Director's Message

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Spring 2013

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Hello to all program alumni and students! Our first year students rd are now in the 3 semester of the DNP curriculum and they are tak- Inside this issue: ing courses specifically developed for doctoral education this semester. The 23 first year SRNAs are also in their clinical novice Directors Message 1 phase and they will advance to 1:2 supervision at the end of this

semester. Our second DNP cohort will begin the program on May Remembering Hugh 2 28th and we will bid farewell to 20 masters’ students in the 2013

class on May 19th. The 2014 class (our last masters’ cohort) will soon become the seniors and they start rotating to affiliate sites in Other Alumni News 2 April. Each member of the 2014 class will rotate to McBride Or- thopedic Hospital in Oklahoma City for the peripheral block expe- New Office Faculty 2 rience: the program is grateful to Bob Rawls and Shelley Dumigan for agreeing to allow two KU SRNAs per month at this site. Until Class 1982 Reunion 3 this spring, the McBride site had limitations and only 12-14 seniors could be accommodated per year. Focus on Alumni 3

A number of faculty and staff changes have occurred recently. Dr. Lobby Day 20132 4 Carol Elliott is now fully retired but has been awarded Professor Emeritus status. Dr. Elliott continues to help the program by serving on Capstone committees and engaging in Affiliate Spotlight 5 special projects at the request of faculty members. Patrick Donnelly, CRNA, resigned his faculty position and we are pleased to announce that one of our current seniors, Lauryn Rametta, will be joining the program as a faculty Faculty Spotlight 5 member in July. Lauryn plans to begin her post masters DNP program through the KU School of Nursing this fall. Our long time office administrator, Ruth Lee, retired in January after a year of phased retirement. Karen Upcoming Events 6 Spartan, Academic Affairs Coordinator, retired in January and Anne Belote has been recently hired for that position. Contact Information 6

Congratulations to Paul Hertel for his election as KANA president-elect: he will become KANA president in October. Paul has served on the KANA board four years as a director, KANA secretary, and now president-elect. We are excited that one of our own faculty members will hold this prestigious office! Paul will accompany two of our second year SRNAs to the AANA Mid Year Assembly in Washington, DC, in April. Karri Arndt and Donna Nyght attended the AANA Assembly of School Faculty meeting in Tucson in February. This meeting is focused on nurse anesthesia programs and we always enjoy networking with faculty colleagues and learning about COA and NBCRNA topics.

Paul Bennetts is finishing his dissertation and will graduate this spring with a PhD from the KU School of Nursing. Paul’s dissertation is titled Effects of Intravenous Coenzyme Q10 with Fluid Resuscitation Following Hemorrhagic Shock. Paul deserves all of our congratulations for this tremendous accomplishment!

I hope to see many alumni at the KU Anesthesiology Symposium in May! Please plan to attend the annual Alumni Luncheon on Saturday, May 11th if you attend the Symposium.

Finally, I would like to thank LeaAnn Zeller and Mindy Marker for putting together the newsletter as part of their senior Capstone Project.

Donna Nyght, CRNA, DNP

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Spring 2013 Remembering Hugh Matheson 1921-2012 On November 26, 2012, the nurse anesthesia profession lost a true and dedicated physician supporter. Hugh Mathewson, MD,

always looked upon CRNAs as neither less or more but true professional colleagues. Hugh was born in Washington, DC, on September 20, 1921 and moved to Topeka in 1922. After graduation from Topeka High School in 1938, he attended the University of Kansas and completed undergraduate and medical degrees in six years. His intern year was spent at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, and then he returned to KUMC and completed a residency in anesthesiology in 1948. After residency, Hugh joined the KUMC faculty as an instructor of pharmacology in the Depart- ment of Medicine. In 1953, Hugh left KUMC to engage in private practice, simultaneously assuming the positions of Director of Anesthesiology at St. Luke’s Hospital and General Hospital (now Truman Medical Center). Hugh initiated nurse anesthesia and anesthesiology residency training programs at both facilities. In 1968 Hugh returned to KUMC and began his long association with the nurse anesthesia program, respiratory therapy program, and the anesthesiology residency program: he remained a dedicated instructor at KUMC until his retirement more than 30 years later. Hugh supported nurse anesthetists as they fought for state and federal recognition and acceptance as a profession entitled to independence and direct reimbursement. Hugh did not waiver as the struggle to bring nurse anesthesia education out of the shadows of OJT to a respected university based academic degree and simply shrugged off criticisms he bore from his fellow anesthesiologists. Hugh taught the KUMC nurse anesthesia students in clinical, in the classroom, and with his prolific writings. During his professional career, Hugh wrote four textbooks and hundreds of anesthesia related publications. He inspired SRNAs to always give their best efforts and to serve the profession with pride. Because of the efforts of his KU nurse anesthesia students, the AANA bestowed upon him the Special Recognition Award in 1997: Hugh cherished this national award recognizing his contributions to nurse anesthesia education. Dr. Mathewson deserves to be honored by the hundreds of KU nurse anesthesia graduates whose successful careers today are due to him. The KU Nurse Anesthesia Program wishes to express sincere love, admiration, and gratitude to Dr. Hugh Mathewson. His was a life well lived, and his memory will live on in the many nurse anesthetists he taught and supported.

Welcome Academic Affairs Coordinator Anne Belote Alumni News:

Anne Belote joined the office in We want to have a regular column in the newsletter February 2013 as the new featuring alumni accomplishments, but we need your Academic Affairs Coordinator. help in collecting those accomplishments.

Previously she worked for six Please send us any professional achievements such as years in student affairs at articles published, awards received, new degrees Rockhurst University. Anne is earned, involvement in professional organizations, job married and has a five months old promotions such as chief CRNA, participation on mis- daughter. sion trips, etc. We also welcome personal news, such

as weddings and babies! Don’t hesitate to come by the office to say hello and welcome Please send your information to na@kumc.edu or post her. it on Facebook on the KU Nurse Anesthesia page.

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Spring 2013

Class of 1982 Reunion

The KU Nurse Anesthesia 1982 graduating class gathered for a reunion in October 2012. The following communication from Den O’Leary describes how he and Tim Flynn organized the event: “the AANA membership department worked as the "middleman" to forward our emails to help find classmates. Once we were all connected, by email, everyone wrote and ex- changed a bio of their past 30 years (including Jimmie, Kenny and Carol). That way we didn't have to spend the evening re- peating the story over and over. It was great fun.” The reunion was held at the home of Tim and Julie Flynn and included all but one classmate, plus former instructors Carol Elliott, Jimmie Kelso, and Kenny Bade attended. Interestingly enough, when they posed for the picture, they unwittingly posed in the same order as their picture from 1981. How in sync is that!

Class photo from 1982, left to right: Class photo from 2012, left to right: Dirk Hacker,Hacker, Kathy Marks-VerbMarks-Verbanic, Tim Flynn, Marquetta Dirk Hacker, Kathy Marks-Verbanic, Tim Flynn, Mar- Knight-Sturdivan, Jeff Fryer, Dennis O'Leary, Becky Wall- quetta Knight-Sturdivan, Jeff Fryer, Dennis O'Leary, Crabtree, Carol Scott Carol Scott. (Becky Wall-Crabtree not shown)

1982 graduating class in 2012 including staff members Jimmie Kelso , Kenny Blade and Carol Elliot

Focus on Alumni: Fundraising

KU Nurse Anesthesia Student Association (KUNASA) is currently selling KU Nurse Anesthesia products. These products include tumblers, t-shirts, and scrub caps. Our newest product is a black fleece jacket with the KU Nurse Anesthesia logo on the front and a Jayhawk on the back right shoulder. They will be selling products at the Fall KANA meeting. If you would like to have items sooner than this, please contact the office at 913-588-6612 or email us at [email protected].

A men’s KU Basketball signed by the 2013 team and Bill Self will be raffled during March Madness. This is the second year for the autographed basketball raffle and we want to thank the KU men’s basketball team for their support. Go Jayhawks, and congratulations on another great year!! Conference and tournament champions!! Number one seed in the NCAA tournament!! 3

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Spring 2013

Lobby Day: January 22, 2013

The 5th annual Kansas Nurse Anesthesia Lobby Day was January 22nd, 2013, in Topeka, Kansas. This annual event coincides with the National Nurse Anesthesia week and is celebrated every January. There were 23 anesthesia providers in attendance, spending the day networking and lob- bying for the profession of Nurse Anesthesia at the State Capital. Six prac- ticing CRNAs from Kansas in addition to 17 graduate nurse anesthesia students made the day a success. Each Kansas nurse anesthesia program sent students representatives, including 14 from the University of Kansas, 2 from Texas Wesleyan, and 1 from Newman University.

The day started with a briefing and planning session at the Hein’s Law office in Topeka. Following the morning session the group travelled to the Capital Building and had a photo taken with Governor Brownback in his office. After the photo opportunity with the Governor the nurse anesthetists had the opportunity to speak with Senate Vice President, Jeff King. In the final morning session, many were able to meet with Speaker Pro Tem, Peggy Mast. The participants enjoyed learning about how legislators became involved in politics, and the speakers were interested in hearing more about the nurse anesthesia profession.

KANA graciously sponsored lunch at the Celtic Fox, where participants had the honor of listening to speaker Aaron Jack, the current Kansas Securities Commissioner. Aaron Jack spoke about the importance of establishing relationships with legislators, and supporting the nurse anesthesia profession through PAC. Students and CRNAs had the opportunity to network as well as prepare for meetings with their legislators.

All Lobby Day participants returned to the Capital building after lunch for meetings with over 15 legislators. They had the privilege of meeting with several first term representatives and senators. Group members were pleased at the positive reception and the genuine interest that was taken in the profession. Thanks to all who participated and made Kansas Lobby Day a great success. KANA and the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program looks forward to another great lobby day next year where SRNAs and CRNAs will again be able to relay the importance of CRNA practice in Kansas.

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Spring 2013

Children’s Mercy Hospital

Ten rotations at affiliate sites are offered to third year students to provide required cases and experiences at a variety of facilities. Children’s Mercy Hospital, an affiliate site since 2003, is the only pediatric rotation offered outside of the University of Kansas Hospital. It is the only level I pediatric trauma center in the region. Children’s Mercy allows students to enhance and obtain required case experiences on pediatric patients. There are over 40 pediatric specialty ser- vices available at Children’s Mercy.

Faculty In The Spotlight:

Thomas L. Pazdernik, PhD, is a Chancellor’s Club Teaching Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics. He obtained his BS degree in Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota, PhD from the University of Kansas in Medicinal Chemistry, and Neuropharmacology training from the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Dr. Pazdernik joined the faculty at KUMC in 1973 where his first didactic responsibility was teaching pharmacology to undergraduate nursing students. Since that time, he has taught pharmacology and toxicology to students in the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Health Professions, and Graduate School.

Dr. Pazdernik taught pharmacology to students in the KU Nurse Anesthesia Program from the late 1970’s to early 1990’s via independent study and, in 2006, he initiated new instructor- facilitated pharmacology courses for the Nurse Anesthesia students; these have become his fa- vorite courses because of the motivation and excellence of the students in the program.

His research has focused on organic synthesis, immunopharmacolgy, and neuropharmacology. He has received the Best Nursing Educator Award (1982), Ruth Bohan Award (1992), Chancel- lor’s Distinguished Teaching Award (1997) Kemper Fellowships (2002; 2007), Chancellor's Club Teaching Professorship (2007), and Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award “THE JAYHAWK” (2012) as well as over 35 Student Voice, individual or best course, awards from the medical students.

Tom and wife Betty have two daughters: Lisa, an OB/GYN physician, who has 11 year-old tri- plets (Cassidy, Tommy, and Isabel) and Nancy, a Special Education teacher who teaches high school students with multiple disabilities; she has a 9 year-old daughter (Becca). Tom and Betty now enjoy attending all of their grandchildren’s activities. 5

KU Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Newsletter Spring 2013 UPCOMING EVENTS Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Spring Meeting  April 27th and 28th, 2013 at Doubletree Hotel, Overland Park, Kansas 63rd Annual KU Postgraduate Symposium on Anesthesiology  KU Nurse Anesthesia Program sponsors a lunch at the Symposium each year for Program alumni Visit us at  May 10-12, 2013, InterContinental Hotel Kansas City at the Plaza, www.na.kumc.edu Kansas City, Missouri http://www.continuinged.ku.edu/kumc/anesthesiology/ OR

 Alumni/Program Tailgate: KU vs. Lousinana Tech Bulldogs Find us on Facebook  September 21, 2013, on the hill in Lawrence, Kansas on the KU Nurse Anesthesia page  Tailgate/Game Time TBA

Alumni Scholarship Being Developed The KU Program is working to establish an Alumni Scholarship Fund. To have an endowed scholarship requires $30,000. The fund currently has $14,500. Once the fund has reached the goal of $30,000, alumni will be involved in establishing criteria and awarding scholarships to current students in the program. You can donate on our alumni page, www.na.kumc.edu/alumni.html. Click on Make a Gift and indicate that the donation is for the scholarship fund. Or you can contact Peggy Person with KU Endowment at 913-588-5441 or [email protected]. Thank you for your donations!

KU Nurse Anesthesia Education Mail Stop 2020 3901 Rainbow Boulevard Kansas City, KS 66160