DIVERSITY CRNA iN Action
Inform, empower, and mentor
Inspired by Diversity
The Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3). We are committed to promoting and advancing diversity initiatives to mentor critical care nurses who want to successfully matriculate into graduate nurse anesthesia programs. Additionally, we guide and encourage CRNAs by providing ongoing professional development. We are an inclusive organization that actively mentors diverse registered nurses to increase the nurse anesthesia racial and ethnic representation of the 61,000 members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists by more than 10 percent. CRNA’s who actively participate in any of our Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program events will be issued AANA Class A or Class B continuing educational credits.
Mission & Strategic Plan
The mission of the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program is to inform, empower, and mentor underserved diverse populations with information to prepare them for a successful career in Nurse Anesthesia. We, (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists), fulfill our mission by providing annual information sessions/ luncheon programs; anesthesia airway workshops; sponsorships for minority nurse anesthesia students to the Annual AANA Conference; participating in area high school career days; visiting Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Hispanic Serving Institution Schools of Nursing; and, providing an annual graduation celebratory dinner for minority students completing nurse anesthesia programs.
LEADERSHIP
DNAMP Founder & CEO
2024 Recipient of the American Nurses Association Innovation Nurse-Led Team Award
2023 Chair, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee, American Academy of Nurses
2022 Recipient of the Edge Runner Award
for the Immersion Model for Diversifying Nurse Anesthesia Programs
2019 Recipient of the AANA Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment
2018 Recipient of the National Black Nurses Association Trailblazer Award
Wallena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAANA, FADLN, FAAN is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program and former Chief Nurse Anesthetist. For 18 years, this grassroots organization program has successfully mentored over 820 racially diverse critical care nurses into 92 out 130 graduate nurse anesthesia programs.
Dr. Gould was the lead consultant for a $1 million-dollar HRSA Workforce Diversity Grant for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Nurse Anesthesia Program. And, she served as AANA Chair of the Diversity Task Force from 2015 - 2016.
Mark Giles, DNP, CRNA is the Board President for the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program.
Dr. Giles is a 2024 Recipient of the ANA Innovation Nurse-Led Team Award.
Dr. Giles is instrumental in the strategic planning of diversity initiatives for changing the face and culture of Nurse Anesthesia.
Mark Giles, DNP, CRNA is a full-time CRNA and Adjunct Professor. Dr. Giles graduated from the Quinnipiac University DNP Program. Dr. Giles successfully defended his scholarly DNP project on 'Chronic Kidney Disease: Dialysis to Successful Kidney Transplant.'
In addition, Dr. Giles has served on CRNA panels and as a preceptor at past Diversity CRNA Information Session & Airway Simulation Lab Workshops, Diversity CRNA School of Nursing Tours, and Diversity CRNA Advanced Practice Doctorate Symposiums. Dr. Giles is a lifelong member of the National Black Nurses Association.
