Congratulations!
In Nurse Anesthesia Faculty & PhD Dissertation Defense News…
Congratulations to Dr. Lukeythia Bastardi, DNAP, CRNA, CNE, PhDc (Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University Nurse Anesthesia Program) who will defend PhD dissertation defense on Thursday! BRAVO!
PhD Dissertation: Perceived Barriers and Facilitators for Underrepresented Minority CRNA in Faculty Roles
"Research is formalized curiosity" ~Zora Neale Hurston
Congratulations to Dr. Zafar Anwar, DNP, CRNA who successfully defended his DNP Scholarly Project at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing!
DNP Title: Training Obstetric Nurses in Critical Care: Evaluation of an Intervention to Promote Self-Efficacy in Nurses Providing Care to a Critically ill Obstetric Patient
Dr. Anwar is a graduate of Columbia University Nurse Anesthesia Program and a DEI Servant Leader in nursing and nurse anesthesia spaces!!
Salute!
This song by Kings Return singing ‘So Amazing’ by Luther Vandross dedicated to your scholarly accomplishment and active footprint engagement as an equity, diversity and inclusion expert!!
As per Dr. Zafar Anwar, DNP, CRNA:
You know, I've been looking forward to this day for what feels like forever. As it crept closer, I gotta admit, the excitement/anxiety scale definitely tipped more towards anxiety. And when the big day finally arrived, I tried to play it cool, treating it like just another day. But let's be real, it was on my mind non-stop! I even had a little mix-up with the timing – thought the defense was bright and early at 7:30 am, turns out it was actually 7:30 pm. Classic case of the early riser's life, right?
But guess what? We made it! Doctoral Defense: done and dusted!
Huge shoutout to my amazing faculty, coworkers, classmates, fam, and friends. Seriously, couldn't have done it without your rock-solid support every step of the way.
And of course, gotta give credit where it's due – big shoutout to the man upstairs. Glory be to God, always and forever.
And, just like that, Second Lieutenant Calvin Sparks Nurse Anesthesia Student Graduated from Otterbein University (Ohio)
From high school drop out to Doctorate in Nurse Practice CRNA Program pens a beautiful letter to Black men nurses pursuing CRNA profession
Dear young Black Man…
All of the adversity and obstacles that come your way are an addition to your testimony. They do not define you, they motivate you to break generational curses, and to forge a new path.
Dear young Black King, the world is your oyster and from adult me to the little boy inside of you, I am so proud of the person you have become. Now enjoy it while showing those that follow you that it can be done! I love you and wish you the best!
Bravo to Second Lieutenant Sparks who solidified his DNP scholarly project with an educational acronym for autistic children named after his son Aiden. A quick reference tool for utilization of educational resources at the facility and how to approach autistic children.
Amen. And, thank you for your service!
From nursing student pathway to transitioning to CRNA!
Samuel Merritt University Graduate, Ramón Lopez, CRNA! “It’s incredible how much you grow, and learn when you are being pushed to limits you didn’t even know you had. Every day is a new struggle, but with that struggle comes self-realization”
I mentored Ramón Lopez since he was a nursing student who has since graduated from Samuel Merritt University CRNA Program with a 3.98 GPA!
I introduced him to CRNAs whom he shadow and attended a Diversity CRNA Info & Airway Simulation Lab Workshop as a nursing student and ICU Nurse!
Today, delivering anesthesia in ORs! Super proud!
And, just like that, Imran Mohamed, graduated from Mount Marty University DNAP Nurse Anesthesia Program
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice! All praise to the most high, Allah!
First generation Canadian/American graduate student with parents from Somalia.
In a Kansas City, MO Nursing school, Imran was the only Black student in cohort and was encouraged to pursue Nurse Anesthesia.
Yes. Sometimes, history repeats itself...but so does standing in excellence. Next up, CRNA boards!
And, just like that, Emmanuel Mensah & Second Lieutenant Calvin Sparks graduated from Otterbein University DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program (OH).
The whole journey, if you seen one, most definitely seen the other in the classroom, clinical and at previous Diversity CRNA Events supported by a beautiful family & CRNA Black men mentors.
Soon, these graduates will sit and take the CRNA boards and be seen by diverse community they serve in the delivery of anesthesia.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America ~ Langston Hughes
Imagine writing in personal statement for nurse anesthesia admission consideration actively participating in this safe place.
I see historically excluded nurses of color at the Diversity CRNA 2019 Information & Airway Simulation Lab Workshop hosted at the University of Miami before applying to nurse anesthesia programs!
Since this 2019 Event: Nurses have been accepted, matriculating or graduated from these nurse anesthesia programs:
University of Miami, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, Florida International University, Emory University, Gannon University, Texas Christian University, Rush University, Duke University, Wake Forest School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Michigan State University, Gongzaga University & more!
"You can't be, what you can't see" ~ Marian Wright Edelman
Repeat after me...I will be a CRNA
This is the grassroots movement of change at the center of the Immersion Model for Diversifying Nurse Anesthesia Programs!
And, just like that, Dominique Pearson graduated from Michigan State University Nurse Anesthesia Program!
I finally walked the stage! I also received the Outstanding Student Award!!
And Dr. Angella Ruley, DNP, CRNA (Assistant Program Director) hooded me!
Next up…CRNA boards!
Proud! Proud! Proud!
In 8 weeks, Keturah Williams will graduate from Duke University Nurse Anesthesia Program!
DNP scholarly project: High Fidelity in situ Simulation for enhancing Malignant Hyperthermia Crisis Management
“I dream it, I work hard, I grind til I own it!”
And, just like that, Marcus Wilson graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Nurse Anesthesia Program Nurse Anesthesia Program
Next up, CRNA boards!
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed
I, too, am America.
~Langston Hughes
And, just like that, this Florida State University Panama City CRNA Student graduated with honors
I see you, Dr. Tootie Taylor, DNAP Nurse Anesthesia Student! Next up, CRNA Boards!
Now, it’s your turn and “try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”- Maya Angelou
Diversity CRNA Member
And, just like that, James C. Billings will graduate from Samford University DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program this Saturday!
Next up...CRNA Boards!
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today". ~ Malcom X
Proud! Proud! Proud!
And, just like that, Dr. Zaina Floyd, Nurse Anesthesia Student graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy!
And, just like that, this Florida State University Panama City CRNA Student graduated!
Dr. Ndeye Mamy Dieng, DNAP Nurse Anesthesia Student! Next up, CRNA Boards!
Black CRNAs are 4% of a 60K nurse anesthesia workforce.
“Ignore the glass ceiling and do your work”. ~ Ava DuVernay
And, just like that, Roselyn Sylvain Dominion University Nurse Anesthesia Student graduated and passed CRNA boards!
I see you…Dr. Roselyn Sylvain, DNP, CRNA!
I rise.
I rise.
I rise.
~ Maya Angelou
And, just like that, Jewel Morris, University of Southern California Nurse Anesthesia Student graduated and passed CRNA boards!
Introducing Dr. Jewell Morris, DNAP, CRNA! Now, go live your best life!
"You are your own best thing" ~ Toni Morrison
This Saturday…
Dessiarae Sanchez will grace the stage at Samford University DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program for the graduation commencement ceremony!
“Nothing will work unless you do." ~
Maya Angelou
But, let’s talk about the beginning of her nurse anesthesia journey…with the number 7!
As an ICU Nurse, Dessiarae attended a 2019 Diversity CRNA Information Session & Airway Simulation Lab Workshop at Texas Wesleyan University!
Then, she applied to seven nurse anesthesia programs.
And, received seven letters of acceptances into CRNA programs
Seven.
BRAVO!!
And, just like that, Dr. Jennifer Hawkins, Nurse Anesthesia Student from Webster University delivered the student commencement speech!!
Next up, CRNA boards!!