Board of Directors

CDR Regina Caffrey, USCG, APA-C is wrapping up a 20 year career in the Coast Guard as she retires summer 2026. She’s been a PA since 2017 when she graduated from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP). Prior to that her career included serving as a ship driver on America‘s Tall Ship Eagle and Coast Guard Cutter Midgett where she circumnavigated the globe over a 6- month deployment. Then she was assigned in public affairs working in the Pacific Northwest region. During that time, Regina became a trained Doula and was inspired by the professionals she observed to go into a career in healthcare. During her time as a Coast Guard PA she’s been able to work in the largest impaneled clinic on the East Coast and serve as an aviation medicine provider on the West Coast.  She’s been deployed, afloat and ashore as a PA in support of various Coast Guard missions. Regina has a passion for women’s health, primary care and addiction medicine. She has been able to serve as clinical coordinator and educator in an addiction medicine course for the Coast Guard over the past six years. She hopes to move forward with these passions in the civilian sector working to grow this chapter of the society and support PAs across all walks of life. 

Sergio Felipe De Freitas, known as Felipe to friends and family, was born and raised in Brazil. In 2000, during his final year of high school, he moved to the United States, thanks to the generosity of the Steed family of Farmington, Utah, who sponsored his family. After settling in Utah, Felipe completed his high school education while working various jobs, including pizza delivery driver, machinist, and truck driver at a gravel pit. It was his role providing janitorial services at medical clinics in the Ogden area that ignited his passion for the healthcare field.

In late 2003, Felipe met his wife, Ashley, who was pursuing nursing prerequisites at a local community college. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple in July 2004, and their journey together has been filled with love and cherished moments, including the births of their two daughters, Natalia and Gabriela, during their first duty stations in York, ME, and Kodiak, AK.

Felipe has always felt a strong desire to serve in the U.S. military as a means of earning the right to call himself, his younger sister, and his parents Americans. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on May 15, 2006, and has since been stationed at various locations, where he has grown both personally and professionally. His assignments include CGC Reliance in Kittery, ME; ISC/AIRSTA Kodiak; CGC Campbell in Portsmouth, NH; Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX; Eglin AFB in Fort Walton Beach, FL; TRACEN Cape May; CGC Polar Star; and CGC Healy in Seattle, WA.

Currently, Felipe is stationed at Base Portsmouth in Virginia, where he serves as the Senior Physician Assistant in the busiest Coast Guard clinic, which also boasts the largest personnel empanelment among all Coast Guard clinics.

Throughout his military career, Felipe has embraced numerous experiences and opportunities that have shaped him into the dedicated American patriot and Physician Assistant he is today. A pivotal moment in his journey was his naturalization as an American citizen and his acceptance into the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, allowing him to fulfill his passion for serving others in the medical field. As he continues his service with the U.S. Coast Guard, Felipe remains committed to supporting those around him, embodying the core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty, moreover, he is dedication in all that he does.

LT Chad Clay is a Designated Aviation Physician Associate that has served with the U.S. Coast Guard for over 14 years. He enlisted in the Coast Guard and initially served as a Fireman onboard the CG Cutter Diligence before going to HS “A” school. While onboard the Cutter Diligence he developed a great affinity for operational and maritime medicine. As a corpsman he served at TRACEN Cape May and prior to selection to the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) he successfully completed the Navy’s Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) School in San Diego, CA. He currently serves as the Senior Health Services Officer at Air Station Borinquen, in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico with primary focuses on aviation medicine, quality assurance, and EMT development. His professional interests include maritime medicine and developing future Independent Duty Health Services Technicians (IDHS). As a Physician Associate, he has served on two cutter deployments in support of both AFRICOM and CENTCOM missions.

Hello, I am LT Katrina Cooley and I am an Aviation Physician Assistant currently stationed at Air Station Corpus Christi. BLUF, I’m just a girl from Jersey living the dream! I guess you can say that aviation is in my blood as I have been in the Coast Guard for 24 years but I was an AMT for 16 of those years. I decided to jump ship and change rates late in my career  as a because I noticed that, both myself and crew, were avoiding medical like the plague for fear of getting grounded. I knew that thinking was incorrect and decided to do something about it. So, combine a few applications, nearly a thousand tests, and a lot of coffee, prayers, and tears and walla… here I am and I am LOVING every minute of it! Not only do I get to work with people and make a  positive impact on their health and overall quality of life, I STILL GET TO FLY! It literally is the best of both worlds! When I’m not in the clinic or in the air, I’m hanging out with my crazy crew as I am also a Mom of 2 wonderful daughters and a Gigi of 3 crazy little people that melt my heart and, none of this, would be possible without the live and support! So ask a question, send me a story, or shoot me a funny joke that will keep 5 year olds giggling for hours! Either way welcome and thank you for stopping by and checking out our community!

LTJG Madeline Fender, PA-S, is an active-duty sophomore PA student at the Interservice Physician Assistant Program in San Antonio, TX. Prior to entering the program, she worked on CGC ALDER in San Francisco, California as a Deck Watch Officer. LTJG Fender graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Environmental Science.

LTJG Fender looks forward to working in the fleet in the coming years and hopes to further her knowledge in aviation medicine upon graduation from IPAP in February 2028.

LTJG Fender ran cross country for CGA and was also a member of the marathon team. She enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with friends and family outside of study time!

Ashley-Starr Clark, PA-C, LTJG, is an active-duty U.S. Coast Guard Physician Assistant stationed at Base Astoria, Oregon. She is a graduate of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) through the University of Nebraska Medical Center, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies. Prior to commissioning, she served more than a decade in the Coast Guard as a Health Services Technician, advancing to HS1 after completing Independent Duty Health Services Technician (IDHS) training and serving at multiple operational units.

Clinically, LTJG Clark practices primary care and operational medicine, supporting medical readiness, preventive care, and occupational health in a rural coastal military environment. She is concurrently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree to strengthen her focus on population health, quality improvement, and health systems leadership.

She is actively involved in mentorship and professional service within the Coast Guard medical community and the Coast Guard Academy of Physician Associates, and she also provides mentorship and educational content through her platform @coastinthruipap, supporting recruits, enlisted members and PA students navigating military medicine and IPAP. Professionally, LTJG Clark aspires to transition into dermatology with aesthetic medicine components following her retirement from the Coast Guard. Outside of medicine, she enjoys crafting, scrapbooking, camping, travel, and spending time with family.

LTJG Kaylee Garcia, PA-C, is an active-duty U.S. Coast Guard Physician Assistant stationed in San Diego, California. She is a graduate of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) and was selected for PA school following over eight years of service in the Coast Guard. Prior to commissioning, LTJG Garcia served as a Health Services Technician and advanced through operational assignments including Station Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and HITRON Jacksonville, Florida.

Clinically, LTJG Garcia practices urgent care and emergency medicine while supporting operational readiness, preventive care, and medical readiness across Coast Guard missions. She currently works part-time in urgent care to continue expanding her clinical experience and remains dedicated to lifelong learning and professional growth. LTJG Garcia plans to transition into dermatology in the future, with a focus on combining clinical dermatology with patient-centered care.

She is actively involved in mentorship and professional development within the Coast Guard medical community and supports other service members and students pursuing careers in military medicine. Outside of medicine, LTJG Garcia enjoys travel, spending time with family, and staying active in the San Diego community.

CDR (ret) Ian W. Marks, USCGR PA-C graduated from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences PA Program in 2000 following a career as a Navy corpsman primarily serving with the US Marine Corps.  Clinically practicing in Orthopaedic Surgery, emergency medicine, and urgent care while serving in the Coast Guard Reserve and with the USPHS he transitioned to full time active duty in 2011 and retires 01 May 2026 41 years after initially enlisting.  His position at retirement was as the Pacific Area Surgeon, Deployable Specialized Forces medical Advisor and the Assistant Chief of Operational Medicine.  

Ian Marks has served in numerous volunteer roles with the AAPA, constituent chapters and the profession over the years.  AAPA Board liaison to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society Education and Conference Committee, VP and House Delegate for the PA Ortho Society and the PHSAPA.  Veterans Caucus Chief Delegate and scholarship committee, and the CG Academy of PAs Special Interest Group. 

Ian Marks has led education programs, authored professional book chapters, contributed to several medical texts, and participated in research that led to presentations at national meetings and published articles in high impact medical journals.