FIRST LOOK : Students in the DNAP program’s inaugural cohort stand to recite the Modern Practical Nurse Pledge after receiving their white coats, a symbol of scientific excellence that represents purity of purpose.
ON THE COVER : Members of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program’s first cohort.
The Magazine of Florida State University Panama City
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Special Edition 2024
DEAN OF FSU PANAMA CITY AND THE COLLEGE OF APPLIED STUDIES
Randy Hanna, J.D., Ed.D, ‘83
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT STAFF
Becky Kelly, Director of Advancement
Summer Toomey, Assistant Director, ‘23
Helen Johnson, Web Manager
Dorothy Forba, Development Coordinator
Katie May, Director of Development, ‘16, ‘17
Kyle Middlemass, Marketing and Publications, ‘19
Tony Simmons, Writing Program Manager
EDITOR
Becky Kelly
DESIGNER
Kyle Middlemass, ‘19
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Cristina Doan, Becky Kelly, Tony Simmons, Jan Waddy
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Helen Johnson, Kyle Middlemass, ‘19
Tony Simmons, Andrew Wardlow
THE TORCH MAGAZINE is published by the Office of Advancement at Florida State University Panama City. To be included in the mailing list, or to submit a change of address, email us at torch@ pc.fsu.edu. Please send alumni updates to outreach@pc.fsu.edu.
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DNAP BEGINS
Inaugural class forges path to doctorates
PROVEN LEADERSHIP
Faculty recruited from military and business worlds
PRACTICE PATIENTS
PERFECT SCORE
Students earn 100% pass rate on CRNA exam
STUDENT CHOSEN
HOODING CEREMONY
DNAP celebrates its first doctoral graduates
BIRTHDAY GIFT
Linda Buchanan Harrison Scholarship makes dreams come true
As I told the first graduating cohort of our Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program during their hooding ceremony in May 2024, I am proud of each and every one of them. Administration and program coordinators started working on this program eight years ago—and we have worked every year since to develop this program and make it one of the best in the nation.
We have endeavored since the beginning to ensure these students get an exceptional clinical experience. We also want them to feel confident in their skills, comfortable in their independence, and composed in their roles as healthcare providers with the ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them.
To that end, we meet them where they are, give them what they need, and ensure we are exceeding their expectations. We continue to work every day to make their education valuable.
What they accomplish in their field is a reflection of Florida State University.
There is a reason that nurses are some of the most trusted and respected professionals. They genuinely care about their patients and their family members. I make a special effort to meet as many of these students as I can. You can rest assured that our graduates not only have the highest level of nurse anesthesia education, but also care deeply about their patients.
I am confident that each of them possess our collegiate values of VIRES, ARTES and MORES—strength, skill, and character.
Go Noles!
Randy Hanna, Dean, FSU Panama City The College of Applied Studies
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program has been a labor of love, as reflected throughout this special edition of the Torch.
Since my arrival in 2016, my primary goal has been to grow this program, ensuring that underserved communities have access to CRNAs through a valuable and affordable educational opportunity.
From the outset, we have prioritized providing students with a comprehensive clinical experience that prepares them to seamlessly transition into their careers. We emphasize hands-on training and encourage students to exceed the required number of cases. This approach sets us apart, ensuring our graduates are not only skilled but also confident in their abilities and ready to contribute meaningfully to any community they serve.
Despite the financial challenges students face during their three-year commitment—where they are unable to work and accrue debt—one student chose our program over local options due to its reputation for rigor and exceptional value. They receive the caliber of education typically associated with private institutions, but at a public-university cost.
I take immense pride in our graduates’ achievements and the caliber of our faculty, whose diverse backgrounds include leadership roles, business ownership, military service, and extensive experience in academia and clinical practice. Their expertise enriches our program immeasurably.
While this role presents its challenges, I find great fulfillment in the impact our program has on both our profession and community. There is no place I’d rather be.
DNP, APRN, CRNA, FAANA Program Administrator Associate Professor
BY JAN WADDY & TONY SIMMONS
Thirty students were accepted into FSU Panama City’s nationally accredited Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program in May 2021. On July 27, 2022, the inaugural class was recognized during a traditional white coat ceremony to celebrate their move from the classroom into residency. Finally, on May 5, 2024, that first class of DNAP students walked the commencement stage in their doctoral robes.
But those are only highlights of the ongoing story of how FSU Panama City came to be the hub of learning for nurse anesthetists in Northwest Florida.
Today, the rigorous 36-month DNAP program prepares registered nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists. And once the students move to clinical training sites at the end of each July, FSU PC continues to offer support with annual site visits and weekly meetings via Zoom. Students also have opportunities to attend conferences.
“We currently have just under 40 active clinical sites and are always striving to enhance our students’ clinical experience,” said Stacey VanDyke (DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA), program administrator and associate professor. “We take pride in offering a diverse range of opportunities, including an all-CRNA site and dedicated rotations in pediatric and regional anesthesia. With ten schools to choose from in our state, we aim to provide the best possible experience by offering exceptional faculty, state-ofthe-art equipment, and a wide variety of clinical exposures to enrich their education. By the time our students graduate from FSU, they are fully prepared to enter the workforce with confidence.”
Kenyatta Taylor, ’24, left her position in care management administration to return to the ICU as a critical-care nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic before applying to the DNAP program.
“I had been a critical care nurse for about 14 years. I did some other nursing specialties before returning to the bedside to refresh my experience and learn more current practices,” said Taylor, who worked in California, New York, Iowa and Alabama during the early days of the pandemic. “Nurse anesthesia has been my dream for years.
I don’t want to live life with any regrets.”
The rigorous DNAP program focuses on the full scope of anesthesia care across the human lifespan. Graduates will earn a doctoral degree, become experts in researchbased anesthesia practices, and be eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam. They will also acquire essential knowledge, skills, and competencies, including patient safety, individualized perianesthetic management, critical thinking, and communication skills necessary for their professional roles.
With the DNAP program, FSU Panama City is carrying on a legacy of nurse anesthetist training in Bay County. The Bay Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia, Florida’s first nurse anesthesia school, began as a certificate program in Bay County in 1969 under the direction of Irv Holzman, CRNA. From there, the Gooding Institute of Nurse Anesthesia was championed by anesthesiologist John Gooding, M.D.
Since 1969, the schools trained more than 350 CRNAs who went on to practice nurse anesthesia throughout the country. Both have since closed, and FSU PC stepped in to fill a community need in 2015 when its Nurse Anesthesia master’s degree program opened.
The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs mandated that students accepted into accredited entry-level nurse anesthesia programs on or after Jan. 1, 2022, must graduate with doctoral degrees. To adhere to the mandate, administrators developed courses to convert the master’s program into a doctoral degree program.
In July 2020, the State University System of the Florida Board of Governors approved FSU Panama City’s proposal to offer a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree through the College of Applied Studies beginning summer 2021. But launching the program was once again contingent upon the approval of COA, which conducted their review in January 2021.
“The DNAP program is the first professional doctoral
program housed here at FSU Panama City, and we are thrilled this came to fruition,” said Amy Polick, associate dean of academic affairs. “This is a big accomplishment for our campus. None of it would have been possible without the dedication of our Nurse Anesthesia faculty and the support of our dean and fellow administrators in Tallahassee while we worked on developing this new program.”
Prerequisites include a baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing, current experience as a Registered Nurse with at least one year in a critical care setting. Critical Care Registered Nurse certification also is encouraged. The first semester of the DNAP program, which runs May through July, focuses on leadership and role development, infomatics and population health.
“We began learning basic principles of anesthesia, biochemistry and physics, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology,” Taylor said. “The art of anesthesia is not really something you can be prepared for. As a nurse, you carry out physician’s orders. But in this role, it is up to you to figure it out. Now you’re the sole provider. You must know the ‘why’ of what you’re doing.”
Taylor said nurse anesthesia professor Scott Stewart has helped her understand that “why.”
While Taylor admits she’s always been fascinated with the anesthesia process, she said, “I wanted the challenge of having some autonomy in my practice.”
Taylor chose FSU PC because of the DNAP program’s reputation, location and good success rates. DNAP has a 100-percent certification and employment rate among graduates. But she had other reasons to note.
“I like the quietness and compactness of the campus; it’s not overwhelming,” Taylor said, adding FSU PC has “a homey feel. I like sitting by the water and reading. I also love Dr. VanDyke; she is very approachable. She understands you need school-life balance.”
Having five children, three at home, ranging from ages 7 to 30 has given VanDyke a unique perspective.
“Throughout the program, students will experience significant life events. We’ve had a student become a mother during the program, while others became firsttime fathers (including one with twins), and at least one adoption. We celebrate these milestones and work with students to support their journey to graduation,” VanDyke said. “To gain the experience necessary for excellence in their field, students are expected to train up to 64 hours per week.”
VanDyke, a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran, has served in professional organizations at the state and national levels, including the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.
HANDS ON : Students in the DNAP program are tested on their skills with realistic simulations of medical emergencies.
“I was deployed to Seeb, Oman in 2001 during 9/11. When I was there and bringing people in for the first time, I noticed the CRNA role in wartime situations. I became a CRNA in 2006, deployed in 2009 and saw the work on the battlefield,” said VanDyke, who joined the U.S. Air Force in 1996.
Ndeye Dieng, ’24, a native of Senegal, Africa, enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard Reserve while earning her nursing degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dieng knew she would fit into FSU PC’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program because of the faculty’s military backgrounds and support of students.
“I like the critical thinking that goes into making decisions with anesthesia, being able to have a deeper understand of why you are providing something to a patient,” Dieng said. “With anesthesia, you are a provider and know what you are supposed to do. There’s also the nursing piece that comes in of learning how to interact and care for your patients and spend time with them, have empathy for them.”
Her clinical training began in August 2022 in Orlando, so she could be closer to her military drills.
“I really want to go into military anesthesia,” Dieng said. “Students here at FSU PC had said the program was hard but felt like they had support and were in good hands. I knew I would fit in here.”
Taylor and Dieng were in the first group of students to start in the DNAP program as it grew from seven semesters to nine, or from 28 months to 36.
“We have a 100-percent employment rate,” VanDyke said. “Job opportunities are endless for this group. They each get four to five offers, minimum. In Florida, the aging retirement population is seeking more medical procedures and living longer, fuller lives. CRNAs play a crucial role in meeting the needs of this growing and dynamic community.”
Because people are living longer, more surgical services are being offered to more elderly patients; that’s where DNAP comes in.
“We need CRNAs to fill seats,” VanDyke said. “They are trained to work independently and can work in any setting where anesthesia is needed.”
“THERE’S ALSO THE NURSING PIECE … LEARNING HOW TO INTERACT AND CARE FOR YOUR PATIENTS AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM, HAVE EMPATHY FOR THEM.”
NDEYE DIENG, ‘24, DNAP FIRST COHORT
The inaugural graduates of the first professional doctoral program offered at FSU Panama City, the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, scored a 100-percent passing rate on the National Certification Examination to become certified registered nurse anesthesiologists.
“The faculty and staff are dedicated to student success, and FSU Panama City’s stellar record of CRNA exam pass rates proves that,” Dean Randy Hanna said.
Since 2018, the Nurse Anesthesia programs at FSU Panama City have boasted a near-100-percent completion rate and a 100-percent employment rate upon graduation. The former master’s degree program transitioned into the current doctoral program in 2020 after approval by the State University System of the Florida Board of Governors, with the initial cohort of graduates receiving their degrees and doctoral hoods in May 2024.
“The achievements of the class of 2024 are nothing short of remarkable,” said Associate Professor Stacey VanDyke, DNAP program administrator. “Over the past three years, they’ve completed over 30,000 anesthetics, accumulated 81,000 clinical hours and undertaken a scholarly inquiry project—all while navigating a demanding 99 graduate credit hour curriculum. Their dedication to both theory and practice is evident, setting a high standard for future generations.”
As part of the College of Applied Studies at FSU Panama City, the rigorous 36-month DNAP program includes clinical experience at one of dozens of participating hospitals across the southeast to prepare registered nurses to become CRNAs.
“It’s a role of immense responsibility and trust, as CRNAs safely administer over 50 million anesthetics
BY TONY SIMMONS
annually in the United States,” VanDyke said. “Their proficiency and dedication make them among the most trusted health care professionals, a fact echoed by Gallup Poll’s recognition of nurses as the nation’s most trusted professionals for 20 consecutive years.”
FSU Panama City’s DNAP graduates taking the National Certification Exam within 60 days of graduation have consistently scored a 100-percent passing rate—93 percent of them on their first attempt.
“Administration closely monitors the NCE pass rate as a quality indicator for the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs,” VanDyke said. “The fact that we have had such major success with this aspect is a testament to the enhanced quality of the program of study we offer at FSU PC.”
Accredited by COA, the program’s mission is to embrace the advancement of the science of anesthesiology through a philosophy of intensive scientific education, evidence-based practice and application of clinical education to practice for the betterment of citizens in both the local and national communities, VanDyke said.
CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; ketamine clinics; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons and pain management specialists; and the U.S. military, Public Health Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities.
For more information on the DNAP program, visit pc.fsu.edu/nap.
: The first cohort of DNAP graduates gather for a selfie on stage after the hooding ceremony.
The mission of the Florida State University Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program is to embrace the advancement of the science of anesthesiology through a philosophy of intensive scientific education, evidence-based practice and application of clinical education to practice for the betterment of citizens in both the local and national communities.
As of 2021, FSU Panama City was approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs to offer the DNAP program. Graduates of the DNAP program shall receive a doctoral degree, be an expert in researchbased anesthesia clinical practices, be eligible for the CRNA exam, and shall acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies including patient safety, individualized perianesthetic management, critical thinking, and communication skills needed for their professional role.
The DNAP curricular framework was developed with the required standards set forth by the COA, as well as additional coursework that will best develop graduate students into independent advanced practice nurses prepared to enter the workforce. The courses are sequenced in a manner that helps students to blend didactic knowledge with clinical application and culminate in the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and independent critical thinking that are required to practice as a CRNA. Each graduate student will be actively engaged in a scholarly inquiry project which will ultimately be presented at the local and/or national level to a body of peers.
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program admits 34 students once a year. The application deadline for consideration of a spot in the DNAP cohort commencing Summer 2025 is January 15, 2025.
Initial program accreditation was granted Jan. 21, 2015, by COA. This agency is identified by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized agency for the accreditation of institutions and programs of nurse anesthesia at the certificate, master’s, or doctoral degree levels in the United States, its territories and protectorates.
In June 2015, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Board of Trustees approved the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia degree and was included in the scope of the university’s accreditation. The program was granted approval by the COA and SACSCOC to offer DNAP as the entry-level degree in February 2021, and the last masters cohort graduated in 2022.
The program was granted the maximum 10-year accreditation from COA in May 2021 and will be scheduled for the next consideration of continued accreditation in Spring 2031.
BY TONY SIMMONS
Finding the perfect birthday gift can sometimes seem daunting, but for Franklin Harrison, an endowed scholarship in honor of his wife Linda was the only way to go. Linda worked as a certified registered nurse anesthetist for more than 30 years, so Franklin surprised her by establishing the Linda Buchanan Harrison Nurse Anesthetist Scholarship at FSU PC for her 75th birthday.
Linda was an early graduate of the nurse anesthesia program at Bay Medical Center School of Nurse Anesthesia and has mentored many young anesthetists over her career. This endowed scholarship fund will be a lasting tribute to her vision and commitment to her profession.
“We are both very proud of the excellent education program at FSU PC and the contributions the institution makes to Bay County and Northwest Florida,” Franklin Harrison said. “The nurse anesthesia program has become a first-rate clinical and educational program for nurse anesthesia students.”
and the decision to continue their education involves serious sacrifices. Hopefully, this scholarship will, for many years, help students navigate those difficult decisions.”
The Harrisons are lifelong residents of the area. Despite being loyal Gator fans, their two daughters and a son-in-law are graduates of FSU, and their grandson joined the university as a freshman in the fall of 2022.
“This gift is an example of how this campus belongs to everyone in this town, regardless of the college you attended,” said Dean Randy Hanna, who jokingly added that, “When Franklin funded this scholarship, he told me that none of the money could go to the football team.”
“WE HOPE IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE IN OUR AREA...”
The Harrisons credit the leadership of Dean Randy Hanna for the incredible growth of the campus’ nationally accredited and first professional doctoral program. CRNAs are registered nurses with advanced degrees specializing in anesthesia, and as advanced medical professionals, graduates will have high-paying, rewarding careers. The employment of nurse anesthetists is projected to grow 31% by 2026 due to an increased demand for preventive care and healthcare services from an aging population.
The scholarship supports local FSU PC Nurse Anesthesia program students who plan to practice in Northwest Florida.
“We hope it will contribute to the overall quality of healthcare in our area while giving students an economic boost to make their sacrifice affordable,” Franklin Harrison said. “Like Linda, many anesthesia students have families,
In 2022, FSU Panama City awarded the first scholarship to Codi Nauman, who said she is grateful and honored to have received the award and that the Harrison family embodies “the very nature of charity” and service to the community.
In 2023, the scholarship went to DNAP student Annie Braxton. Addressing a gathering of alumni and supporters that fall, Braxton said she had known since middle school that she wanted to pursue a career in a medical field. She became even more committed to her career path when her younger brother grew ill. He took his own life in 2020, overcome by anxiety and a disease he couldn’t get under control, she said.
“Now more than ever, I want to be able to provide the support that patients need when they are suffering,” she said. “I want to be knowledgeable in medicine while being that empathetic support system that is so important when everything in life seems so challenging. … Supporting mental health, providing knowledge and comfort pre- and post-procedure, and being part of a medical team that provides hope and healing through a surgical procedure is the healthcare role that I know I was meant for.”
RECIPIENTS : Codi Nauman (above at left) received the inaugural Linda Buchanan Harrison Nurse Anesthetist Scholarship from Linda and Franklin Harrison in 2022.
The second scholarship went to Annie Braxton (below, second from left), shown at the 2023 Annual Dinner with Linda Buchanan Harrison, Franklin Harrison, and DNAP Administrator Stacey VanDyke.
The FSU Foundation’s mission is to enhance the academic vision and priorities of Florida State through its organized fundraising activities and funds management. Established in 1960, the Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, manages an endowment of $785.2 million and has total assets of approximately $1.03 billion (as of March 31, 2024).
Donors have the right to be: acknowledged and recognized appropriately for their support; assured their gifts are used for the intended purposes; and protected from improper or careless use of their confidential information.
Transformative Daring: To support thoughtful risk-taking that leads to successes that improve the world dramatically.
Inspired Excellence: To achieve the highest levels of success by drawing strength and understanding from the talents of those around us and from our interactions with them.
Dynamic Inclusiveness: The benefits of a richly varied community arise not only from the diversity of people it includes, but more importantly from intentional efforts to create a strong sense of belonging that encourages deep and high-quality connections.
Responsible Stewardship: To transform the resources we are given and the public’s trust in us into powerful impact that betters the lives of those around us, near and far.
Engaged Community: To uphold the traditions and history that create a small-college culture within a large university. This makes FSU a welcoming place where people discover others like themselves—while also connecting to and learning from classmates and colleagues of vastly different backgrounds and experiences.
GIVE TO THE FSU FOUNDATION fla.st/6DQRNWAM
AdventHealth
Orlando, Celebration, Altamonte Springs & Winter Park, Florida
Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Panama City, Florida
Baptist Medical Center
Jacksonville, Florida
Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis, Tennessee
Capital Regional Medical Center Tallahassee, Florida
Crestwood Medical Center Huntsville, Alabama
Dothan Surgery Center Dothan, Alabama
Florida Medical Center Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Flowers Hospital Dothan, Alabama
HCA Fort Walton Beach Medical Center Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
HCA Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Panama City, Florida
HCA West Florida Hospital Pensacola, Florida
Hunt Regional Medical Center Greenville, Texas
Jackson Hospital Marianna, Florida
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Hollywood, Florida
Maitland AdventHealth Surgery Center Maitland, Florida
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida
Memorial Regional Hospital Hollywood, Florida
Providence Hospital Mobile, Alabama
Southeast Alabama Medical Center Dothan, Alabama
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Tallahassee, Florida
Note: List is not comprehensive.
The DNAP program partners with nearly 40 clinical sites in Florida, Alabama, Texas & Tennessee
ON LOCATION: DNAP students perform clinicals at sites across the southeast, including the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
SIMULATION: Testing under realistic conditions is a hallmark of the program.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SITES
fla.st/VB7WYGH8
EXPERIENCE : Intensive training transitions students to becoming skilled anesthesia providers capable of delivering safe and effective anesthesia care.
BY TONY SIMMONS
The faculty of FSU Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program are, objectively, some of the best of the best, boasting backgrounds in the U.S. military, business, and healthcare administration.
Program Adminstrator Stacey VanDyke and Professor Jerry Hogan have also been recognized as Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.
“Earning the Fellow of the AANA designation is a major career achievement that reflects years of dedication and a commitment to pursuing excellence in every endeavor,” said Wilma Gillis, Fellows Selection Committee chairwoman. “This is a proud moment for AANA and the AANA Foundation, as well as each Fellow and the profession of nurse anesthesiology.”
Hogan was recognized in 2022 and VanDyke in 2023.
“Dr. VanDyke and Dr. Hogan have distinguished themselves among their peers as outstanding educators,” said Dean Randy Hanna. “The track record of their students—including 100-percent pass rates on national
certification exams and 100-percent employment rates—is a testament to their dedication and accomplishments.”
In addition to industry recognition, the DNAP faculty is stacked with top-performing military veterans.
VanDyke and Hogan retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonels, as are professors Lonnie Hodges and Kyle Hodgen. VanDyke, Hodges and Hodgen also served in the U.S. Army. Professor Scott Stewart is a U.S. Navy veteran.
Professor Jason Smith rounds out the faculty lineup.
Student Joshua Castle, from Fort Walton Beach, said he did his research before applying to the program: “I checked the instructors’ CVs (curriculum vitae), and they were primarily from military backgrounds. I revere the military,” he said.
But that wasn’t his only consideration: “I got to meet them before I applied, and besides the impressive resumes, they were very personable. They remember your name.”
Before coming to FSU Panama City in May 2016, VanDyke served 20 years in the USAF, where she also was a nurse anesthetist. She performed critical care air transport during her deployment in the Middle East in 2001.
“My husband has a law practice in Panama City, so we have always planned to raise our family and retire here,” she said.
When the position as the program administrator for what was then the master’s level nurse anesthesia program at FSU Panama City opened in 2016, VanDyke knew she had to go for it: “My dream job opened up, and having this opportunity was literally a dream come true.”
Previously, VanDyke was director of the Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Residency Training Program at Eglin Hospital on Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County. She retired from the USAF in 2016.
VanDyke earned her bachelor’s in nursing from Jacksonville State University in 1994 and joined the Air Force in 1996, working as a clinician and educator both nationally and abroad. Upon receiving her master’s in nursing from the Uniformed Services University in 2006, she received the Agatha Hodgins’ award, the highest honor bestowed on a graduating nurse anesthesia student.
In 2009, she served in Balad, Iraq, leading eight anesthesia providers, training Special Forces medics in advanced airway techniques and providing trauma care to more than 250 patients. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2013.
“MY DREAM JOB OPENED UP, AND HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS LITERALLY A DREAM COME TRUE.”
STACEY VANDYKE, DNAP ADMINISTRATOR
“I was deployed to Seeb, Oman in 2001 during 9/11. When I was there and bringing people in the first time, I noticed the CRNA role in wartime situations. I became a CRNA in 2006, deployed in 2009 and saw the work on the battlefield,” VanDyke said.
VanDyke loves country music, travel, and feels a special calling to help and support female veterans. She found a platform by competing in the Ms. Veteran America program in October 2018, placing in the Top 10.
She decided to compete for the title after the inaugural showing of “Served Like a Girl,” a documentary
on veteran homelessness. VanDyke had experienced a time of homelessness after her residence was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, an experience that haunted her years later when Hurricane Michael left many of her students in crisis.
“I remembered how terrified I was in the aftermath of Katrina,” she said in a post to the UAB website. “Fortunately, with lots of encouragement and reassurance from my faculty, I graduated.”
Her experience was different from that of the women presented in the documentary, VanDyke said, adding that she wanted “to be a positive example to other veterans in my community, to my students and my children. I have seen a side of homelessness that I have been fortunate enough to avoid.”
Because of her own experiences, VanDyke knows it takes a lot of determination and hard work to accomplish your goals.
“Follow your passion anzd do the work that must be done,” she advised those interested in pursuing a career in nurse anesthesia. “Know that your sacrifice and grit will pay off. You are capable of making an impact at every level, from student to professional—and that is something to be proud of.”
With three young children at home, she realizes that finding balance can be even more challenging: “I make the most of the weekends and try to make sure I spend as much quality time as possible with my kids,” she said. “I never leave work per se—it’s my lifestyle, and anyone who knows and loves me accepts that passion.”
“As part of a Top 20 national public university, FSU Panama City is focused on attracting world-renowned faculty who can share their expertise and experiences with our students,” Hanna said. That focus is patently obvious when reviewing the DNAP faculty.
Lonnie Hodges (DNP, APRN, CRNA, CHSE), assistant program administrator and teaching professor, came to FSU PC in 2018 from the Uniformed Services University Graduate School of Nursing in Bethesda, Maryland. There, he taught graduate level coursework and workshops. Here, he provides instruction and oversees the operation of the anesthesia simulation lab.
In June, he was recognized as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, an international recognition of professional accomplishments and commitment to lifelong learning.
Hodges earned his bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Tennessee in 1998, and his master’s in nursing in 2009 from the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in association with Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. Hodges received his Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of North Florida in 2017.
He has served as the Clinical Site Director for Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County and at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. He holds numerous awards and medals for his military service, including Army Commendation Medals (2002 and 2004), Air Force Commendation Medal (2006), Meritorious Service Medal (2007), and Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2016).
Kyle Hodgen (DNP, ACNP, CRNA) served 23 years in both the USAF and the U.S. Army. He was director of Nurse Anesthesia Residency Clinical Training at Wright-Patterson Medical Center and served as the Nurse Anesthesia Consultant to the USAF Surgeon General from 2017 until 2021. He was also formerly the USAF Director of Nurse Anesthesia Education.
“It’s been an amazing transition to work closely with other veterans,” Hodgen said. “It’s the best of both worlds—I get the benefit of working with highly talented and hard-working veterans and civilian faculty at a university campus that has truly made me feel like a welcome member of the FSU PC family. This is a special place.”
Hodgen began his nursing career as an adult critical and cardiothoracic care nurse in the civilian community at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. His active-duty military career began in the U.S. Army as a mechanized infantryman from 1990 to 1992, serving during the first Gulf War. He finished his Army initial enlistment in the Florida Army National Guard in 1998, then launched his USAF career commissioned as a First Lieutenant in 2001 as a cardiothoracic intensive care nurse and APRN at Keesler Medical Center, KAFB, Mississippi.
“I have a military family history that goes back to Panama City, Bay County, and the FSU Panama City campus that predates me,” Hodgen said. “My father was stationed as an enlisted airman at Tyndall Air Force Base in 1967-1969. During that time, he, my mother, and my three older brothers all lived in a trailer court where the Seminole Landing Apartments now stand. My mother taught at Hutchison Beach Elementary.”
Hodgen’s major military awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Defense Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation medals, and multiple other Army and Air Force achievement medals.
Born and raised in Lake Worth, Jerry Hogan (DNSc., APRN-BC, CRNA, FAANA) specializes in translational research. He joined the FSU PC resident faculty in May 2020. Previously the director of the top-ranked nurse anesthetist program at Rush University in Chicago, Hogan is a renowned educator, actively involved in the state and national nurse anesthesiology associations, and has been a sought-after guest lecturer at conferences.
“He is well-known for his work as a doctoral project chair, and we were thrilled to add such a talented educator to our staff,” VanDyke said.
As FSU’s nurse anesthesia program looked to transition to a clinical doctorate at that time, Hogan was a natural fit to assist with the process, having guided the programs at both Rush and the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
“Stacey was looking for someone to assist in the transition to the clinical doctorate,” Hogan said. “I have done that for two other programs and offered to help. Little did I know it would turn into a full-time position.”
Hogan’s military awards include the U.S. Armed Forces Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the USAF Air Medal, USAF Aerial Achievement Medal, USAF Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 stars) and the USAF Expeditionary Service Ribbon.
Jason Smith (DNAP, APRN, CRNA), joined the program faculty in Spring 2023. and assists in the clinical simulation lab to better prepare doctoral students for their careers in anesthesia. He shares the following advice with prospective and current students: “Prioritize learning and
personal growth over solely focusing on grades or academic achievements. While grades are important and can open doors to future opportunities, it’s also important to actively engage with the material being learned.”
In the community, Smith is a member of the Holy Nativity church and is a past member of the Holy Nativity School Board. He and his wife Christy (also a CRNA) are the proud parents of two girls, Kate (currently an FSU freshman) and Maggie. As a family, they enjoy going boating and traveling together.
Scott Stewart (DNAP, APRN, CRNA) grew up in rural Georgia and joined the U.S. Navy after high school, training as a hospital corpsman in San Diego, Calif. He served as an aerospace physiology technician and instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Stewart earned his DNAP from Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia, BSN from FSU, and an MSN from the University of Tennessee.
He has lectured at state and national anesthesia meetings in addition to being published in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Journal. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children, Andrew and Sarah (an FSU Honors Medical Scholar).
BY TONY SIMMONS
Philip Jung, a student in the third cohort of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice at FSU Panama City, was selected as the Region 7 Student Director to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.
“We could not function without the approval of the Council on Accreditation. That’s what ensures the quality of our program,” said Stacey VanDyke, administrator of the DNAP program at FSU Panama City. “This student is going to be part of ensuring the quality of other programs all over the country.”
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Jung grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. He returned to Mobile to attend nursing school at the University of South Alabama. Now 27, he’s on course to receive his doctorate in May 2026.
Relocating for CRNA school has been a significant challenge, Jung said. “Like most people, I miss my family and friends from my hometown—though making new friends and experiencing a new city with my wife has been fun,” he said. “To state the obvious, I cannot imagine a better place to attend school than by the beach! Panama City is a beautiful place to live and relatively close to my hometown.”
For all the natural beauty, Jung said, FSU’s statistics were what brought him to Panama City—in particular, the “impressive first-time NCE pass rates and even 100% rate of completion and employment upon graduation. Furthermore, several of the faculty are retired Air Force personnel—just like my dad, who inspired me to go into the field of medicine.”
FSU Panama City’s program provides diverse and thorough training from the start, Jung said, and he has had opportunities to learn from both verbal presentations and hands-on demonstrations at different conferences. In addition, working in the simulation lab expanded his knowledge and skills, which will prove invaluable when he enters the clinical setting.
“Initially, the most significant challenge was the program’s academic rigor, which covered classes such as chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and anesthesia principles in great depth,” Jung said. “Balancing rigorous classes and maintaining a personal life posed its own challenge. Mastering time management and prioritization helped me maximize both school and personal life.”
The intense didactic portion of the program established a foundation for his future career, Jung said. But the DNAP program includes not only procedures and anesthetic techniques, but also care team models and the inner workings of medical businesses, a comprehensive approach made Jung feel more prepared to practice as a CRNA.
“The academic challenges actually fostered one of my favorite experiences in school—camaraderie and friendship with fellow classmates,” Jung added. “We collaborated within study sessions to learn the difficult
“THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE WAS THE PROGRAM’S ACADEMIC RIGOR.”
PHILIP JUNG, ‘26
material, and these study groups quickly grew into what I think will be lifelong friendships. Engaging with students from across the country with such diverse backgrounds has broadened my perspective, and talking with Dr. Smith and Dr. Hornsby about future business endeavors has inspired me.”
Jung’s term of membership will begin with the COA meeting Oct. 23-25, and will end just before the October 2025 meeting. As part of his responsibilities, Jung will review programs that are under consideration for accreditation. Region 7 includes 23 institutions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
“Learning of even the nomination by my faculty left me humbled and grateful,” Jung said. “To even be considered for such a position was an honor, but being selected as the COA student director was surreal. Becoming a CRNA is a dream of mine, not only to advance my personal career but to contribute to the expansion of the CRNA community and autonomy.”
The student directors are selected from those enrolled in accredited nurse anesthesia educational programs located in specific regions. The COA consists of twelve directors and meets three times per year for deliberation of accreditation and other program-related decisions as well as a variety of policy-related issues. The student functions as a full member of the Council, except that the student cannot vote.
“Philip is a go-getter,” VanDyke said. “He makes himself available as an ambassador of the program, he’s the president of the Anesthesia Club, a natural leader. There were a lot of other applicants, but he rose to the top and they picked him.”
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Philip Jung practices procedures in the simulation lab as part of his training to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist at FSU Panama City.
BY TONY SIMMONS
Jerry Jacob hovered at the head of the operating table, coaching his patient through the steps of awakening.
“Can you give me a thumbs-up, Mr. Smith?” he asked. “Good. Now, can I get you to raise your head up and hold it there for five seconds?”
Professor Lonnie Hodges, standing to one side of the lab, told Jacob how Mr. Smith—a high tech mannequin— responded, even as a digital screen over Jacob’s shoulder kept him apprised of Smith’s vital signs.
In the next room, viewing the scene through a large plate-glass window, technicians adjusted the monitor readouts to show Jacob how Smith progressed. They could as easily have thrown a new hurdle into the case by causing Smith’s airway to close or have some other reaction.
It was a typical morning in the Simulation Lab
for students in FSU Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program—or “Hodge’s House of Pain,” as a banner on one wall proclaimed it, which was a lighthearted gift from the program’s first cohort of graduates in Spring 2024.
“Today’s scenario is a complicated emergence, so they’re going to get one of five randomized complications that commonly occur in the operating room,” Hodges said. “They’re going to interact with the mannequin and machine to accurately respond the way we would want them to in the O.R. when they experience it in their clinical training.”
Students have access to the labs at almost any time during the didactic portion of their studies, and they come in groups or as individuals to get practice working with the
anesthesia machines.
“YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE PROCESS.”
CAELA JERNIGAN, DNAP STUDENT
The computer-controlled mannequin can open its eyes and mouth and will emit a voice in some circumstances, but it also can exhibit a variety of digital readouts of conditions such as pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels and more.
“We can come in and practice here on our free time,” said Jacob, a member of the second cohort of DNAP students. “The idea is to train ourselves to be ready for anything. As I’m taking care of a patient, my focus has to be on point. That patient is putting his or her life in my hands, and my responsibility is to them.”
The experience included a real video of an ablation procedure along with the sounds of the machines and monitors, as well as music that doctors often play during procedures. The simulations on this day included an airway obstruction after extubation, hypertension either before or after extubation, and slow breathing.
“These are the types of things that they’re encountering,” Hodges said. “We do everything we can to
make it as realistic as the normal O.R., so they get the feel of being in an O.R. and training the way they’re going to in a few weeks when they get to a hospital.”
Student Caela Jernigan, 28, said it was important to “trust the process.” She came to DNAP from a career as a cardiovascular ICU nurse in Dothan, Ala., where a coworker recommended the program.
“It’s well organized, but it’s going to be rough going for a while,” Jernigan said. “I always gravitated toward caring for people, and this program makes you feel like you can make more of an impact, a positive difference.”
Jacob, 30, is from Ft. Lauderdale. An ICU nurse for almost nine years, he was encouraged to apply to the DNAP program by a previous graduate. There are approximately 300 applicants each year, and the program accepts only 30.
“It’s very competitive,” Jacob said. “I love nursing, and I wanted to get to a place in life to provide one-onone direct patient care, and that I could handle whatever challenge was thrown at me.”
Army veteran Branden Schorr finds DNAP a path to a meaningful impact
BY CRISTINA DOAN
Q: What was your rank, job and branch of service?
A: I was a captain, Intensive Care Registered Nurse in the U.S. Army.
Q: As a student veteran, what stood out to you as a positive experience while enrolled at FSU Panama City?
A: The faculty and staff of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at FSU Panama City have consistently shown a genuine commitment to the success of student veterans like myself. They have been understanding of our unique challenges, such as transitioning from military service to civilian life, and have provided tailored resources to ensure a smooth academic journey while being the spouse of an active-duty service member.
Q: How do you feel the local community has demonstrated support for you as a veteran?
A: The Panama City/Bay County community has demonstrated unwavering support for veterans through events, discounts, support programs and a sincere interest in our well-being. This collective effort plays a crucial role in helping veterans navigate the challenges of transitioning from military service to civilian life, and it’s a testament to the community’s compassion and appreciation for those who have served.
Q: What are your end goals upon completing your degree? How do you feel your degree will help you in achieving your goals?
A: My goal is to provide excellent clinical care but also to continue serving my community by contributing to the health and well-being of patients undergoing surgery or medical procedures. A Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree from FSU Panama City embodies dedication to patient advocacy, safety, and compassionate care, and I’m excited to leverage this expertise to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those I have the privilege to care for.
BY TONY SIMMONS
The first cohort of DNAP students received their white coats in 2022, signifying their entry into the second phase of study in FSU Panama City’s nationally accredited Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program. Since then, two more cohorts have accepted white coats. The ceremony, attended by family and friends, celebrated their move from classroom to in-hospital patient service.
Students begin by learning basic principles of anesthesia, biochemistry and physics, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology. They spend countless hours in simulations, learning to insert IV lines, to perform spinal blocks and epidurals, and to use ultrasound equipment to guide them to veins.
“We have a really experienced faculty, and I love when they share what they’ve seen in clinical practice,” said Ohio native Michelle Benjamin. “In the Simulation Lab, we can practice procedures before we work with a real person,
which allows us to develop muscle memory.”
Benjamin, who would only say she was “in her 30s,” was a lot more direct about why she was happy with her choice to attend FSU PC and pursue DNAP. Besides the fact that her significant other was stationed in Fort Walton Beach, making the location ideal, the practical learning opportunities were top-notch.
The students next move into clinicals at hospital and outpatient sites across the southeast and finally they take their national certification boards.
But the White Coat Ceremony, first initiated at Colombia University in 1993, symbolizes a big step along that path—the candidate’s transition from classroom to clinical practice. The ceremony was established by Dr. Arnold Gold, a pediatric neurologist and founder of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, to emphasize humanism in healthcare at the very start of clinical education.
MEANINGFUL MOMENT: The second DNAP cohort received their white coats in July 2023.
“THESE CANDIDATES SPENT MULTIPLE YEARS PREPARING TO BECOME REGISTERED NURSES AND HAVE WORKED AT THE BEDSIDE IN CRITICAL CARE UNITS PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF THEIR PATIENTS.”
LONNIE HODGES, DNP, ASSISTANT PROGRAM
“The impetus for developing this ceremony came from the desire to recognize the hard work our nurse anesthesia doctoral candidates put into preparing for their clinical training in anesthesia,” said Lonnie Hodges, DNP, the assistant program administrator.
“These candidates spent multiple years preparing to become registered nurses, have worked at the bedside in critical care units providing for the needs of their patients, and have completed the first year of didactic study in their doctoral education to include intensive training in the simulation lab preparing them for multifactorial clinical scenarios,” Hodges added.
“For me, it’s been a journey of 10 years to get here, not just of hard work in the classroom, but also community service,” said Riddhi Patel, 35, who credited location, low attrition rate, small cohort, and lower cost to her choice of programs—not to mention the fact that the staff where she worked previously was “90 percent FSU grads.”
In May 2024, Patel was inducted into the Garnet Key student honor society. She’s also a member of the of the campus Anesthesia Club. “We created the club not only to recognize there was an anesthesia program on campus, but to educate people about what that means in terms of health care.”
In 2014, the Gold Foundation and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing expanded the ceremony to include nurses. Approximately 360 nursing programs across the country participate in this ceremony.
With the inaugural White Coat Ceremony for its DNAP program, FSU PC became number 361.
The White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that serves to welcome student nurse anesthetists into the clinical education portion of their training. It instills the importance of professionalism and responsibility for clinical excellence while promoting safe, ethical and compassionate care.
“I’m about taking care of people,” said Brenda Dierestil, 28, originally from Coral Springs. A former FAMU student, she found her way to FSU PC because she was looking for a new challenge after working as an ICU nurse for several years.
“I heard great things about the program, how they care for their students. It showed in the interview process and the comfort they gave me,” Dierestil said.
The program offered her a chance to “take my education to the next level, challenge myself, and do something different.”
CONTINUING THE TRADITION: The 2023 White Coat Ceremony was more than a rite of passage. It was also a time of celebration and family. Opposite page, counter-clockwise from top left: Jeremy Matyjaszek was congratulated by his children; Brenda Dierestil was cheered by supporters as she received her ceremonial coat from DNAP Administrator Stacey VanDyke; and Janneza King posed with her husband, who encouraged her dedication to the program while they dealt with his injuries from a traumatic accident.
Before God and those assembled here, I solemnly pledge:
To adhere to the code of ethics of the nursing profession;
To co-operate faithfully with the other members of the nursing team and to carry out faithfully and to the best of my ability the instructions of the physician or the nurse who may be assigned to supervise my work;
I will not do anything evil or malicious, and I will not knowingly give any harmful drug or assist in malpractice.
I will not reveal any confidential information that may come to my knowledge in the course of my work.
And I pledge myself to do all in my power to raise the standards and prestige of practical nursing.
May my life be devoted to service and to the high ideals of the nursing profession.
JOURNEY’S END: Before receiving their doctoral diplomas, DNAP graduates received their hoods and certificates of completion.
BY TONY SIMMONS
A first at FSU Panama City, the university awarded 29 Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degrees on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
“The achievements of the class of 2024 are nothing short of remarkable,” said Stacey VanDyke (DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA), program administrator and associate professor. “Over the past three years, they’ve completed over 30,000 anesthetics, accumulated 81,000 clinical hours, and undertaken a scholarly inquiry project—all while navigating a demanding curriculum comprising 99 graduate credit hours. Their dedication to both theory and practice is evident, setting a high standard for future generations.”
Before walking the stage with fellow graduates from other programs, the DNAP graduates participated in the first-ever doctoral hooding ceremony in the St. Joe Community Foundation Lecture Hall at the Holley Academic Center.
“For many, the ceremony holds personal significance,” VanDyke said. “The clinical preceptor of the year was honored, acknowledging the invaluable support of clinical partners without whom this journey would not have been possible. Additionally, the program paid tribute to graduating veterans, presenting them with cords and coins—a gesture of respect and gratitude for their service to their country.”
Student speaker Benjamin Otiwu pointed out the degree requires 2,000 clinical hours and 650 cases, a bar that each graduate surpassed; he amassed 2,800 hours and 990 cases, noting that he was “nowhere near the top of the class.” He also mentioned that professors warned the class that they would be measured by coworkers at clinical sites, who would expect outstanding skills from them.
“Because we were FSU students, our sites expected excellence of us,” Otiwu said. “We were given more responsibility than any other students I know of. I was in an open heart that crashed onto pump on my fifth day, and some people were running rooms less than a month in.”
He continued, “Every day, every time we do a case, somebody is putting their lives in our hands. We’re the last person they see before going to sleep and the first person they see when they wake up … and that responsibility is never lost on me.”
BY BECKY KELLY & TONY SIMMONS
For the past two years, anesthesia providers from across the country have converged at Florida State University Panama City for the annual Congress of the Society for Opioid Free Anesthesia.
The multi-day event features educational and informational sessions including a hands-on ultrasound guided regional anesthesia workshop with live models, a literature review of opioid free anesthesia-related research and presentations on new strategies for delivering opioid free anesthesia.
“We are proud to host SOFA on our campus and be able to showcase FSU PC and Panama City to visitors from across the country,” said Stacey VanDyke, DNAP program administrator. “This is an excellent opportunity for our students to network with industry leaders and learn innovative anesthesia techniques from leading experts.”
Additionally, attendees engage with exhibitors who support SOFA initiatives. The program also is approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology for continuing education credits.
“THIS IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO NETWORK WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND LEARN INNOVATIVE ANESTHESIA TECHNIQUES FROM LEADING EXPERTS.”
“Numerous studies have shown that not only is opioid-free anesthesia good for patients, it is also good for facilities,” said SOFA board member Thomas Baribeault, DNP, in an interview with DPI Anesthesia. “Reducing complications such as post-operative pain, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory depression leads to fewer unexpected admissions after surgery and patients being able to go home sooner after surgery. This leads to reduced morbidity and mortality, reduced costs and increased patient satisfaction.”
Some of the popular interactive forums have included topics such as “Reducing Cancer Metastasis Through Opioid Free Anesthesia”; “The Emerging Role of Epigenomics in Pain Management”; and “Instituting an Opioid Free Anesthesia Protocol for Outpatient RoboticAssisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy.”
These forums provide the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion on hot topics surrounding the delivery of opioid-free anesthesia. Attendees learn the latest techniques in administering opioid-free anesthesia from pioneers in the field who highlight innovative research and answer questions.
SOFA is an international organization with more than 2,000 members. The organization is dedicated to promoting opioid-free anesthesia, which is a safer option for anesthesia administration that maximizes a patient’s respiratory ability and aggressively treats their pain, while eliminating the unwanted side effects of opioids.
The Congress, which met at FSU Panama City in 2023 and 2024, is open to anesthesiology students and anesthesia professionals including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists and anesthetists.
For more information about the Congress, visit GoOpioidFree.com.
CONGRESS IN SESSION: Florida State University Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program hosted the 2023 and 2024 Congress of the Society for Opioid Free Anesthesia. Faculty and students participated in workshops and seminars focusing on the latest advances and ongoing research in the field, including interactive sessions (as seen on Page 37).
LAST LOOK : Newly robed graduates from the first cohort of the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice at FSU Panama City gather by the bay for a class photograph on May 5, 2024.
pc.fsu.edu
