University of Michigan