The Leadership Identification Committee is responsible for slating and solicitation of candidates for the AANA Board of Directors and elected committees. Committee members will identify and recruit members who have potential to be effective leaders to serve in various AANA elected offices by contacting state association leaders, committee chairs, and other members to encourage interest in running for AANA’s elected positions.
Dr. Steele holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Excelsior College, a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Albany Medical College, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Duke University. She has practiced clinically in New York and New Hampshire as staff CRNA, Clinical Coordinator and Chief CRNA. She was tenure-track faculty at Colby-Sawyer College in the ABSN, MSN, and DNP programs. She is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Prior to being elected to the LIC, Julie served on local, state, and national committees including chairing the AANA Bylaws and Resolutions Committee in MY24-25.
Independence, diversity, equity and financial freedom drive Dr. Donté A. Flanagan. Born and raised in Chattanooga, TN, those drivers are what carried him to a successful career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Today, he is dedicated to using his experiences with time management, resilience and courage to motivate diverse students to consider what has traditionally been a homogeneous profession. Through his professional work, community involvement and public speaking, Dr. D. A. Flanagan aims to serve as a prominent voice and advocate for diversity throughout the field of nurse anesthesia. Today he leads this initiative through the annual Multicultural CRNA Conference (MCC) which serves as the springboard to CRNA Week. MCC celebrates cultural uniqueness, fosters engagement, and promotes diversity within the nurse anesthesia profession. It serves as a platform for professional development, networking, and mentorship while addressing underrepresentation in the field. These programs along with the ongoing leadership positions and speaking engagements and research allows Dr. Flanagan to continue pushing forward the core values with ongoing accountability and action-centered progress in order to facilitate a cultural shift toward full equity and inclusion within the nurse anesthesia profession.
Tessa Guevara holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Christian University, and a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Wesleyan University. She has been active on the board of the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists including serving as the Vice President from 2023-2024 and the Secretary/Treasurer from 2020-2023.
Jeff Molter, CRNA, MSN, MBA, served as President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), culminating more than six years of service on the Association’s Board of Directors. During his tenure, he held every elected leadership position on the national board, including Region Director, Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect, and President.
At the state level, Jeff has been equally committed to advancing the profession through the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OSANA), where he served as Board President, President-Elect, Director, and Past President. Over his 27-year career, he has contributed to numerous state and national committees, helping shape policy, strengthen governance, and advance the profession of nurse anesthesiology.
In addition to his leadership roles, Jeff has remained an active practicing clinician throughout his career. He is passionate about the art and science of regional anesthesia and believes that staying engaged in patient care allows him to lead with credibility, perspective, and a continued focus on clinical excellence.
Dr. Rose is originally from Raleigh, NC. As a proud graduate of Wake Forest University Medical Center, Nurse Anesthesia Program, she has been a CRNA since 2001. Her research interests include patient safety and post operative information transfers. Supporting the AANA is important to Dr. Rose evidenced by her previous membership of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Continuing Education committees. In her spare time, Dr. Rose enjoys coordinating community service projects to serve vulnerable populations.
Janet Setnor holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University. She is a Past-President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) and a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with over 40 years of experience in clinical anesthesia, healthcare leadership, and military service. Jan has served in multiple state and national leadership roles, including two terms as VANA President and board appointments to the Virginia Joint Board of Medicine and Nursing, the Governance Unit of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, and most recently to the International Council of Nurses Anesthetist Expert Advisory Council.
Neil Hinoguin Sagrado, DNAP, CRNA, is a first-generation Filipino American Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at UCLA Health, where he provides evidence-based anesthesia care for complex, high-acuity patients across tertiary academic and ambulatory settings. He earned his Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he chaired the Wellness Committee, co-chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and served as an Inclusive Excellence Fellow. His leadership focuses on clinician well-being, workforce representation, and mentorship of aspiring nurse anesthetists. An AANA, Nurse Anesthesiology Pride Foundation (NAPF) and Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society (FANAS) member, Dr. Sagrado has received VCU’s Thomas C. Barker Professional Excellence Award and multiple nurse anesthesia scholarships. He is committed to advancing professional excellence, inclusive leadership, member engagement, and the future of nurse anesthesia