The Goldfarb School of Nursing, including the Nurse Anesthesia Program, celebrated its commencement ceremony on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Stifel Theatre.
On Friday afternoon, family members and anesthesia providers were invited to a special ceremony where leadership, including the Maxine Clark and Bob Fox President of Goldfarb School of Nursing, Angela Clark, PhD, RN, MSN, CNE, FAAN; the Jack Taylor Dean of Goldfarb,
Kathleen Polley-Payne, PhD, MSN, RN, PNP; and the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology and Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, FCASA, delivered inspiring opening statements. Scott Schuett, CRNA, and the Class of 2023 President, Taylor Crittenden, provided captivating presentations to all in attendance.
The following awards were also presented to the deserving graduates:
- Tsugie Watanabe Award for Outstanding CT SRNA: Amanuel Gebeyehu
- Watanabe-Henrichs Endowed Scholarship Awards: Christine Bergesch, Audreau Conley, and Samantha Trulove
- Agatha Hodgins CRNA Awards: Taylor Crittenden and Jennifer Stephan
- Award for Clinical Excellence: Amanuel Gebeyehu
- GSON’s J.L. London Award: Meghan Woodham
- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation Program Administrator’s Outstanding Project Award: Emily Davenport, Jennifer Stephan, and Paul Winson
In addition to celebrating the graduates, the following awards were presented to instructors by the graduating class of 2023:
- The Beverly Krause Outstanding CRNA Clinical Instructor Award: Daniel Eddins, CRNA
- The Outstanding MD Clinical Instructor Award: Omokhaye M. Higo, MD
- The Helen Lamb Outstanding Didactic Instructor Award: Sarah Perez, CRNA
Overall, 11 graduates completed their nurse anesthesia education and received a Doctor of Nursing Practice, marking the second cohort to graduate with a doctoral degree. Eight of these graduates will be working as CRNAs in Washington University’s Department of Anesthesiology following the successful completion of their certification examinations.
Congratulations to the entire Class of 2023 Nurse Anesthesia cohort for their remarkable achievements and dedication to the field of nursing.