Donald Allison, Ph.D., PA-C
Director, Health Professions Student Center
Beginning his career as a physician assistant in Colorado, Donald Allison has worked over 25 years in various clinical settings including migrant community health clinics and the emergency room. In 2004, along with 13 other PAs, he had the opportunity of participating in a two-year pilot project introducing the physician assistant profession to the United Kingdom (now called physician associates in England).
Throughout his career, Donald has worked in multiple settings and in various roles with diverse populations and individuals, endeavoring to decrease healthcare disparity for Mexican migrants, and other underserved populations throughout various locations in the world. Subsequently, Donald has firsthand knowledge of the health needs of the Blackfoot community in Montana, Appalachia in Northeast Tennessee, maximum security prison communities, various groups in China, and communities experiencing health disparity in Mexico and Peru. In addition, as a traveling faculty, Donald had the privilege of teaching a semester of Medical Anthropology and Public Health, in an experiential learning format, in New Orleans, India, Argentina, and South Africa.
Donald, a native of Montana, has a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and a Ph.D. in Culture, Literacy, and Language. His dissertation, entitled “Mexican Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Culture, Gender, and Language Ideologies: Pláticas de HIV/AIDS,” is a qualitative study evaluating how Mexican migrant and seasonal farmworker men talk about HIV/AIDS and what their discourse reveals about culture and gender. Research interests include: linguistic landscape, health literacy, D/discourse, gender studies, cultural issues in health care, Mexican migrant farmworkers, and health disparity.
In his encounters with students, Donald uses his experiences as a clinician, an academician, and a researcher to challenge their worldview, and the approach they will use to provide healthcare to the diverse array of patients they will encounter in their future careers.
Email: donald.allison@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-4549
Professional Advisors/Specialists
Kimb Devich, MN, RN
Pre-Nursing Advisor (A-J), Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Advisor
Education: A.A.S Spokane Community College, BSN Washington State University, MN Washington State University, Graduate Certificate Nursing Education
Professional Experience: Kim has years of experience as a Registered Nurse, mostly in the acute care setting and in nursing education, but has also worked in home health, community health, and hospice. Kim’s first job in nursing was as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her love for nursing and patient care motivated her to continue her education and become a life-long learner.
What do you do when you are not advising? Kim is protective of her work-life balance and enjoys spending time with her family and pets, reading, taking long walks, card-making and scrapbooking (even though she’s not that good at it), and shopping at thrift stores. Kim has also enjoyed volunteering as a registered Therapy Animal Handler with Pet Partners.
What is your take on advising? Kim enjoys the roles of teaching and mentoring while making a personal connection with advisees, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals, and exploring the many pathways to a career in nursing and healthcare.
Tristin Herup-Wheeler, M.S.
Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-occupational Therapy Specialist
Education: M.S. in Molecular Biosciences from Washington State University, B.S. in Microbiology and B.A. in French from Idaho State University
Professional Experience: Tristin worked for a few years as a student advisor in a graduate teaching capacity at WSU and has also undergone a variety of clinical training, working as a Phlebotomy Technician and an Emergency Medical Technician. He also has extensive research experience across multiple fields within the biological sciences. Outside of academia, he has gained a wide range of management and supervisory experience working across many organizations.
What do you do when you are not advising? Raised around mountains in Idaho, Tristin will use every opportunity to go on hikes and runs in the neighboring rolling hills of the Palouse or up at Moscow Mountain with his corgi in tow. He enjoys winter sports such as Nordic and Alpine skiing, and when snow is not on the ground, you can likely find him swimming or tending to his many indoor and outdoor plants.
What is your take on advising? Having been through a Pre-Medicine program in his undergraduate career, Tristin feels that there is no singular method of advising that works for all students. He wants to adopt an individualized, hands-on approach for his students to ensure that they are prepared for their chosen career fields.
Tina Krauss, M.A.
Pre-Veterinary, Pre-Optometry Specialist
Education: BA in Communication (Adverting) from WSU 1998. MA in American Studies Digital Diversity with an Emphasis in Women’s Studies from WSU 2006
Professional Experience: Tina advised in the School of Biological Sciences for 4 years and in Criminal Justice for 5 years before beginning her position as a Pre-Health Specialist for Pre-Vet and Pre-Optometry students with the HPSC in 2022. Prior to being an adviser, Tina taught American Studies and English for the WSU Global Campus and worked in the Registrar’s Office, Residence Life, the Student Advising and Learning Center, and Writing Programs.
What do you do when you are not advising? Tina likes to travel whenever she can and visit zoos wherever she goes. She also likes to go on adventures with her son, whether it be trying foreign snacks, watching history documentaries, or traveling to new parks and towns.
What is your take on advising? I believe that academia should be fun, and I help students find the balance during college that will help them succeed in the classroom, while building the experiences they need to market themselves in the future.
Email: tina.krauss@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-4549