Nurse anesthetists have been the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines since World War I, and these professionals remain the primary anesthesia providers in austere combat theaters.
In fact, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) most commonly are the only anesthesia providers in the military’s forward surgical teams. We truly are battle-tested providers, administering safe, high-quality care even in the most stressful and emergent situations, as in any active-duty military circumstance.
Although we pause—and rightfully so—every Veterans Day to celebrate and remember the brave anesthesia providers who have been tending to wounded soldiers since the Civil War, supporting the work of active military personnel and veteran CRNAs is a year-round commitment for the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA).
For years, PANA has been one of the strongest supporters of the Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists (AVANA), the only professional organization that represents more than 1,100 CRNAs employed within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health-care system.
AVANA is committed to the care of veterans through engagement with every VA medical center in a concerted effort to improve services and promote clinical excellence through advocacy and continuing education.
Over the years, support for AVANA has grown, and now 13 state associations are helping them fulfill their mission, along with dozens of individual contributors. Our hope is that even more come to appreciate AVANA and the special work they do in serving the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our freedoms.
PANA could not be prouder to partner with such an outstanding and mission-oriented organization like AVANA.
Learn more about AVANA and the work they do: www.vacrna.com.
Thank you to all the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our freedoms. We thank you for your service and also recognize our #militaryCRNAs#CRNAinPAvets and #SRNA veterans. How many of PANA's CRNAs & SRNAs are veterans? Check out the PANA members who shared their stories with us this year!
I finally got the chance to join the Army reserves after eleven years as a CRNA. I joined approximately two years ago. I am joined to APMC and attached to the 865th Combat Support Hospital.
CAPTAIN DARYL de LIMA
Captain Daryl de Lima is currently serving in the Army Reserve with the 624th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment. He was born in the Philippines and grew up in Hawaii. He earned his BSN and commissioned onto Active Duty via ROTC at the University of San Francisco.
Following his Active-Duty obligation, he attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned his DNP in Nurse Anesthesia.
Captain de Lima has multiple mobilizations/deployments stateside and overseas; including combat deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve.
He enjoys his continued service as an Army CRNA where he can practice independently to his full scope of practice.
More photos of Army CRNA Daryl de Lima:
LT COL CHUCK GIORDANO MSN, CRNA, DNP (USAF)
(USAF 1999-present)
Lt Col Charles D Giordano, USAF ICU Nurse 1999-2004, USAF CRNA 2006-present. Deployed with 1st Group Special Forces Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, Forward Surgical Team in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in 2010. Currently Critical Care Air Transport Team 911th AW, Pittsburgh PA.
A SRNA mentee with the two best CRNA mentors one could ever ask for!
Pictured (Left to Right): LCDR John Navarro, CRNA (Corporal Michael J. Crescent VA Medical Center); LT Melissa Huggins, SRNA (Drexel University ‘24); LCDR Thomas Gaffney, CRNA (University of Pennsylvania Hospital)
Go Navy!!
Submitted by Melissa Huggins, US Navy Reserves
MAJOR JON HUMBERT
For the past 15+ years, my experiences in the military have shaped me into the provider and person I am today. I began my career in the WV Air National Guard as an aeromedical evacuation technician then furthering my education to transition to a flight nurse. I then returned to school to become a CRNA graduating in 2020. I now look to continue my military career transitioning into a role as a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) member. Thinking back to the undecided college freshman I was in 2006, it's hard to summarize all the people, experiences, and places all over the globe that have pointed me toward and pushed me to pursue the most rewarding civilian career that I now have as a CRNA. I'm very thankful.
Submitted by Jon Humbert, Major, WV Air National Guard/Staff CRNA UPMC West Shore Hospital
CPT RALPH PADILLA
My Name is Ralph Padilla. I was a CRNA with the Army. I was deployed to Tikrit, Itaq in 2008.
I became attached to a FST (Forward Surgical Team) out of Utica, New York. I was honorably discharged from military in 2012 with a rank of Captain. Here are some photos from my tour in Iraq 2008, back when I was a First Lieutenant. I'm an Army Captain now.
Working in a FST (Forward Surgical Team), setting the OR table up with an anesthesia draw over circuit. In this photo, I’m working to get the portable anesthesia vaporizer and ventilator set up and ready for quick use.
MAJ GREGORY RENDELMAN
1980th FST 101st Airborne Division Afghanistan 2002 Combat Anesthetist Major Gregory Rendelman CRNA
Submitted by Bryan S. Boyer
LT. COL. LAURA WIGGINS, DNP, CRNA
USAF/USAFR (1990-2018) 25 years of service (3 year break in service)Deployed as a CRNA/Critical Care Air Transport Team in support of OPERATION FREEDOM’s SENTINEL, OPERATION RESOLUTE SUPPORT, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE (2006-2008) (2017)Retired from Chief Nurse Executive position at 911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron April 2018.
MAJ (P) JAMEY WILMOTH DNP, CRNA, MS
I am a practicing CRNA, currently on my 5th combat deployment in the Middle East. I’m spending another Veteran’s Day downrange and have a few photos from our trip so far. I am leading an FRST which is happily free of MDAs.
It is a pleasure and honor to be assuming the role of President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA). I am looking forward to serving the membership in the upcoming year. There certainly is no shortage of work to do.
Our Government Relations Team and Government Relations Director, Jessica Poole, are confronting several issues in Harrisburg. I attended a meeting there Oct. 27 with the Department of State and the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs on behalf of PANA and our members. During this meeting, they discussed the antiquated PALS system and license renewals within the state of Pennsylvania. PANA is trying to determine how our new title designation will be processed through this system, or any other system the state develops. We learned several things at this meeting, but the most important thing is not to delay renewing any licenses. Get them done as soon as you receive notification because there will be obvious growing pains in activating a new system and removing the old PALS system.
As your new PANA President, I am setting the following goals for our association:
Enhance the leadership of the board of directors;
Increase member engagement; and
Mentor our future leaders
I think as CRNAs we are experts at patient care and clinical competence. I feel that we are sometimes lacking in the leadership realm. I hope to improve on this within our board by encouraging participation in the AANA Leadership Summit and offering other leadership training throughout the year. Advocacy continues to be one of our main priorities, especially during an election year. We need to be out in front, meeting with our legislators and forming long-lasting relationships with legislative aides, legislators and lobbyists to solidify our position on various health-care issues that will present themselves within the coming year. Leadership in this area is a priority and necessity. We are fully expecting legislation to be re-introduced in the next session, which begins in January 2023, to license anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) for the first time in Pennsylvania. The connections and relationships we form now with lawmakers will be extremely important in helping us maintain our position and will help us with gains in propelling the profession forward.
I also hope to increase member engagement by communicating with members directly on issues that affect our profession. PANA’s Communications Director, Sarah Trau, will help facilitate this huge undertaking. She will be working with the team at Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy to make sure our members are in the know and kept informed. My hope is that as we increase engagement, more members will participate in district events and other educational activities and political action committee (PAC) events.
Finally, mentoring our future leaders is extremely important in ensuring the ongoing success and trajectory of the profession. Please encourage student involvement at every level of participation! I am motivated and encouraged by the excitement and enthusiasm of the SRNAs we have on the PANA board. Hopefully, their enthusiasm is contagious and will be felt by all of the members in the coming months.
I remain committed to helping this profession succeed in this time of uncertainty. With change there is always room for opportunity. Advancing our profession is worth the fight. If you have any ideas or suggestions for upcoming PANA events or want to know how to contact your legislators, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to working with all of you and serving this association.
