Meet the Board Members
The Board consists of 10 members, 1 physician member from the Medical Board of California, who serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member; 5 licensed physician assistants and 4 public members. The Governor appoints the 5 physician assistant members and 2 public members. The Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee each appoint 1 public member. All Board members serve 4-year terms and may be reappointed.
Sonya Earley, PA-C has been reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Physician Assistant Board, where she has served since 2013. Earley has been a physician assistant and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group since 2007, clinical associate professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California since 2004, and assistant professor at Southern California University of Health Science Physician Assistant Program since 2016. She was a pediatric physician assistant at Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, Women’s and Children’s Hospital from 1996 to 2004. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Biology from California State University, Dominguez Hills, Bachelor of Science Degrees from University of California, Los Angeles and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and will commence her doctoral studies in the Global Executive Doctoral Program at University of Southern California in Winter 2020.
Term: 8/17/2020 – 1/1/2024
Vasco Deon Kidd, PA-C has been reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Physician Assistant Board. Dr. Kidd has been an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine Department of Orthopedic Surgery since 2021 and Director of the Advanced Practice Providers Program at UCI Health since 2019. Dr. Kidd was Director of Advanced Practice Providers and Director of the Physician Assistant Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship Training Program at Arrowhead Orthopedics from 2016 to 2019. He was an Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator at Moreno Valley College from 2013 to 2015 and at the University of Texas Health Science Center from 2010 to 2012. Dr. Kidd was Lead Physician Assistant at Kaiser Permanente from 2003 to 2010. He earned a Doctor of Health Science degree in Health Sciences from A.T. Still University, a Master of Science degree in Health Professions Education from Western University Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of the California Academy of Physician Assistants, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Advanced Practice Provider Executives.
Term: 7/28/2023 - 1/1/2027
Charles Alexander has been reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Physician Assistant Board, where he has served since 2013. Dr. Alexander has been associate vice provost for student diversity and director of the academic advancement program at the University of California, Los Angeles since 2006. He was associate dean for student affairs and admissions at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry from 1996 to 2006 and director of multicultural concerns and assistant to the dean of the Marquette University School of Dentistry from 1990 to 1996. He served as associate dean of the college of arts and sciences at Brandeis University from 1989 to 1990 and director of multicultural affairs at Milwaukee Area Technical College from 1988 to 1989. Dr. Alexander earned a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Nebraska and a doctorate degree in the sociological foundations of education from Marquette University.
Term: 8/17/2020 – 1/1/2024
Juan Armenta has been reappointed to the Physician Assistant Board by Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon, where he has served since 2018. After earning his law degree in 1990, Mr. Armenta’s Los Angeles area practice focused on tort litigation including municipal liability defense. He formed his own firm in 1994 in Rancho Mirage, where he practices focusing on areas that overlap with medical care delivery including workers’ compensation and insurance fraud. He has been on the litigation team or lead appellate lawyer on numerous appellate opinions in the area of fraud against governmental entities and insurance companies. Besides serving on the Physician Assistant Board, his other public service includes youth athletic coaching and sponsorships and service on various boards including a water utility. Mr. Armenta has also lectured in mandatory continuing education classes for attorneys in the areas of workers’ compensation and personal injury law.
Term: 2/25/2021 – 1/1/2025
Diego V. Inzunza, PA-C was appointed to the Physician Assistant Board by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 17, 2020. Mr. Inzunza has been a physician assistant at VEP Healthcare, Patterson Urgent Care, and Primary Care at Home since 2019. He was a group supervisor for the San Mateo County Probation Department from 2015 to 2019, a medical translator for Santa Clara County from 2012 to 2016 and a community outreach coordinator for the City of San Jose Vice Mayor from 2010 to 2014. Mr. Inzunza is a member of the California Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. He earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from Samuel Merritt University.
Term: 8/17/2020 - 1/1/2024
Deborah (Debbie) Snow was appointed as a public member to the Physician Assistant Board by Toni G. Atkins, Senate President Pro Tempore on February 1, 2023. Ms. Snow previously served two terms as a member of the Speech Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board. She received her Bachelor of Arts from California Baptist University in Riverside, CA, majoring in English and Behavioral Science. Ms. Snow is retired from her position as library assistant at the University of California, Riverside and has spent her career working in library professions. Ms. Snow has been involved in consumer advocacy for several years and has authored articles regarding consumer protection issues facing healing arts boards. Ms. Snow is a member of the Humane Society and also volunteers with, Schools on Wheels, an organization established to provide tutors to children experiencing homelessness.
Term: 2/1/2023 – 1/1/2027
Veling Tsai, M.D. has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Physician Assistant Board. Dr. Tsai has been an Attending Physician at Caring ENT since 2016. He has been Clinical Assistant Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine since 2008 and an Attending Surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles Olive View Medical Center since 2012. He is a member of the State Bar of California and the American College of Legal Medicine. Dr. Tsai earned a Doctor of Medicine degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Term: 7/10/2024 – 1/1/2028