MTSA is turning 75 — and you are invited to the party!

During the AANA Annual Congress, we will be just across the street from the Nashville Convention Center — on the Outdoor Terrace overlooking Broadway and in the Fellowship Hall at Nashville First Baptist Church.

Enjoy live music from Kelley’s Heroes (from Robert’s Western World), delicious Southern comfort food, desserts, awards, a silent auction, and good times reconnecting with alumni, staff, and friends.

Seating is limited for this free event, so RSVP today and help us celebrate 75 years of excellence in anesthesia education!

Date: Sunday, August 10, 2025

Time: 5:00 p.m. Silent Auction | 5:30 p.m. Dinner and Program

Tickets: FREE. Limited to two (2) per person. Space is limited!

RSVP & More Info: www.mtsa.edu/events/75th

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Chris Hulin, DNP, MBA, CRNA
President

As we celebrate MTSA’s 75 years of excellence in nurse anesthesia education, let’s take a moment to reflect on the enduring dedication to service, which is deeply rooted in our mission. MTSA students, faculty, and staff embody this mission in several ways:

Local Outreach: Here in Nashville, MTSA staff and students collaborate with organizations such as The Bridge Ministry, Meals on Wheels, the Red Cross, Project C.U.R.E., and others. These partnerships allow us to give back to our community, offering vital services to those in need. Although this work occurs throughout the year, we mark November as “Service Month,” providing a focused timeframe for our staff and students to jump into a number of these opportunities.

International Mission Partnerships: Our DNAP students participate in surgical teams providing anesthesia care in under served regions such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. We partner with well-established surgical mission organizations such as Health Talents and Refuge International, as well as Dr. Michael Swan of Swan Urogynecology. These experiences not only enhance their clinical skills but also instill a lifelong passion for service.

Guyana, South America: We continue to strengthen our relationship with Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in Guyana and Dr. Alexandra Harvey. With the support of Hallie Evans, DNP, CRNA, APRN, CNE, Director, Doctoral Completion Program and Nurse Anesthesia Educator Program, we’re introducing evidence-based practice to nurse anesthesia programs, leveraging the Johns Hopkins model for healthcare professionals.

Additionally, we are assisting the Guyanese Ministry of Health with developing medical simulation programs and creating advanced practice nursing curricula at the master’s level for nurse anesthesia. In the future, this will include touring interior hospitals to identify ways to improve patient outcomes across various clinical settings.

On the right, you’ll find more details about my recent visit to Guyana, along with photos that capture the impact of our efforts. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported MTSA through fundraising events and generous donations. Every dollar raised not only equips our students with invaluable mission field experience but also provides essential care and education in places where it is most needed.

Thank you for being a vital part of these mission efforts. Together, we are making a difference!

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Left to right: Robbie Rambarran- GPHC CEO, Chris Hulin- President MTSA, Dr. Frank Anthony- Minister of Health, Dr. Alexandra Harvey- Medical Education Director for GPHC/IHSE

In Georgetown I attended the Annual Guyana Research Conference. I was joined by one of the local nurse anesthetist instructors, Shaunett Gray, and a current student, Denzyl Semple. It is a goal to have the local nurse anesthetists engage and present at events such as this in future years.

At the conference I spent some time with Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony. We discussed the effort MTSA has made to advance nurse anesthesia practice with curriculum development and support to the current high-fidelity simulation project. I appreciated the hospital CEO, Robbie Rambarran, reiterating how the partnership with MTSA is contributing to their goals of advancing healthcare education in Guyana. We discussed the role of nurse anesthesia and advanced practice nursing to help support the seven new hospitals (or expansions with new operating rooms and critical care facilities) planned for the Interior of Guyana. At the end of our time together the Minister asked that a delegation be set up to tour the interior hospitals with his team to discuss anesthesia and advanced practice nursing support. Along with Dr. Alexandra Harvey, physician anesthesiologist, director of all medical education at GPHC and MTSA’s primary connection, we met again with CEO Robbie Rambarran specifically to discuss the simulation project. Robbie originally pledged the $100,000 for the manikin if MTSA supplied the A/V recording playback. I brought the A/V equipment on this trip (to show our commitment), which prompted quick action on Robbie’s part, inviting department leaders to be at Project Dawn (the location of the proposed sim lab) the next day.

The following morning multiple trucks pulled up at Project Dawn and about eight workers came in carrying building supplies. Over the next 4-5 hours the place started to transform. The directive was clear: Get this place cleaned up, stabilized and done right. It’s exciting to see this project moving forward!

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Left to right: Carol Ann Cockerham, CRNA; Laurie Shields, CRNA; Dr. Tim Jones, CRNA;
Mary Wilson, SRNA; Morgan Verrill, SRNA.

Providing Anesthesia Care in Guatemala

By Mary Wilson, SRNA

My classmate, Morgan Verrill, and I arrived in Guatemala City and took a two-hour bus ride north to the town of San Raymundo. The mission trip was hosted by Refuge International, a group based in Texas. Upon arrival at the hospital, we met the other members of the anesthesia team and took a tour of the ORs to get ourselves acquainted with the anesthesia machines and medication formularies. We looked through the inventory so that we knew what materials were limited, and we also had to be very mindful of the amount of oxygen we used. Here there were four large oxygen tanks to last us the whole trip.

It was truly an interesting experience being one of the most skilled providers in the room. All of the pre-op and recovery nurses were actually nursing students with their instructors. Because of this, as an anesthesia provider it was important to over-communicate throughout the perioperative period (as many of them have never been in an OR before). We helped start IVs, get the patients positioned correctly, reviewed patient history with them and explained the anesthesia process. We also did quite a bit of regional anesthesia— including interscalene brachial plexus blocks, TAP blocks, rectus sheath blocks, and erector spinae blocks—to help with post-operative pain. From Sunday through Thursday, we completed the majority of the cases ourselves, from induction and intraoperative management to emergence. Although a CRNA was always nearby, I felt significantly more confident and independent in my practice throughout the week.

One moment, in particular, has stayed with me: Morgan and I were preparing to anesthetize a young woman for an elective procedure when she suddenly began to cry on the OR table. We brought in an interpreter to speak with her, and she explained that she was simply scared. I reassured her that we would take excellent care of her and tay by her side throughout the entire procedure. The interpreter, who was from Guatemala, later shared that it’s sadly common for patients or their families to fear that they may not wake up from surgery. Hearing that broke my heart. For someone so young and healthy to go into an elective procedure genuinely fearing death highlights the enormous gap in healthcare access and trust that exists in many parts of the world.

That moment made me realize just how profound our role is as anesthesia providers. Knowing I could offer safe, compassionate care in a setting where patients often lack access to even basic medical services was deeply rewarding. It also made me reflect on the privileges we often take for granted in the U.S.—the ability to call 911, access a nearby hospital, or trust that medical care will be available in an emergency. Many of these patients were coming to us on motorcycles and leaving the same day on the back of a motorcycle. They would come in the morning and wait all day just to have their procedure done.

Surgeries that were performed ranged from gynecologic procedures (hysterectomies, tubal ligation) to general (cholecystectomy, hernia repair, mass removal) to ortho (arthroscopies of the knee or shoulder, bone deformity repair). Over the five days of surgeries, we were able to complete a total of 38 procedures! It truly was an amazing experience and I can’t be more grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this trip through MTSA.

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MTSA students receive hands-on experience at a variety of clinical sites and have the opportunity to make an impact on the patients they serve. We are pleased to share comments from clinical sites showcasing the skill and compassionate care of these SRNAs and CRNAs.

Brittany Chestnut

Brittany has gone well above and beyond to prepare not only herself, but other students and future students. She has compiled a mini notebook with pertinent information that would be invaluable for all incoming students to look at before they begin. I’ve been really impressed with her attitude and desire to help the incoming students, and I believe she deserves to be recognized for it.

Nathan Emerson and Silken Lee

I wanted to thank you both for all of your hard work within the kidney transplant room. It did not go unnoticed. I was approached by one of the transplant scrubs and others who said you were rockstars there and kept the room running smoothly! I also received a kudos about Nathan, mentioning that on both weekend shifts Nathan was the last SRNA to leave and that he had such a good attitude about the situation. This really impressed us that Nathan was so positive when the situation didn’t lend itself to that type of reaction. Thank you both for your positive attitude and hard work!

Kelly Gentry

Kelly was called an “absolute rockstar” for helping with what was deemed one of the sickest patients our manager has ever taken care of. She said she could not have done this case without Kelly. Big thanks to Kelly Gentry for being a valuable anesthesia asset.

Brooke Harris

I had the pleasure of working with Brooke today. I think she is exceptional. We had a very difficult case today. We were taking care of a patient that was very tenuous and required cannulation for ECMO during our case. Brooke handled herself very well and very professionally. She even taught me lots of things about ECMO (something I have never had done before). She was well prepared and organized. She did not get flustered and was calm throughout the case. I just wanted to give a shout out to her for handling things so well. I would have struggled with this case. Great job to Brooke!

Levi Primasing

Although we have many amazing students come through, we want to take the time to specifically acknowledge Levi Primasing. His performance and his professionalism have not gone unnoticed by management and other CRNAs. In the past month we have seen such tremendous growth from Levi. He is becoming a strong independent provider, and we can tell he is going to make a great CRNA. I personally witnessed him in a level 1 case where the patient was actively bleeding out, it was OLV, and Levi had to restore IV access while managing a patient who was crashing. He has since walked in to help in many other level cases, and on numerous occasions Levi has gotten the short end of the stick (he has stayed late many times). But he always has a great attitude

Myles Prince

I need to rave about Myles Prince for his eval. We had a terrible Saturday (level one crani we had to code, a gastroschisis baby who didn’t tolerate getting closed) and he has done a great job! Very helpful to have in the OR for both cases! At one point during code, he stepped up and assigned roles. Before code started, he noticed the drop in ETCO2 as I was giving epi. Great job!

Melissa Young

Special thanks to Melissa for staying late for an emergency case.

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DNAP Entry to Practice Program for RNs

The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree is the highest practice degree in nurse anesthesia. MTSA offers the DNAP Practice Doctorate to registered nurses who have met each of the application requirements for admission. The DNAP Practice Doctorate is a full-time course of study for 36 consecutive months, on the campus of MTSA. In the third semester of the DNAP program, students will begin a rigorous clinical rotation process that offers students a vast array of clinical experiences in the peri-anesthesia setting. These clinical rotations will allow students to learn and sharpen their anesthetic skills throughout the remainder of the program.
Next application period opens in late 2025.

DNAP Completion Program for CRNAs

MTSA offers the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree through a completion program specifically designed with the working CRNA in mind and in an online format. All students accepted into the program must be currently licensed CRNAs. The program can be completed over two years. MTSA’s DNAP program is differentiated from other DNP programs because it is designed specifically for CRNAs. Each course is created with specific nurse anesthesia content.
Application period now open.

Hornsby Business Institute

The Hornsby Business Institute provides students and anesthesia professionals with a powerful tool to enrich their CRNA curriculum and prepare students for success in the business of anesthesia. Course content includes leadership, legal and regulatory requirements, public policy, business practices, and much more. In addition, the new “Foundations of Anesthesia Business” is an 8-week, CE-accredited online course designed to introduce CRNAs, SRNAs, and anesthesia professionals to the core principles shaping the business side of their practice.
To learn more, visit mtsa.edu/HBI.

Nurse Anesthesia Educator Program

Distinguish yourself as a CRNA educator in MTSA’s Nurse Anesthesia Educator Program. In this 12-month course of study, you will master evidence-based teaching methodologies, innovative assessment strategies, curriculum design, development, and program evaluation, preparing you for your role as a leader in nurse anesthesia education.
Application period now open.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

August 8, 2025
Teaching, Movement and Voice – Making it Memorable

October 19-20, 2025
Engaging Learners in the Classroom

Ultrasound & Pain Management

Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship

As the only Fellowship of its kind for CRNAs in the United States accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), the Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship (ASPMF) is a 12-month hybrid program designed to expand a CRNA’s regional anesthesia skills and provide the tools necessary for incorporating an acute pain service into their practice. The curriculum incorporates online education, live synchronous events with expert faculty, on-campus hands-on cadaveric intensives, and clinical rotations to provide a well-rounded educational experience.
Application period now open.

Foundations of Regional Anesthesia Class

The Foundations of Regional Anesthesia Class is a comprehensive 15-week post-graduate course designed for CRNAs seeking to broaden their scope of practice by incorporating regional anesthesia. This course covers a wide variety of regional anesthesia related topics, including ultrasound principles, neuromuscular functional assessment, local anesthetic dosing, peripheral nerve blocks commonly used in the perioperative management of patients, and postoperative considerations.
Course dates: January 5 – April 16, 2026

Regional Anesthesia Cadaveric Workshops

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia cadaveric workshops at MTSA incorporate anatomic dissection, live model scanning, and procedural cadavers to provide a comprehensive overview of the regional anesthesia procedures commonly used in the management of perioperative pain. The workshops are clinically focused, and techniques learned are easily translated into a provider’s daily practice.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
August 8, 2025
November 16, 2025

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) Workshops

The Essentials Point-of-Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) Workshop is designed to introduce the participants to PoCUS studies that can be used as part of patient assessment in everyday clinical practice. During the workshop, participants will learn to perform the studies on live models, high-fidelity simulation, and cadaveric specimens.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
November 17, 2025

TEE/TTE Workshops

The TEE/TTE Workshop is designed to introduce the participants to PoCUS studies that can be used as part of patient assessment in everyday clinical practice. During the workshop, participants will learn to perform the studies on live models and high-fidelity simulators.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
November 17, 2025

For more information on all of MTSA’s nurse anesthesia academic offerings, visit mtsa.edu/academics.

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Join us September 25, 2025 for the MTSA Golf Tournament at Topgolf Nashville

Supporting MTSA’s Mission Initiative In Guyana

Sign up today for this exciting event where you can enjoy food, networking, and tournament play – all for a great cause. Whether you’re an aspiring golf pro or picking up a club for the first time, this event is fun for all!
Register now at www.mtsa.edu/golf.

Want to support MTSA’s Mission Initiative while promoting your business to CRNAs? Make an impact with one of the following Sponsorship Opportunities:
• Bay + Vendor Sponsor
• Game Sponsor
• Friend of Missions Sponsor

Proceeds from the event support medical simulation programs and workshops tailored for nurse anesthetists in Guyana.

Don’t miss your chance to mix and mingle with the anesthesia community while enjoying this exciting event. With every shot, you’re helping to bring better health outcomes to those in need.

When: Thursday, September 25
Location: Topgolf Nashville
Time: 5:00-8:00 pm
Register: Scan the QR code to sign up, or for more info:

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MTSA students and staff participated in many service opportunities throughout the year, continuing to show a deep commitment to the core principles on which the School was founded.

MTSA volunteers worked at the FiftyForward Whistlestop event at Madison Station. For at least five years, our volunteers have freely given their time to support this organization that helps so many in the community. Most recently, a group of students from the 2027 cohort volunteered, along with two staff members, and MTSA’s Executive VP.

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AUGUST 10
MTSA’s “Nashville Rhythm & Snooze 75th Anniversary Celebration”

AUGUST 18
Nurse Anesthesia Educator Webinar

AUGUST 28
Senior Day at MTSA

SEPTEMBER 4
White Coat Ceremony

SEPTEMBER 9
Webinar Series: Beyond the Brachial Plexus

SEPTEMBER 25
MTSA Golf Tournament at Topgolf

OCTOBER 19-20
Nurse Educator Conference: Elevate Your Teaching

OCTOBER 20
New Student Orientation

NOVEMBER 17
Essentials PoCUS Workshop

NOVEMBER 17
TEE/TTE Workshop

NOVEMBER 18
Webinar Series: TEE vs TTE

For additional details, visit mtsa.edu/events.

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Regional Alumni Dinners

MTSA regularly hosts regional alumni dinners, providing an opportunity to reconnect with friends, share stories, and learn more about the latest developments at the School.

Standing from left: Alescia Bethea, ‘95; Jim Kennedy, ‘76; Les Andrus, ‘03; Ronnie Roberts, ‘77; Randall Maupin, ‘90; Dong Shin, ‘82; David Latham, ‘78; Tricia Cathelyn, ‘98; Seated from left: Bernard DeVasher, ‘76 & ‘94; Donna (Ryan) Seaver, ‘00; and Ikey DeVasher, ‘69 & ‘94.

(l-r) Bernard DeVasher (1976, 1994), MTSA President Chris Hulin, (2006), Ikey DeVasher (1969, 1994), Bobby Eadds (1979), and Daniel Sasseen (2010).

Standing from left: Alescia Bethea, ‘95; Casey Clark, ‘05; Brandon Daughtry, ‘06; Colin Tomblin, ‘18; Dennis Kagoda, ‘11; David Celeski, ‘98; Barry Broadfoot, ‘86; Ikey DeVasher, ‘69 & ‘94; and Jimmy Nix, ‘76.

Nurse Anesthesia Educator Conference

MTSA recently hosted a Nurse Anesthesia Educator Conference: Inspiring Effective Clinical Preceptors. Strong preceptors shape the future of nursing. The hands-on workshop was designed to sharpen nurse educators’ skills, elevate their impact, and inspire others to become confident, effective clinical mentors.

Participants developed a tailored preceptor handbook for their institution; learned how to motivate and support new preceptors; and worked on enhancing feedback and evaluation practices

MTSA in DC

MTSA faculty and students traveled to Washington, DC advocating for CRNA practice at the AANA Mid Year Assembly.

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Congratulations to Mike McCance, Kristin McDonald, Shai-lo Charlton, Jayden Britton, and Lucas Moss from the PD class of 2025. Their project, ERAS Protocols in Elective Craniotomies and PONV: An EBP Project, was selected for presentation at the AANA Annual Congress. It will be presented Tuesday August 12, from 10:30-11:30 at e-monitor #7.

Please plan to go by and support them as well as CRNAs who attend MTSA’s DNAP Completion Program.

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Earlier this year Richard “Richie” W. Flowers Jr., DNP, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA, joined MTSA as Program Administrator of its flagship program, the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP), bringing a broad range of experience in both the academic and clinical settings. He is also an MTSA alumnus, earning a Master of Science with a focus in Nurse Anesthesia degree in 1997.

“I’m excited to be back where my journey to becoming a CRNA began 30 years ago!” Flowers said. “Having the opportunity to lead such a prestigious program is truly an honor and privilege. It feels like this is where I belong, and I’m glad to be home.”

Most recently Flowers was Assistant Professor, Department of Academic Nursing, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he served in various academic and leadership roles since 2015. Prior to that, he worked as a CRNA in numerous clinical practice environments, including owning his own practice.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Flowers ‘back’ to MTSA!” said President Chris Hulin, DNP, MBA, CRNA. “His background in the clinical setting, combined with his experience at Wake Forest as well as serving on non-profit boards and professional organizations, has uniquely positioned him to excel in program administration. We have the utmost confidence in his ability to take MTSA’s program to the next level.”

“I firmly believe that you have to know where you’ve been to fully understand where you are going,” Flowers added. “I’m glad to be able to engage with the staff, faculty, learners, alumni, and stakeholders of MTSA to learn about what makes it such a special place so that our vision for the future embraces the incredible legacy of the past. MTSA has a long history of producing excellent CRNAs, and I’m glad to not only continue this legacy but make sure we are preparing our graduates for the exciting opportunities they will have in the future.”

Flowers earned his Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) degree from Baylor College of Medicine, a Master of Science from MTSA, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Memphis State University.

MTSA’s Practice Doctorate/DNAP program is a full-time course of study for 36 consecutive months, on the campus of MTSA. It prepares learners to become experts in providing anesthesia care in a wide range of settings, applying evidence-based practices and improving patient outcomes. The program features a rigorous clinical rotation process that offers students a vast array of clinical experiences in the peri-anesthesia setting.

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Celebrating 75 Years of MTSA Excellence

In 1950, a young nurse anesthetist named Bernard Bowen set out to solve a problem he couldn’t ignore. Fresh out of anesthesia training and newly married, Bowen had struggled to reconcile his faith with his education. His training required didactic classes and exams on the Sabbath—something that conflicted with his beliefs as a Seventh-day Adventist. When he asked church leaders why there wasn’t an anesthesia school that respected Sabbath observance, the response changed the trajectory of his life: “Maybe you should start one.” So he did.

With deep conviction—and very little else—no major funding, no formal blueprint, and just two students—Bernard Bowen launched what was then the Madison College School of Anesthesia in a small barber shop in the basement of a hospital. As Mr. Bowen used to say, “They scooted the barber chair over to have class.” It was a bold act of faith and determination, guided by principles of clinical excellence, spiritual commitment, and service.

Now, as the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) celebrates its 75th anniversary, the impact of Bowen’s vision is undeniable. What began with just a handful of students has grown into one of the largest and most respected anesthesia programs in the nation, now accepting 75 students each year in its DNAP Entry to Practice Program, along with cohorts in a variety of post-degree academic offerings.

Throughout its journey, MTSA has remained rooted in its mission: “Reflecting Christ in Anesthesia Education.” The school has achieved major milestones—from regional accreditation in 1994 under the determined leadership of Dr. Mary Elizabeth “Ikey” DeVasher, to the launch of its first doctoral program in the 2010s. Each step has been defined by persistence, prayer, and an unshakable commitment to educating skilled, compassionate nurse anesthetists.

Today, MTSA continues to innovate while honoring its heritage. The campus has grown to include a stateof-the-art Simulation and Skills Lab, a modern Anatomy Lab for hands-on learning, and a vibrant Student Center equipped with a library, kitchen, and collaborative learning spaces. The Bowen Lecture Hall now serves as a gathering place for academic excellence and community, a far cry from the school’s humble beginnings in a hospital basement.

But MTSA’s story isn’t just about buildings and degrees—it’s about mission. From local service opportunities to international mission outreach in underserved communities, MTSA students and alumni live out the school’s call to serve. Programs like the Haiti and Guyana mission efforts, alongside local partnerships, ensure students graduate not only with clinical expertise but also with a deep sense of purpose.

As part of its 75th anniversary, MTSA is celebrating the legacy of those who built the foundation—people like Bernard Bowen and Ikey DeVasher—while also looking ahead to a future of continued service, innovation, and growth. Events and commemorations throughout the year will bring together alumni, students, faculty, and friends to honor the past and embrace the future.

The journey from two students to 75, from basement classrooms to high-tech labs, is more than a story of growth— it’s a testament to the power of faith, education, and vision.

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Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia hosted Commencement Exercises for the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Class of 2024 on December 6, 2024, at the Madison Church of Christ. The ceremony featured a keynote presentation by Janet Setnor, President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.

President’s Medal: Wendy Hoersting
Dr. Larry Lancaster Outstanding Nurse Educator Award: Robin Birchenough
Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship Outstanding Achievement Award: Nicholai Leon Mathewson
Team Spirit Award: Brittany Kay Chestnut
Bernard Bowen Award for Academic Excellence: Mujo Music
Agatha Hodgins Award for Clinical Excellence: Shelby Taylor Knight

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