The Philanthropist of the Year Award, established in 2006 by the AANA Foundation, is presented to an individual who represents the spirit of Ms. LeBlanc and has gone beyond the call of duty as a supporter of the AANA Foundation.
The Rita L. LeBlanc Philanthropist of the Year donates time, talent, and direct financial support to the AANA Foundation, as well as other well-deserving organizations. The recipient of this award demonstrates a strong philanthropic spirit, and through his or her charitable actions motivates others to give of themselves.
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The Rita L. LeBlanc Philanthropist of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has gone beyond the call of duty as a supporter of the AANA Foundation and other philanthropic organizations. The recipient of the 2026 Rita L. LeBlanc Philanthropist of the Year Award is Janet Dewan.
Nearly 50 years ago, while working as a volunteer nurse in Niger, West Africa, Dewan witnessed preventable tragic outcomes due to the absence of skilled anesthesia providers. This experience ignited a lifetime personal mission to enhance patient safety and access to surgery through improved anesthesia education and training. Since then, she returns frequently to East and West Africa, contributing clinical expertise, advancing education initiatives and global practice standards. Her work has evolved from hands-on service to broader academic innovation and system-level improvements.
“Recognizing the accomplishments of the prior Philanthropist of the Year recipients, I am in awe of their many and diverse contributions to this incredible field in which we are privileged to serve. I’m honored to join this extraordinary, talented group of CRNAs whose legacies reinforce for me that philanthropy can be rewarding across different active manifestations, whether sharing money, time, effort, knowledge or talent. We all have something to give. Evidence and also intuition shows that helping others directly or through financial contributions benefits both the giver and receiver,” said Dewan. “I thank the Foundation for providing a venue where our profession can support scholarship that enlightens today and strengthens our future.”
Recognized as an activist, humanitarian, scholar, and educator, Dewan has dedicated her career to advancing nurse anesthesia education and expanding access to high-quality care around the world. Through her philanthropic support of the AANA Foundation and a range of trusted global charitable organizations, she has helped strengthen education, research, and professional development for nurse anesthetists.
A passionate mentor, Dewan has worked to elevate the quality and availability of nurse anesthesia education while preparing students and faculty to advance global standards in advanced nursing practice. Her humanitarian service includes volunteer leadership with Our Hearts Your Hands, Health Volunteers Overseas, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health, the International Organization for Women and Development, and the Boston Africa Anesthesia Collaborative, where she is a founding member.
Dewan currently serves as Associate Program Director in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia Program at Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts.
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