The Arch

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summer/fall 2012 edition • anesthesia for nurses program college of health professions • medical university of south carolina

2 2012 Charleston Anesthesia Conference 2 AANA Mid-Year Assembly

Grace Laird Johnston RN SRNA, first year Anesthesia for Nurses student, was recently selected as the Student Representative to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Political Action

Committee (CRNA-PAC). The CRNA-PAC works to advance the profession of nurse anesthesia by serving as a voice for CRNAs on public policy. Johnston has had extensive experience with professional involvement both as a student and as a registered nurse. Johnston received a BS in Biology from the University of South Carolina. While in college, she served as the Garnet Circle Student Alumni Council President and as a student voice on USC’s Board

of Directors as well as working as a technician in Lexington Medical Center’s emergency room. She then went on to receive a BSN from MUSC where she served on the student government and was a Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society inductee. Upon graduation, Johnston was employed in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at MUSC where she received her certification as Critical Care Registered Nurse and became a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). In her current position as a member of the MUSC AFN program, she is the class treasurer, the College of Health Profession’s Honor Council representative, and an active member of the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists (SCANA) and the AANA. Congratulation to Grace Laird Johnston!

AFN STUDENT SELECTED TO SERVE ON NATIONAL COMMITTEE

DR. CHIPAS ELECTED TO NATIONAL NURSE ANESTHESIA BOARDDr. Tony Chipas, CRNA, PhD was elected to serve on the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Board of Directors. Dr. Chipas was elected from an impressive slate of candidates and will represent the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the Southeast United States. He assumed the duties after the AANA National Meeting in August 2012. The AANA is the professional organization representing more than 40,000 nurse anesthetists across the United States. During his two-year term, Dr. Chipas will be responsible for communication between state CRNA leadership and the national organization. He will be required to attend national meetings and participate

in leadership conferences over the next two years.

Due to the many responsibilities related to Dr. Chipas’ new role, after 8 years of service in the role of Program Director for the Nurse Anesthetist Program, Dr. Tony Chipas has resigned from his administrative role. Dr. Chipas will continue to be an active and engaged faculty member in the College maintaining his faculty status and functioning as the Assistant Director for the program.Congratulations to Dr. Chipas!

Charleston Anesthesia ConferencePHOTOSINSIDE!

Change in Leadership

Dr. Angie Mund, former Assistant Director, was appointed as the new Director of the AFN program effective August 2012. Dr. Mund is a 1998 graduate of the Nurse Anesthesia Program at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and was a member of the US Army Reserve from 1996-2006. She received both her Master’s of Science in 1999 and a Doctor in Nursing Practice from the University of Minnesota. Dr Mund has been active in nurse anesthesia on the state and national levels: AVANA President 2007-2009; Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthesia Board of Director 2008-2010; President, South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists 2010-2011.

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AANA MID-YEAR ASSEMBLY Twenty-seven student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNA) from the Anesthesia for Nurses Program along with faculty spent 5 days in Washington, DC in April raising the awareness of the nurse anesthesia profession. The AFN students first attended lectures to learn more on the background of current issues in healthcare. Invited speakers included Senator Tom Harkin, The Honorable Blanche Lincoln, and Representative John Shimkus as well as and other influential experts in the healthcare policy arena. Many of the SRNA’s also attended a fundraiser for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee on the rooftop of the historic Hay-Adams Hotel. The MUSC SRNA’s then spent the next two days learning about the legislative process by lobbying their South Carolina state Senators and Representatives. The SRNA’s represented their University, their program, and their profession with not only their depth and breadth of knowledge but with great enthusiasm for making a difference in healthcare.

summer/fall 2012 edition • anesthesia for nurses program

2012 AFN CONFERENCE As alumni of the AFN program, it was exciting to have you back at the 2012 AFN Conference and Alumni Dinner! The weekend was a tremendous success with over 259 conference attendees, 67 of which were alumni of the MUSC AFN program.

CLICK HERE to view a collection of photos from the conference weekend.

What Legacy Will You Leave? We all desire significance – to lead happy and fulfilled lives surrounded by family and friends. And for many of us, there is a compelling need to make a difference – to leave a lasting impact on the people most dear to us and the world in which we live. The search for significance and desire to plan for the future leads many to ponder their legacy. What kind of legacy will you leave? A bequest is perhaps the easiest and most tangible way to have a lasting impact on the people and organizations that mean the most to you. And a bequest may be an effective way to make a gift and lessen the burden of taxes on your family and on your estate. To learn more about how you can leave your legacy, please contact Leslie Brady, Director of Development at (843) 792-8547 or bradyl@musc.edu to have a confidential conversation.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please send us your comments, compliments or

concerns! Contact: Lauren Dickerson at843-792-9134 or meltonl@musc.edu

Please mark your calendar for next year’s conference scheduled for May 3-5,

2013 at the Charleston Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel.

1. Faculty members Dennis McKenna and Angie Mund accompany students to Washington, DC.

2. David Andrews, Angie Mund, Nancy Watson, and Steve Mund

3. Dennis McKenna and Deborah Hickerson

4. Rich Bates, Steve Paschen, and Lester Kitten

5. Dean Lisa Saladin, Tony Chipas, and Janetta Chipas

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