PANA CRNA Spotlight 🔦

Every day, CRNAs across Pennsylvania are doing incredible work — and we want to celebrate it!

June 2026

Spotlight on Education and Mentorship: Bryan Kapish, DNP, CRNA

Dr. Bryan Kapish is making a lasting impact as a clinical educator at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg's Nurse Anesthesia Program!

A student nominated Bryan for being patient, kind, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to helping students succeed. He takes the time to make sure students understand concepts and procedures, building their confidence before they step into the clinical setting.

Thank you, Bryan, for investing in the next

generation of CRNAs and helping students grow with skill, confidence, and support!

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March 2026

Spotlight on Excellence: Aric Bunch, CRNA🔍

From the bedside to the classroom, Aric Bunch is a force for innovation in nurse anesthesia. Between his leadership at Ultrasound Red Goo and his nationwide conference presentations, Aric is helping clinicians everywhere master procedural ultrasound and vascular access.

Scholarship, innovation, and mentorship—Aric brings it all to the table. We are so lucky to have him in the PANA community!

Do you know CRNA in PA we should highlight next? Visit the form to nominate them!

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March 2026

Spotlight on Clinical Expertise: Dan Chojnacki, CRNA

Dan has dedicated 45 years to nurse anesthesia practice as a CRNA, building a career marked by expert clinical care, humor, and mentorship.

A graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Nurse Anesthesia Program, Dan has served at hospitals across the state and inspired future CRNAs through both teaching and example.

💬 His nominator shared that he gifted her first stethoscope and took her to her first regional PANA meeting as a student — a gesture that helped shape her career. 🩺

Thank you, Dan, for your lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and the profession!

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Spotlight on Student Development: Elizabeth Strunk, CRNA

Elizabeth exemplifies what it means to be a team-centered, patient-focused CRNA. Her nominator says she consistently shows up ready to support her colleagues and provide excellent, compassionate care to every patient she serves.

Beyond her clinical role, Elizabeth has been deeply committed to educating and mentoring the next generation of CRNAs since 2017 -- teaching at multiple programs and volunteering her time for both simulation and lecture. Her dedication, generosity, and steady work ethic strengthen our profession every single day.

NOMINATE A CRNA

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About PANA CRNA Spotlight Nominations

Do you know a colleague (or are you a CRNA/SRNA yourself) who deserves recognition? We are looking for nominations in these categories:

✨ Professional Spotlight

📚 Research & Scholarship

🏆 Awards & Honors

🤝 Community Impact

🎓 Education & Mentorship

New Study Adds Evidence to Benefits of Full Practice Authority

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the commonwealth issued a temporary blanket waiver that enabled advanced practice nurses, including certified registered nurse anesthetists, to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training to enhance the state’s response to the health-care crisis.

A new study, “Impact of reduced restrictions in scope of practice of nurse anesthetists on patient safety across states,” published in Journal of Nursing Regulation, makes clear that was the right thing to do — and that the move led to real health-care benefits for patients.

The authors examined the impact of the pandemic-related reduced restrictions in scope of practice, specifically allowing CRNAs to practice to the full extent of their education and training, on anesthesia-related complications rates.

What they found is that there was a statistically significant reduction in anesthesia complications in states that allowed pandemic-related reduced restrictions in state scope of practice compared to states with no change in scope of practice.

In other words, the authors concluded that reduced restrictions in state scope of practice during the pandemic were not associated with any increase but in fact showed a decrease in anesthesia-related complications.

These findings add to existing evidence on the safety of anesthesia procedures performed by CRNAs and expand the evidence to include safe procedures during the pandemic. The findings inform strategic planning and public policy to reform the health-care system to prepare prudently for future emergencies.

Read the full report HERE.

CU–Bloomsburg’s McCormick Center Reimagined to Train Future CRNAs

The newly renovated McCormick Center at Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg is now a cutting-edge hub for hands-on learning, especially for students pursuing careers as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). 

At a recent rededication ceremony, Dr. Debra Minzola—Program Director of the Geisinger/Bloomsburg Nurse Anesthesia Program, Associate Professor of Nursing, and current President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA)—joined university leaders to showcase the center’s upgrades. Alongside Bryan Kapish, CRNA, Clinical Coordinator for the program, Dr. Minzola demonstrated the use of the Anatomage table, a high-tech virtual dissection tool, to Senator Dave McCormick and other guests. 

This renovation marks a major milestone for CU–Bloomsburg, reinforcing its commitment to workforce readiness through immersive, applied learning experiences. The McCormick Center now stands as a symbol of innovation and excellence in healthcare education. 

Read more from CU–Bloomsburg: https://www.commonwealthu.edu/news/mccormick-center-reimagined-hub-hands-learning-and-workforce-readiness