Fellows of the AANA

Dr. Michael Anderson is an expert clinician, educator and administrator and is COO of Heartland Anesthesia & Consulting. He has held leadership roles as NBCRNA Emerging Leader Fellow, AANA region director and vice president. Currently he serves as chair-elect of the AANA Foundation. He credits this achievement to the mentors who have guided him throughout his professional journey with gratitude!

Suzanne Ariza has been a dedicated educator and staunch advocate for the nurse anesthesiology profession. As the program director of Drexel University’s Nurse Anesthesia Program, she has led curriculum and simulation design, provided faculty mentorship, and advanced student success since 2015. She has held multiple leadership roles within DANA, and her current research focuses on the Nonsurgical Pain Management-Certified credential.

Bonjo Batoon is a nurse anesthesiologist with twenty years of experience, specializing in trauma anesthesiology. His professional expertise includes providing anesthesia, resuscitative, and critical care services as an integral member of various prehospital teams at state, national, and international capacities. Committed to the advancement of nurse anesthesiology, he focuses on mentorship, education, and advocacy within the field.

Don Boyd is a visionary leader, passionate educator, and steadfast advocate for the nurse anesthesia profession. A past president of the NYSANA and leader within the Columbia School of Nursing’s Alumni Association, he serves as associate director of Columbia’s DNP in Nurse Anesthesia Program. He has educated and mentored hundreds of graduates who will undoubtedly lead the CRNA profession.

Dr. Katie Cole is a passionate simulation educator advancing nurse anesthesia through evidence-based education and scholarship. Her work focuses on interprofessional education, aligning simulation with best practices, airway management skill decay, and extended reality in simulation education. She advocates for the profession through state and national leadership and fosters environments where learners and colleagues feel supported to grow and thrive.

Megan Conner is an expert clinical anesthesia provider with 17 years of experience, and anesthesia business owner. She has served as adjunct faculty for 8 years, and received a AANA Foundation research grant. She is a passionate, visionary leader, mentor, and advocate for nurse anesthesia in North Carolina. She has selflessly served NCANA for 7 years, and is currently president.

Raymond Devlin is a clinician, educator, and Army veteran that has strived to advance nurse anesthesia practice for the last 23 years. He practices independently in a rural hospital and leads multiple quality improvement initiatives in anesthesia. He has mentored over 500 students in ultrasound-guided techniques and autonomous practice, developing generations of skilled CRNAs through service and education.

Rachel Edgerton, DNAP, CRNA, APRN, CHSE, has advanced nurse anesthesia through legislative leadership, education, and innovation. As president of KANA, she helped modernize the language of CRNA practice in Kansas. She mentors doctoral students and founded AirSim Solutions, which delivers immersive regional anesthesia education through cadaver labs, simulation, and evidence-based training.

Melissa Eisenhauer has been a distinguished leader with a passion for rural anesthesia and nurse anesthesia education throughout her 24 years as a CRNA. As the founding program administrator at the University of Evansville in Indiana, former president of the INANA with six years of board service, and active member of AANA committees, she champions excellence in clinical preceptorship and mentorship.

Hope S. Ferguson, a native of Meridian, Mississippi, is a dedicated educator, clinician, and leader with 11 years of experience. She became the first African American president of the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists in 2023. A Navy Reserve officer and current BUMED CRNA Specialty Leader, she leads initiatives, served aboard USNS Mercy in COVID-19, and mentors nurse anesthetists nationwide.

Stephen Flaherty has dedicated over 30 years to clinical excellence and education and is thankful for the opportunity to have worked alongside fellow advocates to pass Illinois Senate Bill 1585 in 1997. As Government Relations chair, he was instrumental in establishing the statutory framework for Illinois APRNs, providing the legal foundation and role clarity for the CRNA profession in Illinois.

Shayne Hauglum, PhD, CRNA, APRN, is Chief Science and Practice Officer at AANA, providing executive leadership across research, education, and clinical practice. He leads national initiatives that advance evidence-based standards, patient safety, and professional development. An anesthesia company founder and leader, he drives innovation through collaborations, strategic partnerships, and integrating science into clinical excellence.

Crystal Hunnicutt is an experienced educator, administrator, and advocate committed to advancing nurse anesthesiology through sustainable wellness initiatives. She serves as director of Southwest Operations and assistant program director at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work focuses on expanding access to rural care, promoting suicide awareness, supporting student wellness, and advancing advocacy efforts at the state and national levels.

Leslie Jeter’s career as a CRNA spans three decades. She participated in state and national associations as a mentor, leader, advocate, and educator. She proudly served as a trustee to the AANA Foundation for nine years, three of those chairing fundraising, and successfully solicited funds through innovative strategies. By endowing multiple student scholarships, she has grown and sustained the profession.

Wesley is a leader in nurse anesthesiology, having served as president of GANA and continually advancing legislative advocacy at the state and national levels. His service extends to both AANA and GANA Government Relations Committees (GRCs), most recently as AANA GRC chair, and as GANA federal political director. He is proud to be one of the first CRNA-owned ketamine clinic owners in Georgia.

Steven Kertes is an accomplished advanced practice clinical leader and educator, providing over 25 years of military experience. Previous experiences within the military helped shape and foster the fundamental elements of Dr. Kertes’s educational philosophy, as well as his leadership principles. His mindset allows the focus to be patientcentered while bringing new evidence to the bedside that benefits the patient and healthcare delivery.

Robert T. Laird has enjoyed a fulfilling career as a private practice CRNA for over 40 years. Robert led as president of the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists for four terms and served on the senate stakeholder committee that enacted Advanced Practice Nursing regulation in Texas, protecting CRNA practice rights.

Louisa Dasher Martin is an assistant program director at Augusta University. Her most meaningful work centers on clinician wellness, with a focus on supporting those affected by substance use disorder. She has published on workplace incivility, helping shape healthier, more respectful clinical environments. She is passionate about student development and advancing nurse anesthesiology education to better prepare future CRNAs.

Kirsten Meister has made a lasting impact on nurse anesthesiology through visionary leadership in mentorship, education, and clinician wellness. By pioneering peer-support initiatives, strengthening CRNA transition to practice, and advancing quality and safety, she has fostered a culture of resilience, professional growth, and excellence that has influenced both her institution and the broader profession.

Thorbjorn Persson serves as the CRNA Consultant to the Army Surgeon General, providing senior-clinical expertise, strategic guidance on anesthesia practice, policy, and readiness. He has built strong civilian and international partnerships, strengthening CRNAs’ role as essential leaders. He is a passionate advocate for CRNA independent practice and serves as the Army’s representative on the AANA Federal Services Advisory Panel.

Guy Picard is a CRNA leader with over 23 years of experience advancing anesthesia practice through clinical innovation, systems improvement, and professional advocacy. He recently implemented an evidenceinformed preprocedural screening tool that strengthened patient selection, safety, and efficiency in ambulatory endoscopy settings. A past president and current treasurer of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, he continues advancing CRNA leadership.

Randy Quinn, DNAP, CRNA, CHC, is a founder of Guide Anesthesia, where he currently serves as the chief of Compliance and Integration. He has served as former president of the Arizona Board of Nursing and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, where he championed independent, sustainable anesthesia practice.

Cora is the inaugural program director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program at UTMB, Galveston. She serves on the TxANA PAC Board, is a COA on-site reviewer, and has been an NBCRNA item writer for eight years. She is in her final stages of obtaining her PhD from Texas Woman’s University and is validating an AI Literacy tool for nurse educators.

Ken Radford has spent his career at the intersection of military service and nurse anesthesia science. As program director at Uniformed Services University, he shaped the next generation of military CRNAs. His research on ketamine, fear memory, and traumatic brain injury has generated $1.5 million in federal funding and more than 20 peerreviewed publications advancing perioperative and military medicine.

Lee Ranalli, former AZANA president, is a respected educator with over 15 years of clinical experience. He is the author of numerous published articles and the co-author of the Obstetric Anesthesia chapter in the textbook Nurse Anesthesia. He was recently presented with the 34th Annual Didactic Instructor of the Year award at the 2025 AANA Annual Congress.

Mary Scott-Herring is a nationally recognized leader, educator, and legislative advocate. She led statewide efforts mobilizing CRNAs/ RRNAs to defeat anesthesiologist assistant legislation three times and helped to secure CRNA prescriptive authority through Senate testimony. A prolific scholar and mentor, she develops politically engaged clinicians and advances advocacy at all levels, shaping policy and strengthening the future of nurse anesthesiology.

Junior Senat has dedicated his career to advancing nurse anesthesia through education, clinical practice, leadership, and advocacy. He serves as an educator, mentoring future CRNAs and supporting their professional growth. His work includes global health missions and promoting evidence-based practice, with a focus on pharmacology, wellness, and opioid-sparing anesthesia strategies in diverse settings.

Janet Setnor is a national and global leader in nurse anesthesiology. She serves on the International Council of Nurses Expert Advisory Group advancing global standards. As a former president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Colonel, she has shaped governance, regulation, and quality across healthcare.

Scott Shaffer is a distinguished leader in nurse anesthesia education and practice — an accomplished educator, clinician, published scholar, retired U.S. Navy officer, and successful healthcare entrepreneur. As Director of Clinical Education at Texas Wesleyan University, he has made a lasting impact through visionary leadership, national service, influential scholarship, and a deep commitment to preparing the next generation of CRNAs.

Kristen Simmons is a nurse anesthesiology educator advancing continuing education through innovative, hands-on and simulationbased learning. As a program administrator, PANA leader, and chair of the AANA Continuing Education Committee, she transformed educational programming to expand access, engagement, and clinical competency, strengthening lifelong learning and professional development across the CRNA community.

Jenna R. Steege advances nurse anesthesia through academic leadership, clinical excellence, and professional service. Serving as Associate Program Director of the DNAP Program at Mayo Clinic, she develops curriculum, teaches core courses and mentors future CRNAs. Her impact is amplified through peer-reviewed publications and active service on the MANA board.

Jessica Szydlowski is a leader, educator, and advocate in nurse anesthesia. As assistant dean at Duke University School of Nursing, she champions the profession through advocacy, innovation, and dedication to student success. A committed mentor, she is fellowshiptrained in acute surgical pain management and advances regional anesthesia education and ultrasound-guided techniques.

Jennifer is a leader in nurse anesthesia education who developed an evidence-based student wellness and peer mentorship program to address the growing demands of training. Her work has improved resilience, engagement, and professional identity formation while fostering a more supportive learning environment. She is committed to advancing sustainable education models that prioritize both excellence in training and student well-being.

Kisha Thompson is a strategic policy advocate and educator whose leadership as three-term NHANA president has advanced independent CRNA practice authority and anesthesia reimbursement. She leads national and international interdisciplinary research in chronic pain and health promotion, champions provider wellness, and cultivates the next generation of CRNA leaders, drawing on 20 years of clinical experience serving rural and underserved communities.

Dr. Tola is a clinician and academician. She has taught aspiring CRNAs at Georgetown and Duke Universities, mentored numerous QI projects and remains a guest lecturer. Denise publishes on perioperative safety and reviews articles for The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. As a clinician she is leveraging new technologies including AI, keeping nurse anesthesiology in the forefront of the medical community.

John C. Welch is a CRNA, educator, and global leader dedicated to advancing equitable surgical and anesthesia care. He is the founding director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Nurse Anesthesia Fellowship and The Ohio State University’s Nurse Anesthesia Program. His work with Partners In Health has strengthened anesthesia capacity and education in resource-limited settings worldwide.

Dr. Nancy Ann Westbrook is deeply committed to CRNA clinical excellence. As adjunct faculty at Samford University, she mentors future CRNAs in research and DNP project completion. An active member, she is ALANA treasurer and a passionate advocate for independent practice in rural anesthesia and VA system. A proud Veteran, she retired from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Ronnie Whorton is a seasoned leader in nurse anesthesiology with 39 years of clinical and administrative experience. As a collaborative and transformative servant leader, he has had a positive impact on countless individuals and organizations. He defines leadership success as the delivery of excellent anesthesia care, cultivating high employee satisfaction, and fostering fiscal responsibility with high regard to personal integrity.

Terri has been a nurse for 40 years and a CRNA for 23. She is an advocate for nurse anesthesia practice, an associate professor in the DNAP Program at Central Connecticut State University, and the current president of the Connecticut Association of Nurse Anesthetists (CTANA). Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing CRNA practice, education, and professional visibility.

Ken Wofford is an associate professor in the University of South Florida College of Nursing, where he teaches simulation, statistics, evidence-based practice, anesthesia foundations, anatomy, and physiology. As a didactic educator he has mentored hundreds of students through the process of becoming a CRNA. Ken has also served on several committees for the NBCRNA and the Editorial Board of Nursing 2026.

Sarah Zhang, PhD, CRNA, APRN, is a distinguished researcher and educator whose scholarly impact includes leading an OREF-funded randomized clinical trial at University of California, San Francisco. With numerous high-impact publications and podium presentations, she has mentored many DNP students through the publication process. Her current clinical trial, focusing on opioid-sparing pain management, is being submitted to Anesthesia & Analgesia.