Purcell Named to Top Lobbyist List
Frank Purcell, AANA senior director of Federal Government Affairs, was added to the 2013 list of
CEO Update’s top lobbyists (
CEO Update login required). The company cited Purcell’s achievement of directing advocacy aimed at resuming Medicare payments to nurse anesthetists for pain care services where legally authorized by states. The federal agency ruled in favor of the reimbursements November 1.
CEO Update selected lobbyists who succeeded in the courts and in far-flung state and local battlefields. Despite automatic budget cuts, they came through in getting lawmakers’ attention for their organizations.
Davidson Recognized by Health Volunteers Overseas
Diana Davidson, CRNA, of Camp Hill, Pa., is a 2013 recipient of the eighth annual Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) Golden Apple Award for her work in Ethiopia. As part of its World Health Day observances, HVO created this award to recognize the extraordinary educational contributions of volunteers to international program sites. Each HVO volunteer honored with this award has demonstrated a strong commitment to HVO's educational mission by working on curriculum development, teacher training, didactic or clinical training or the enhancement of educational resources.
Davidson has been the driving force behind the Master of Nurse Anesthesia program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since its inception. As program director for HVO’s combined anesthesia/nurse anesthesia program site in Ethiopia, her enthusiasm and commitment to the program has allowed her to recruit outstanding volunteers who have aided in developing the program. The strength of the program has drawn students from Rwanda and has also resulted in the Ethiopian Association of Anesthetists being admitted to the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists.
In addition to being a strong advocate for the nurse anesthesia program, Davidson strives to improve healthcare in Ethiopia. She meets regularly with the dean of the Addis Ababa University Medical School and has met with the Ministry of Health to advocate for better nursing school standards and safer post-anesthesia care standards.
“I am very pleased that the contributions made by Diana Davidson towards improving anesthesia training and delivery are being recognized with this award,” said HVO Executive Director Nancy Kelly. “By highlighting the accomplishments of volunteers like Ms. Davidson, we hope to raise awareness of global health issues and encourage others to work towards better healthcare around the world.”
An HVO member since 2009, Davidson, in addition to being program director, has also served on HVO’s Nurse Anesthesia Steering Committee since 2011. She is a member of the AANA and past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She also serves on the board of Downtown Daily Bread, a homeless shelter in Harrisburg, Pa., and has volunteered on more than 10 surgical missions with World Surgical Foundation.
A graduate of Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh School of Anesthesia for Nurses in Pittsburgh, Davidson currently works at Holy Spirit Health System in Camp Hill, Pa.
The efforts of HVO's Golden Apple Award recipients are an integral part of HVO's response to the global health workforce shortage. By highlighting the achievements and contributions of the Golden Apple Award recipients, HVO fosters an awareness of global health issues, especially the human resource shortage that serves as a serious constraint to the delivery of healthcare around the world.
Reede Hired as New Senior Director, Professional Practice
Lynn Reede, CRNA, MBA, has joined the AANA as its new senior director of Professional Practice. The senior director is responsible for coordinating all Professional Practice Division activities, including clinical and practice management issues, healthcare facility accreditation activities, and working with the Practice Committee and individual members in addressing issues that affect nurse anesthesia practice.
Most recently Reede was employed at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio, where she worked as a staff nurse anesthetist, didactic and clinical instructor, operations manager of the Anesthesia Department, and director of Strategy and Innovation. Reede has served as AANA Region 6 director and on the AANA Finance Committee, as well as two terms as president of the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Reede recently completed her doctoral degree in Nursing Practice from Northeastern University in Boston, and will graduate in January 2013.
CRNAs Saluted as “Living Legends” at Fall Leadership Academy
Joyce Kelly, CRNA, EdD, MA, and Sister Mary Arthur Schramm, CRNA, OSB, PhD, were officially recognized as Living Legends by the AANA during the association’s Fall Assembly Leadership Academy, held on November 16-18, 2012 in Colorado Springs.
Joyce Kelly, CRNA, EdD, MA
Joyce Kelly, of Pasadena, Calif., is the founding program director of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, School of Anesthesia in Los Angeles. She received the AANA’s highest honor, the Agatha Hodgins award, in 2002. “Being recognized as a legend in the profession of nurse anesthesia is really quite an honor,” said Kelly. “I have worked with many nurse anesthetists over the years, which has confirmed my belief that as long as we keep the standards high and continue to provide quality anesthesia care, the spirit of this award will live forever.” During the 1970s, at the request of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Kelly conducted a year-long study to determine the feasibility of establishing nurse anesthesia educational programs in California. She then launched the Kaiser Permanente Program of Nurse Anesthesia. As director, she also engineered an affiliation with the School of Nursing at California State University, Long Beach, which was the first program to offer a degree at the master’s level. A CRNA for 50 years, Kelly completed her EdD in institutional management at Pepperdine University in Culver City, Calif, and both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in healthcare administration at Lindewood College, St. Charles, Mo. Kelly received her nurse anesthesia certificate from Baylor Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia and a nursing certificate from Methodist Hospital of Dallas School of Nursing, both located in Dallas.
Sister Mary Arthur Schramm, CRNA, OSB, PhD
For 50 years, Sister Mary Arthur Schramm has served humanity through healthcare as a nurse anesthetist, program director, and anesthesia consultant. Sister Schramm is a member of the Benedictine Monastery of the Sacred Heart in Yankton, S.D. She received the AANAs highest honor, the Agatha Hodgins award in 2003.
“I would not have successfully pursued this profession without the constant encouragement of so many others throughout every stage of my life,” said Sister Schramm. “The practice of nurse anesthesia has been a ministry all its own, and has allowed me to alleviate the pain of many patients around the world.”
Throughout her career, Sister Schramm has made numerous contributions to the nurse anesthesia profession, including addressing the healthcare needs of rural South Dakotans on Capitol Hill and being named to Sen. Tom Daschle’s (D-SD) State Healthcare Consultation Committee. A trailblazer in her own right, Sister Schramm played a significant role in establishing nurse anesthesia schools in Jamaica, Guyana, and Puerto Rico. Additionally, she was the first woman to obtain a doctorate in physiology from the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota.
In addition, she has been the recipient of the AANA Helen Lamb award, and has served on the AANA Board of Directors and many committees on the state and national levels.
Sister Schramm received her PhD in physiology from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D., and a bachelor’s degree in composite science from Mt. Marty College in Yankton S.D. Her nursing diploma was received from Sacred Heart Hospital in S.D. Yankton.
CRNA Recognized as Healthcare Hero
Sharon Niemann, CRNA, MHS, was recently recognized as a Health Care Hero. Health Care Heroes honors companies, individuals, and organizations for their contributions to improving health care in Wichita, Kan. and the surrounding area. Niemann was among 27 honorees recognized at an event on Oct. 16, 2012 and profiled in an Oct. 19 special edition of the Wichita Business Journal.
As the director and sole fulltime faculty member of the Nurse Anesthesia Program at Newman University, Niemann was honored for her work as a nurse anesthesia educator. Anne Chandler, Newman University director of Corporate and Foundation Relations told the Wichita Business Journal: “She has passionately led the program for over 12 years. She is a very dedicated faculty member who goes above and beyond to make sure her students are prepared to enter the work force.” Bernadette Fetterolf, RN, PhD, CNS, Newman’s associate dean of Nursing and Allied Health, added that Niemann is “a onewoman program. She is just a tremendous asset to Newman and to the community.”
CRNA Elected Chair of Tennessee Board of Nursing
Congratulations to Donald Bell, CRNA, DNSc, APN, who has been elected chair of the Tennessee Board of Nursing (BON). Bell, an advanced practice nurse representative on the BON for the past two years, is the first CRNA to serve as board chair. A past president of the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Bell is associate professor and program director for the University of Tennessee College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Concentration. Taking Bell’s vacated seat on the BON is Brent Earwood, CRNA, who was appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, marking the first time there has been two CRNAs on the Tennessee BON.
CRNA Serves on Board for Medical Publication