Engy Abunassar DNP, CRNA is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist practicing in Metro Detroit. Born in Egypt and raised in Europe, she brings a unique multicultural perspective to delivering culturally competent, patient-centered anesthesia care. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Biology from Oakland University, where her research focused on neurodegeneration in glaucoma. During her doctoral nurse anesthesia training at the University of Detroit Mercy, she concentrated on improving perioperative outcomes in older adults, including the development of a risk assessment tool for postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Fluent in both Arabic and English, Engy is passionate about evidence-based practice, education, and advancing equitable, high-quality anesthesia care through research and advocacy.  

Jennifer Banek, MSN, MHA, CRNA is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with more than 14 years of experience providing anesthesia care across a broad range of surgical specialties. She currently serves as President-Elect of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), where she is dedicated to advancing the CRNA profession through leadership, advocacy, and education. Jennifer also serves as the elected Lake County Coroner in Illinois and has more than 15 years of service in the United States Army Reserve, including deployment to Qatar. A respected healthcare leader, she is passionate about patient safety, clinical excellence, and empowering the next generation of nurse anesthetists through education and professional service.

Debbie Barber, DNP, CRNA, is owner of Unbridled Anesthesia in Louisville, Kentucky, and contracts with Louisville Surgery Center. A Baylor College of Medicine graduate, she has over 30 years of broad anesthesia experience, including 17 years in ambulatory surgery. Dr. Barber serves on the AAAHC Expert Content Committee and is an assistant clinical professor at Northern Kentucky University. She was President of the Kentucky Association of Nurse Anesthetists in 2012 and served as AANA Region 2 Director (2014–2016). A past State Representative candidate, she remains active in advocacy for CRNAs nationwide.

Her commitment to shaping future CRNAs extends beyond the classroom through her “Bent on Education” podcast and frequent speaking engagements at national anesthesia conferences. A champion of interprofessional collaboration, she leads simulation training with Otolaryngology teams, midwives, and NPs while also lecturing on airway management. Dr. Bent holds a Master’s in Law, applying Socratic teaching methods to nurse anesthesia education and fostering cross-disciplinary partnerships to elevate student learning. Driven by innovation and mentorship, she remains a transformative leader in both clinical and academic anesthesia.

Shiro Bergbauer, DNP, CRNA, is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, life coach, and maternal wellness advocate based in Houston, Texas. With over 16 years in healthcare, she combines clinical excellence with a passion for supporting mothers, particularly those in medicine. Shiro founded Stethoscopes to Swaddles, a platform and podcast empowering medical moms. Inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression, she champions maternal mental health and self-care. A certified life coach, she helps women achieve personal growth and balance. Shiro’s work continues to inspire, blending healthcare expertise with compassionate advocacy for women and mothers in the medical community.

Beyond his clinical accomplishments, Mr. Howell brings a deeply personal perspective to the conversation surrounding substance use disorder among healthcare professionals. After developing a substance use disorder during his career, he entered recovery and has since dedicated himself to reducing stigma, promoting early intervention, and fostering a culture of compassion and accountability within healthcare.
Mr. Howell is the author of Beyond the Scrubs: We Do Recover, which chronicles his journey through addiction, recovery, and resilience. He maintains an active APRN license in Texas and is an active member of the AANA and TXANA.

Dr. Adrienne Cain, DNP, CRNA is originally from Louisiana. She received her MSN and DNP from Columbia University. She has served as a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at several universities. She enjoys mentoring, dog rescue, scuba diving, traveling, cooking, and reading.

Michael Dosch, CRNA, PhD is Professor Emeritus of Nurse Anesthesia at University of Detroit Mercy. He directed the program there for many years. He wrote the chapter in Nurse Anesthesia (Nagelhout & Elisha) and revised it through all editions. He has spoken many times across the country, on his interest in Anesthesia Equipment and other topics.

Dr. Franson earned her Master of Science in Anesthesia from Oakland University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of St. Augustine. Her professional passions include regional anesthesia, point-of-care ultrasound, and the advancement of evidence-based best practices in anesthesia care. She is dedicated to empowering students and CRNAs through high-quality education, mentorship, and clinically focused training that promotes safe, confident, and competent practice.

Mary Golinski PhD, CRNA, FAANA, received a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesiology degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy in 1991, and a PhD in Education, Evaluation, and Research from Wayne State University in 2002. At present, Dr. Golinski is a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Oakland University and maintains an active clinical practice at a level- one trauma hospital and a free- standing endoscopy center. In addition, Dr. Golinski has held several leadership positions including President of the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists (1999-2000), AANA Region 3 Director (2004-06), AANA Treasurer (2006-07), and Board Member and Treasurer of the NBCRNA (2012-17). She is a nationally recognized speaker and researcher.

Sierra Hardy DNP, CRNA, began her academic journey in sports medicine before pursuing nursing as a second-degree student. She earned her BSN from Winston Salem State University and her DNP in Nurse Anesthesia from Emory University, graduating just six weeks after having her third child. With a critical care foundation built in cardiac and cardiothoracic ICUs from Novant to Emory to Grady, she helped launch Grady’s CTICU under Barbara McLean. Since 2022, she has practiced anesthesia across Atlanta. Sierra balances her professional work with a full family life—supporting her husband’s coaching, raising four children, and co-running a real estate business.

Winifred Hwang is a recent graduate of Duke University and is currently a staff CRNA at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center in Santa Clara, CA. She has previously been a speaker at the 2023 AANA Annual Congress and 2024 Kentucky and Michigan annual meetings. Prior to becoming an RN and CRNA, she graduated with a B.A. in biology from Boston University and worked as a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital as well as Stanford University. Her experience in and passion for research carries over to her budding career as a CRNA today! Her primary interests are pharmacology, physiology, and education.

Coming.

Leveraging 16 years of frontline clinical experience as a Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist (CRNA), Neena is a dynamic healthcare strategist dedicated to optimizing
medical economics and operational efficiency. Building upon an international clinical
foundation—with an undergraduate nursing degree from Government Medical College in
Kottayam at M. G University, India (2002), and a Master of Science in Anesthesiology from
Barry University, Miami (2010). Neena earned an MBA from the Questrom School of
Business at Boston University (2025) to actively address the systemic business challenges
facing modern medicine.

This vital intersection of advanced clinical practice and business acumen fuels her mission to reform healthcare delivery. Drawing from a deep knowledge of global healthcare models,
Neena specializes in identifying actionable strategies to eliminate administrative and
operational waste. Her work focuses on helping organizations balance the bottom line while
delivering highly affordable, patient-centered care. Beyond the operating room, she is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring global cultures alongside her husband and daughter.

Jeffrey Kirby, MA CRNA, holds a BS in Science and Nursing from Oakland University in
Rochester, Michigan, where he graduated in 2012. After graduating, Jeffrey worked in the
Intensive Care Unit at Trinity Oakland until 2016. Jeffrey later earned a Master of Anesthesia
degree from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2019. Jeffrey’s work history includes being a staff CRNA at Henry Ford Health System since 2019, and he is trained in cardiothoracic surgery. Nursing is actually Jeffrey’s second career- he previously worked as a police officer. He is a musician, loves to travel, and is a proud father of two boys who are also musicians.

Julie also had the privilege of being an independently practicing CRNA during the explosion in the use of GLP-1s. Her lecture on GLP-1 receptor agonists seeks to educate CRNAs on the ways in which these medications work and how we may see them used in the future.

Carly Lynn, DNP, CRNA is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with a passion for anesthesia education and translating evidence into everyday clinical practice. She enjoys simplifying complex topics into practical, engaging learning experiences that help CRNAs provide exceptional patient care. Carly’s clinical interests include pharmacology, perioperative safety, and emerging anesthesia practices. Through her work with Discovery Anesthesia, she is committed to making continuing education relevant, approachable, and immediately applicable to clinical practice.

Abby has a special interest in malignant hyperthermia (MH) awareness, provider safety, and perioperative education. As an individual with confirmed MH, she is passionate about promoting evidence-based discussions surrounding MH risk, occupational exposure, and safe anesthesia practice. Through educational presentations and advocacy efforts, she works to increase awareness and encourage informed conversations within the anesthesia community.

Dr. Carly Mitchell, DNP, APRN, CRNA, is the Founding Director of the Bellarmine University Juneja Nurse Anesthesia Program and the Chief Nurse Anesthetist for Obstetric Anesthesia at Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital. A graduate of the Baptist Health / Murray State University Program of Anesthesia in 2018, Dr. Mitchell has extensive experience in nurse anesthesia education and clinical practice.

With a focus on advancing obstetric anesthesia care, Dr. Mitchell is dedicated to optimizing patient outcomes and refining clinical management strategies. She integrates evidence-based approaches to enhance the safety, efficacy, and overall experience of anesthesia care for obstetric patients. Her work emphasizes improving clinical decision-making and fostering best practices in neuraxial anesthesia.

Lisa Mueller is a CRNA from the metro-Detroit area. She completed her anesthesia residency at Wayne State University in 1996. Since then, she has owned a local anesthesia staffing company, Mueller Anesthesia Services Inc., for over 20 years. She also served on the board of the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists as the State Reimbursement Specialist (SRS), District Director II, chair of the Leadership and Development Committee, Government Relations Committee member & finally, the President of the association in 2023. Additionally, Lisa has been a guest lecturer at the AANA and several universities. In her personal life, she is an avid scuba diver and enjoys kayaking, golf, and pickleball.

Jennifer earned a BA in Economics and Business Management from Albion College (1995), a BSN from Wayne State University (2005), and a Master of Anesthesia from Wayne State’s Applebaum College (2011). She began as an entrepreneur importing Italian ceramics, then transitioned to nursing at Providence and St. John Macomb hospitals. Since 2011, she’s been a CRNA at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, serving as lead CRNA for cardiothoracic surgery since 2022. She’s married with two sons.

Angela graduated in 2000 from Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic.  Her experience includes exclusive cardiac anesthesia in Cleveland, independent multispeciality practice in Nebraska and currently she administers anesthesia to patients having procedures in the EP Lab in two locations in Richmond, Virginia.  She enjoys working with nurse anesthesia residents both in the classroom and the OR.   She speaks regularly about her experience in the EP Lab  to her colleagues at the local and state levels.  She loves to spend time with her husband and two college-aged children, walk her dog, gallop her horse through the woods and grow/make most of her own food.

Heather J. Rankin, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, is a Senior CRNA at Children’s of Alabama and adjunct faculty at Samford University. A leader in nurse anesthesia, she has served as Treasurer and Region 7 Director for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), where she championed the adoption of electronic voting. Dr. Rankin earned her DNP from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her BSN from Samford University. In 2021, she was inducted as a Fellow of the AANA, recognizing her contributions to clinical excellence, education, and the advancement of the nurse anesthesia profession.

Mary Scott-Herring is an assistant professor at Georgetown University’s DNAP Program. Previously, she was the CRNA Education Coordinator at the University of Maryland and R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and the Clinical Coordinator of Nurse Anesthesia Education at Johns Hopkins. She continues her clinical practice at these institutions. Dr. Scott-Herring completed the Armstrong Patient Safety Fellowship at Johns Hopkins and received the Elizabeth Martinez Fellowship Award. She served on the AANA State Organizational Development Committee and the Nominations Committee and actively contributes to the Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She holds a master’s in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Kathryn Seeley, DNP, CRNA is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist practicing in Michigan. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Human Biology and Nursing from Michigan State University before completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia at the University of Detroit Mercy. Prior to becoming a CRNA, Kathryn worked as a cardiothoracic intensive care nurse, where she developed a strong foundation in managing critically ill patients. She is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) and the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA). Kathryn is passionate about evidence-based practice, lifelong learning, and advancing the nurse anesthesia profession through education and collaboration. 

John Shields is a cardiothoracic CRNA at Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute in Nashville Tennessee. His clinical practice includes cardiac, thoracic, EP and cardiac cath lab anesthesia and includes heart and lung transplantation. John is certified in cardiovascular ultrasound and has been teaching transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography and other point-of-care applications since 2016. He incorporates transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography along with other Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) into his everyday clinical practice. Publications include the AANA Journal, Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia, Anesthesia and Analgesia and Nursing Clinics of North America. He also manages an information website for CRNA’s interested in transesophageal echocardiography and other POCUS applications (CRNA-TEE.org).

Dana Standridge has been a CRNA since 2007. She lives in Snellville, Georgia, is married, and has three daughters. ln 2016, her world was turned upside down when she was named in a lawsuit. The lawsuit was settled in 2017 but the experience opened her eyes to the dire need for CRNA education in the lawsuit process. Since that time Dana has also become an expert witness in the defense of other CRNAs.

Coming.

Matrina earned her BSN from Concordia University Chicago (1998) and Master of Anesthesia from Wayne State University’s Applebaum College (2011). She started her nursing career in Loyola University’s Heart Transplant Unit, then worked in the Cardiac Care ICU at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak until entering anesthesia school in 2009. She’s been a staff CRNA at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital since 2011. Matrina is married with four children and spends her free time traveling across Michigan to watch them play various sports.