The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Program celebrated their 2023 graduating class on Friday, December 15th at the University Club. Speakers at the celebration included our department chair Aman Mahajan, MD, PhD, MBA, our Senior CRNA Clinical Director Toni Orsino, MBA, CRNA, and John M. O'Donnell, DrPH, CRNA, FAAN, FAANA, FSSH, who presented the graduates.
We joyfully extend our congratulations to the Pitt Nurse Anesthesia Program's Class of 2023! Each of the 41 accomplished graduates successfully completed their rigorous studies and training, culminating in attainment of their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and their official transition from student nurse anesthetist to certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). As part of their academic journey, each graduating student completed a capstone project centered on quality, safety, or performance improvement within the healthcare domain. The projects undertaken by the talented members of the Class of 2023 are listed with their names and photos below.
In addition, congratulations to Brendan Crowley MSN, CRNA, who received the Mary DePaolis Lutzo Anesthetist of the Year Award and Khoa N. Nguyen, MD, who received the Stephen Finestone Anesthesiologist of the Year Award at the graduation celebration.
| Name | Project |
|---|---|
|
Emily Baldwin |
Development of a Scalpel-Bougie Surgical Airway Simulation Workshop for Non-Surgeons |
|
Daniel Bernard |
Implementation of Cognitive Aids for Anesthetic Management in Complex Neurosurgical Cases During the Surgical Time-Out |
|
Cody Brack |
Sustainable Training Model for Improving Skill and Confidence in the Use of High Frequency Jet Ventilation |
|
Michael Bredl |
In Situ Crisis Management Simulation in a Class B Facility Designed to Meet Pennsylvania Department of Health Requirements |
|
Anna Breedlove |
Development of a Scalpel-Bougie Surgical Airway Simulation Workshop for Non-Surgeons |
|
Alexis Cameron |
The Use of Simulation-Based Training to Improve Sedative and Paralytic Medication Administration and Patient Monitoring During Rapid Sequence Induction in the Emergency Department |
|
Nathan Casey |
Implementation of Adjunctive Peripheral Intravenous (IV) Cannulation Techniques in Pre-Operative Surgical Patients with Suspected Difficult IV Access |
|
Amanda Chao |
Improving Difficult Airway Management by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Providers with a Structured Update of the Difficult Airway Cart |
|
Alanna Ciardi |
Retrospective Analysis of the WISER in situ Mock Code Program Evaluation Data to Develop Recommendations for Improved Code Response |
|
Blake Crowder |
Using Simulation-Based Training to Improve Sedation and Paralytic Medication Administration and Patient Monitoring During Rapid Sequence Induction/Intubation in the ICU |
|
Laris Davenport |
Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Management at a Tertiary Care Center |
|
Daniel Ferriero |
Improving Postoperative Pain at Laos Friends Hospital for Children: A Quality Improvement Project |
|
Alli Garfield |
Introduction of an Evidence-Based Risk Assessment Tool in Cardiac Surgery Patients to Predict Massive Transfusion Intraoperatively |
|
Cassandora Grzybek |
Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Management at a Tertiary Care Center |
|
Kyle Hartley |
Evaluating Team Member Readiness and Confidence in Managing Patients During Cardiac Arrest by Implementing in situ Mock Code Simulation |
|
Alyssa Harwick |
Implementation of a Retrobulbar Block Education Module |
|
Philip Husk |
Conscious Sedation Education to Improve Knowledge, Confidence, Skills, and Clinical Utilization by Non-Anesthesia Personnel at Washington Hospital |
|
Tristan Jarrett |
Improvement of Perioperative Data Collection Methodologies at Lao Friends Hospital for Children with Provision of Recommendations to Improve Identification of Respiratory Complications |
|
Steven Kimmell |
Surveillance Project on Securement Methods of Arterial Catheters to Decrease Incidence of Premature Catheter Termination |
|
Andrew Koch |
Development of a Simulation-Based Training Course to Increase Anesthesia Provider Knowledge, Competence, and Confidence in Ultrasound (US)-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blockade |
|
Elena Lerma |
Implementation of a Standardized IV Insertion Protocol to Improve Incidence of Success |
|
Zachary Lyons |
Stanford Emergency Manual: Education and Familiarization for Anesthesia Providers |
|
Anna Miller-Fogal |
Aromatherapy During Labor: Education to Improve Knowledge, Confidence, and Clinical Utilization by Anesthesia Providers at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital |
|
Alexis Monti |
The Development of a Perioperative Thermoregulation Management Cognitive Aid for Surgical Pediatric ICU Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia |
|
Jordan Morrill |
Implementation of Cognitive Aids to Guide CRNA Anesthetic Management for Neurological Surgery to Increase Team Cohesiveness and CRNA Knowledge, Confidence, and Adherence to Evidence-Based Practice |
|
Grishma Patel |
The Implementation of US-Guided Peripheral IV Insertion Education for Nurses in the Gastrointestinal Laboratory to Improve Confidence in US-Guided IV Placement |
|
Uma Rajhbeharrysingh |
Sustainable Training Model for Improving Skill and Confidence in the Use of High Frequency Jet Ventilation |
|
Andrew Rauth |
Evaluation of Nursing Process Competencies, Nursing Quality, and Patient Safety using Virtual Simulation with Debriefing: An Experimental Study |
|
Ambria Reid |
Development of a Nurse Anesthesia Program Advisory Group for Students of Color as they Enter the Clinical Setting |
|
Jonathan Ritacco |
Aromatherapy During Labor: Education to Improve Knowledge, Confidence, and Clinical Utilization by Anesthesia Providers at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital |
|
Jonathan Sabo |
Development and Implementation of an Educational Program to Increase Anesthesia Provider Knowledge About Intraoperative Quantitative Neuromuscular Monitoring Devices and Residual Neuromuscular Blockade |
|
Erin Savage |
Healthcare Providers’ Hand Hygiene Practices and Infection Control Attitudes at Lao Friends Hospital for Children |
|
Paul Seley |
Simulation-Based Medication Administration Education and Modification of Cognitive Aid in a Private Practice Outpatient Plastic Surgery Center to Enhance Perioperative Nurses’ Knowledge and Confidence |
|
Taylor Smith |
Conscious Sedation Education to Improve Knowledge, Confidence, Skills, and Clinical Utilization by Non-Anesthesia Personnel at Washington Hospital |
|
Samantha Srinivasan |
Improving Recognition and Management of Postoperative Acute Upper Airway Obstruction Through Simulation Education for Post Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurses to Improve Provider Knowledge, Confidence, and Appropriate Skills Utilization |
|
Carlyle Strickland |
Stanford Emergency Manual Implementation: Education, Familiarization |
|
Joshua Toole |
Development of a Simulation-Based Training Course to Increase Anesthesia Provider Knowledge, Competence, and Confidence in US-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blockade |
|
Salina Torgerson |
US-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Training for ICU nurses Utilizing Simulation and the “Train-the-Trainer” Model |
|
Danielle Wall |
The Evaluation of an Anticoagulation Protocol for Adult Cardiac ICU Patients with Impella Therapy for Management of Cardiogenic Shock |
|
Jacquelyn Willett |
Blood Typing from the Surgical Field: A Comparison to Known Intravascular Samples |
|
Marie Wong |
Development of a Simulation-Based Training Course to Increase Anesthesia Provider Knowledge, Competence, and Confidence in US-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blockade |
