The Researcher of the Year Award recognizes people who have made significant contributions to the practice of anesthesia through research. The Researcher of the Year Award is named in memory of John F. Garde, a previous Foundation Trustee, AANA Executive Director and charter member of the AANA Foundation. John was instrumental in the creation of the Foundation and realized the importance of supporting nurse anesthesia long into the future. He was a leader whose accomplishments are remarkable by anyone’s standards.
The John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the practice of anesthesia through research.
Application is now open. Deadline: April 1
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For more information, contact foundation@aana.com.
The AANA Foundation presented the prestigious 2025 John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award to Nelson Aquino, MS, DNP, CRNA, FAANA .
Nelson Aquino is a pediatric CRNA and clinical researcher in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, where he has dedicated the past 25 years to advancing nursing and pediatric anesthesia at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). Aquino serves as the clinical coordinator for the Council of Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) accredited BCH Pediatric Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia Fellowship. He also serves as the vice president of the Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society (FANAS) and was an elected member of the Town of Winchester Board of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he contributed his expertise to public health initiatives.
“I am honored to receive the John F. Guard Researcher of the Year Award. My first encounter with John in 2008 at my first annual meeting in Minneapolis left a lasting impression. His kindness, humor, and pride in being a CRNA exemplified his pioneering contributions to our profession and continue to inspire my work today, “ Aquino said. “Being recognized as a CRNA researcher focusing on perioperative outcomes for vulnerable populations is a profound honor. We must challenge the status quo and utilize our expertise to develop innovative solutions that advance our practice. Thank you to Dr. Mary Ellen Roberts, Dr. Martha A.Q. Curley, Dr. Patricia Hickey, and Dr. Joe Cravero, whose mentorship has shaped my career as a nurse scientist. Throughout this journey, I am grateful to my family for their unwavering support, as well as my incredible colleagues, nurses, CRNAs, and anesthesiologists at Boston Children’s Hospital, Winchester Hospital, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.”
Nelson earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in nursing from Seton University, followed by a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia from Northeastern University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Seton Hall University.
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