Beyond the Mask Podcast🎙️Episode: Brett Fadgen's Road to Anesthesia

It's here! The Beyond the Mask podcast taping from PANA's Spring Symposium in Hershey! #ICYMI in person, Jeremy Stanley, CFP, AIF and Sharon Pearce, MSN, CRNA sat down with #CRNAinPA Brett Fadgen back on Saturday, May 6th to hear more about his personal story, which includes a timeline of the innovations and opportunities for CRNAs, once believed to be unattainable.

Episode Description

🍫Jeremy and Sharon were up in Hershey for the PANA Spring Symposium and hosted a live taping of the podcast with Brett Fadgen, MSN, CFRN, CRNA. If you haven’t heard Brett’s story, it’s a remarkable one about perseverance and never giving up in the face of life’s challenges. Join us to hear all about his journey and how he became the only one-armed nurse anesthetist.

Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:

🔹 Brett’s childhood and growing up with a congenital defect. (3:21)

🔹 The journey from being a paramedic to RN to anesthesia school. (9:05)

🔹 The challenges he faced in anesthesia school. (13:47)

🔹 The contact he has with other people with limitations that are interested in anesthesia. (23:55)

🔹 What questions do patients ask? (26:15)

🔹 The final message Brett has for people. (32:00)

🎧 Listen to this episode below via Spotify or via Soundcloud.

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More about Brett: CRNA Inspires by Defying Stereotypes, Exceeding Expectations (panaforqualitycare.com)

Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com.

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• CRNA Inspires by Defying Stereotypes, Exceeding Expectations (panaforqualitycare.com)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Jacqueline Sergon is reaching new heights – literally!

Jacqueline Sergon, MSN, BA, CRNP, CCRN, SRNA, has had to overcome immense personal self-doubt, financial challenges, institutional racial micro-aggression, and discrimination to get to where she is today.

That’s why the SRNA at the University of Pittsburgh has made it among her personal and professional goals to correct the current narrative of who comes to mind when people think of a CRNA. She reflected on her journey during Black History Month.

“These challenges remain ever present in many SRNA’s lives,” said Sergon, who added that another reason she chose this profession is because it gives her the opportunity to impact positive, indelible change in her patients’ lives.

“I do recognize these challenges for what they are, though, and the unique role they play in shaping not only my personal outlook, but a collective outlook as well,” she said.

Sergon is already making a huge impact and leaving a mark for herself. She won the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ 2022 student-essay award as a first-year SRNA, making her the first in Pitt’s history to do so. That was meaningful, she said.

She continues to pay homage to legacy pioneers like Esther McCready, the first Black student at her alma mater, The University of Maryland, whom she had the honor of meeting; Goldie Bragman, the first Black AANA president; and, most of all, her personal mentor, Dr. Wallena Gould, CEO & Founder of Diversity CRNA and Chair of The American Academy of Nursing’s Diversity & Inclusivity Committee.

But Sergon isn’t stopping there. Her drive is to scale new heights and slay old barriers in terms of further scholarship, further advocacy, further mentorship, and further diversity and inclusivity --- doing the work she says she needs to do and that needs to be done.

“Black History Month to me is about the solemnity with which we honor our forebears’ sacrifices, the profound gratitude for our opportunities, and not least of all, the sobriety with which we realize there is still much, much more work to do,” Sergon said.

We can expect her to continue to reach new heights --- literally. She already has her pilot’s license!

“It’s important to nourish our personal passions that keep us going,” she said.

VIEW MORE BLACK HISTORY MONTH STORIES

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Ogagan honors mentors’ legacies by giving back to others as they gave to her

It all began with a simple conversation.

Michelene Y. Jeter Ogagan, MSN, CRNA, was talking to a family friend when she decided to pursue a career in nurse anesthesia. She wasn’t even a nurse at the time, but Ogagan immediately did some online research.

Michelene Y. Jeter Ogagan, MSN, CRNA

Afterward, her interest piqued, she reached out to Dr. Richard Henker, professor of nurse anesthesia at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nurse Anesthesia. He agreed to meet Ogagam and took the time to address all her questions and concerns. For the time and guidance he gave, she has always been grateful.

Likewise, she remains grateful to Elsie Murray, a true leader in the field of anesthesia. Murray wasn’t just Ogagan’s mentor, she was also a pioneer who helped to advance the profession and give back to her community. During her career, Murray was elected to the local district of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists and served on several American Association of Nurse Anesthetists committees. She ultimately served as president of PANA in 2004-05. Murray passed away on Nov. 15, 2017, after a brilliant life and career.

For Ogagan, Elsie Murray is what Black History month is all about. She paved the way. And now, Ogagan honors her legacy by mentoring student anesthesia providers.

From that first conversation with a family friend, amazing things continue to happen.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information about Elsie Murray, CLICK HERE. To read Dr. Henkler’s biography, CLICK HERE.

VIEW MORE BLACK HISTORY MONTH STORIES