"I AM ME" Campaign

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is observing this month with the “I AM ME” campaign. We are asking Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs) to send a photo and 1-3 sentences about what makes you, you! Our goal is to post your personalized “I AM ME” statement on Twitter and Facebook the entire month of April. Please share widely with fellow CRNAs and SRNAs!

I Am Me Statements

Angela L. Smith

Angela SmithI AM ME. Angela L. Smith, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, DNAP, avid reader, lifelong scholar, best point guard ever Michael Jordan's greatest fan, and Zeth's mom.

I AM ME. Lieutenant Col. Angela Smith, Army Nurse Corps Officer, compassionate leader, and proud veteran.

I AM ME. A. L. Smith, critically acclaimed author, Amazon Best Seller, award winning independent filmmaker, historian, humanitarian, visionary, advocate for the poor. Above all, God-fearing.

Emma To Dang

Emma To DangI AM ME, Emma To Dang, SRNA at The University of Southern Mississippi Nurse Anesthesia Program.

I AM ME, a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, first generation in college to pursue a doctoral nurse anesthesia degree.

I AM ME, culture enthusiast, wife and mother.

Kathleen Carney Thibeault

Kathleen ThibeaultI AM ME, Kathleen Carney Thibeault, fourth of nine children from a Boston Irish Catholic Family of the 50's and '60's, a family that embraced diversity - way before it was cool (and even when it wasn't).

I AM ME, whose parents encultured us with the bedrock values of kindness, community service, and justice for all, we have all grown to honor them through our service, and perpetuate their legacy in our own children.

I AM ME, as a CRNA, I am privileged to touch vulnerable lives in a positive way, and thus translate the progressive legacy of my parents by my actions and example.

Charnelle Lewis

Charnelle Lewis I AM ME, Charnelle Lewis, BSN, RN, RN. CVICU Nurse, Student Nurse Anesthetist at University of Buffalo Nurse Anesthesia Program, blogger, motivator, mentor. 

I AM ME, a Christian, singer, runner, traveler, and business woman.

I AM ME, a first-generation African American doctoral student, who is proud to enter the amazing profession of Nurse Anesthesia.
 

Hope Ferguson

Hope.Fergunson I AM ME, Hope Ferguson, DNP, APRN, CRNA, Veterans Administration Hospital, clinical adjunct faculty, mentor, Advocate, and heavily involved in community outreach.

I AM ME, Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy Corp, current Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetist Political Action Committee (PAC) and Nominating Committee Chair, and Memphis Student Nurse Anesthetist 
Foundation (MSNAF) Board Member.

I AM ME, first generation African American with Caribbean descent advanced health care graduate practicing nurse anesthesia.

Mark J. Haffey

I AM ME, MarMark Haffeyk J. Haffey, MSN, CRNA, APN, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Dedicated to my Patients, my Co-Workers, and my Hospital Community, Clinical Preceptor, SRNA Mentor, Past Chair of the AANA Student Mentorship Program, and Graduate of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program.

I AM ME, Driven to make a difference in my community, Youth Sponsor in my Church, Assistant Basketball Coach for my daughter’s team, devoted father of my 2 amazing children, loving husband, avid outdoorsman, and thankful for God’s Amazing Grace.

I AM ME, AANA Vice-President, Past AANA Region 4 Director, Past President of the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetist, Unwavering Advocate for ALL CRNAs, Innovative Leader, and Always willing to “Go the Extra Mile.”

Debra J. Diaz

Debra DiazI AM ME, Debra J. Diaz, DNP, CRNA, Simulation Coordinator, adjunct faculty, AANA committee member, ardent advocate for the profession and political activist, State Peer Advisor and the first Hispanic president for the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

I AM ME, mother, friend and shipmate, CDR US Navy retired, and the first member of my family to graduate from college.

I AM ME, lover of music, art, dance, travel enthusiast, and foodie.

Daryl L. de Lima

Daryl de LimaI AM ME, Daryl L. de Lima, a Hawaii-raised first-generation Filipino-American SRNA at the University of Pittsburgh.

I AM ME, a family man and avid practitioner of Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I AM ME, proud Army Nurse Corps and Operation Enduring Freedom veteran.
 

Jerrol Wallace

Jerrol WallaceI AM ME, Jerrol Wallace, a Naval Officer.

I AM ME, Doctoral Advanced Practice Nurse.

I AM ME, a Jamaican American.

I AM ME, a CRNA.

Emma Banya

Emma.Banya I AM ME, Emma Banya, CRNA, MSN, Captain, United States Air Force Reserves.

I AM ME, an African American woman, CRNA, Airman.

I AM ME, mission worker who understands that with passion, persistence, patience, pure heart, and most importantly prayers, there is no limit to fulfilling your purpose.

Alex Mendoza

Alex MendozaI AM ME, Alex Mendoza, MSN, CRNA, nurse anesthetist, mentor, advocate, and proud veteran.

I AM ME, a United States Army Reserve Major and proud to serve my country and my fellow service members. I am an active member of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists, AANA, Diversity CRNA, and a volunteer for medical mission trips.

I AM ME, born and raised in Puerto Rico, a practicing nurse anesthetist in Florida, and Army reserve. Currently deployed overseas.
 

Angela Mund

Angela R. MundI AM ME, Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA, nurse anesthetist, world traveler, associate professor, program director, health policy advocate, veteran, mentor, daughter, wife, and mother.

I AM ME, AANA Region 2 Director, Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists and South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists past president, Friend for Life, Gertrude Fife Society Member, and 1983 Society Member.

I AM ME, small town girl from rural Minnesota raised by hard working parents who taught the me the value of education, determination, and healthcare.
 

Thuan Truong

Thuan TruongI AM ME, Thuan Truong, MSA, CRNA, nurse anesthetist, advocate, adjunct faculty at National University in Fresno, CA., poker player, foodie, son, husband, and father.

I AM ME, still learning, embrace change, thankful for my opportunities, strive to provide opportunities for others.

I AM ME, a refugee from Vietnam, first in my family to attend college, speak three languages, and proud to be a nurse anesthetist!
 

Bob Gauvin

Bob. GauvinI AM ME, Bob Gauvin, MS, CRNA, certified registered nurse anesthetist, business owner, AANA board member, DNP candidate, tireless advocate, and voice of CRNAs everywhere.

I AM ME, a Veteran of the Air Force and Army, and the first member of my family to attend college, proud son of a Marine Corps Veteran, truck driver and a mother who cleaned houses so that I would never go without.

I AM ME, father of five, married to my best friend of 38 years, Kara, who is my rock and confidant. Privileged to know I have been blessed, forever paying that forward.
 
 

Stacey Ortiz

Stacey OrtizI AM ME, Stacey Ortiz, DNP, CRNA, first doctor in my family.

I AM ME, advocate for my patients, medical mission provider.

I AM ME, traveler, runner, a lover of animals, and a believer in Christ.
 
 

Bruce Weiner

Bruce WeinerI AM ME, Bruce Weiner, DNP, MSNA, CRNA, leader, mentor, clinician, adjunct faculty, clinical preceptor, community volunteer, husband, and father of two.

I AM ME, President of the AANA, past-president x2 of FANA, 27 years of leadership and committee service on state and national association activities.

I AM ME, a Delawarean, transplanted to the south after graduate school, a passionate advocate for the profession.
 

Joanne Hill

Joanne HillI AM ME, Joanne Hill, MSN, CRNA, Nurse Anesthetist, patient advocate, activist, wife, and mother.

I AM ME, a mission volunteer to the Philippines, Zimbabwe, and Liberia who is active in my community and I am a church volunteer for college tours and community health programs over the past 10 years. 

I AM ME, applying to complete my DNP, and I am a first generation African-American Master Degree graduate of Saint Mary’s University who is a practicing Nurse Anesthetist at the the same hospital for 23 years, and I am committed to Worldwide Healthcare Equality and Equity.
 

Biju Muchal Kuriakose

Biju Muchal KuriakoseI AM ME, Biju Muchal Kuriakose, from India, studied nursing at LaSalle University, masters in nurse anesthesia from Thomas Jefferson University.

I AM ME, Doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015. My wife is a CRNA too with the same background. 

I AM ME, currently practicing anesthesia in New Jersey and Philadelphia and very active in NJANA.
 

Jorge Valdes

Jorge.Valdes-I-AM-MEI AM ME, Jorge Valdes, DNP, CRNA, nurse anesthetist, assistant clinical professor, advocate, activist, Ironman finisher, and, most importantly, father.

I AM ME, a volunteer on medical missions, AANA committee member, Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetist past president, and current federal political director.

I AM ME, a first-generation Cuban American college graduate who is a practicing nurse anesthetist, and proudly wears many hats.
 

Wallena Gould

Wallena GouldI AM ME, Wallena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAAN, founder of the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program. First and only CRNA of color inducted into the Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

I AM ME, walking side-by-side with my brother and CRNA colleague, John Bing, to empower, inform and mentor the next generation of CRNAs of different hues and cultures.

I AM ME, former single teenage homeless mother, who found a pathway through higher education, survived adversity through grace and mercy, and my rock is my loving family.
 

Brittany Donaghy

Brittany DonaghyI AM ME, Brittany Donaghy, CRNA, MSN, clinical coordinator, mother, daughter, and humble servant of my patients.

I AM ME, a Puerto Rican/Irish American bilingual advocate for my patients and community.

I AM ME, a high school drop-out/teenage mother turned nurse anesthetist, an alleviator of pain and anxiety, and I love what I do.
 

Randy Moore

Randy MooreI AM ME, Randy Moore, DNP, MBA, CRNA, father, husband, veteran, nurse anesthetist, and Chief Executive Officer of the AANA.

I AM ME, a servant leader who believes that putting the needs of others first is my primary goal.

I AM ME, a servant leader that knows diversity results in better decision making, improved problem solving, greater creativity, and enhanced innovation.
 

More than 52,000 strong, the AANA acknowledges the differences in race, gender, ethnicity, language, cultural and religious beliefs, and socio-economic status that our CRNA and SRNA members bring to the nurse anesthesia profession.