The Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy was established in 2000 by the AANA membership. It is presented to an individual who, through leadership and/or personal effort, has made a highly significant contribution to the preservation and advancement of the nurse anesthesia profession through legislative, legal and/or regulatory efforts.
The Award was established to honor Ira P. Gunn, CRNA, MLN, FAAN, who had a 21 year Army career, where she excelled as a practitioner, educator, researcher, consultant, and prolific writer. She untiringly devoted her time, knowledge, expertise and energies to the AANA, various State ANAs and individual CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists confronted with challenges of a legal, legislative or regulatory nature. Her contributions to this profession and its members, through these and other efforts have significantly contributed to the preservation and advancement of the nurse anesthesia profession.
The Award is presented during the AANA Annual Meeting.
The nominee may be a CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists or a non-CRNA who has demonstrated a significant contribution to preserving the continued existence of the profession of nurse anesthesia. The nominee shall have assisted the AANA in overcoming legislative, legal and regulatory challenges to nurse anesthesia practice rights.
Please ensure your nomination clearly addresses how the candidate meets each of the outlined criteria.
Nomination Deadline: March 15
Submit a Nomination: Apply now
For more information, contact Kelly McCohen at governance@aana.com.
The Award was established to honor Ira P. Gunn, CRNA, MLN, FAAN, who had a 21 year Army career, where she excelled as a practitioner, educator, researcher, consultant, and prolific writer. She untiringly devoted her time, knowledge, expertise and energies to the AANA, various State ANAs and individual CRNAs confronted with challenges of a legal, legislative or regulatory nature. Her contributions to this profession and its members, through these and other efforts have significantly contributed to the preservation and advancement of the nurse anesthesia profession.
Throughout her distinguished career, Rowles has championed nurse anesthesiology at the state, national, and international levels. She has worked tirelessly with individual Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, hospitals, legislators, and healthcare leaders to expand access to quality anesthesia care while advancing education, professional standards, and practice opportunities for CRNAs worldwide.
Known for her ability to influence policy and build collaborative relationships, Rowles has served as a trusted legislative and regulatory consultant for states pursuing CRNA practice advancements. She has provided expert testimony before the Food and Drug Administration, Boards of Nursing, Boards of Medicine, medical malpractice panels, and legislative committees, all while advising states navigating regulatory and scope-of-practice challenges. Her advocacy extends far beyond the United States—she has worked alongside nurse anesthetists and government leaders to secure title protection, support advances in education, strengthen practice, and influence health policy across multiple countries. Additionally, she currently serves as co-chair of the International Council of Nurses Advanced Practice Nursing Networks Health Policy Subcommittee.
While serving as president of the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA) for the last 12 years, Rowles has become “the face and voice of global nurse anesthesia.” Under her leadership, she has worked with nurse anesthetists throughout the world to advance recognition of the profession and improve access to safe, affordable anesthesia care. She also played a key role in developing the International Council of Nurses’ “Guidelines on Advanced Practice Nursing: Nurse Anesthetists,” helping establish a common understanding of the nurse anesthesiology profession for governments, policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals worldwide.
“Advocacy work was a priority early on in my career because CRNAs were underrecognized and undervalued. Educating others on who we are, what we do, where we work, and how we provide high-quality care to increase access to pain care and surgical services is key for decision makers to understand our value and contributions to health,” said Rowles. “Nothing is accomplished quickly—it takes a sustained effort by all of us to move the profession forward. As CRNAs, our focus is on the patient and providing care which will positively impact their journey toward optimal health. I am proud to be a CRNA and of the contributions we make to the health of countries around the world.”
Beyond her policy work, Rowles has transformed nurse anesthesiology education. She is recognized as a pioneer in non-surgical pain management, developing and instructing the first cadaver course for pain. She has helped move pain management education to the academic level, and has developed advanced fellowship education, certification pathways, and continuing education opportunities for CRNAs. As the director of the Advanced Pain Management Fellowship at Texas Christian University, she leads the nation’s first accredited fellowship for CRNAs.
Her commitment to advancing global anesthesia education inspired her to establish Our Hearts Your Hands, Inc. (OHYH), a charitable organization that supports nurse anesthesiology education in low-income countries. Since its inception, the organization has provided over 40 scholarships to nurse anesthetists in ten countries, helping to address the global shortage gap of anesthesia providers.
“Jackie Rowles consistently makes numerous contributions to the nurse anesthesia profession,” wrote another colleague. “She has become an excellent leader who steadfastly defends CRNA education and our right to a full scope of practice.”
Another nominator described Rowles as “a fierce advocate” whose work has “enhanced the quality of education and, therefore, patient care at every level.” They noted that her work “exemplifies the spirit of Ira P. Gunn” and “serves as an inspiration to all CRNAs.”
A former president of AANA, Rowles has been recognized throughout her career for her leadership and service. Her past achievements also include the AANA Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment, the AANA Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award, the AANA Foundation Rita L. LeBlanc Philanthropist of the Year Award, and the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists’ Hermi Lohnert Award for Outstanding Global Leadership and Education.
Rowles earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Anesthesiology from Barry University in Miami. She also holds a Post-Master’s Certificate as an Adult Nurse Practitioner from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, a Master of Arts in Biology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ball State University.