By Jennifer Lollar and Pareasa Rahimi
Nurse anesthesia students in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia Pathway, the No. 8 nationally ranked public college and university Nursing-Anesthesia pathway as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, complete a high-level science and advanced nursing doctoral curriculum followed by a rigorous 20-month clinical rotation and residency, where they learn to deliver all forms of anesthesia techniques. Graduates enter the workforce prepared to be leaders in innovation, clinical advancement and new discoveries.
Alabama’s highest ranked program
The UAB School of Nursing continues to have the highest-ranked DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway in Alabama, ranking No. 19 among all schools nationally, a ten-spot increase from its previous ranking in 2024 as No. 29. The pathway is one of only seven programs in the nation with full accreditation status by the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists and is No. 6 internationally, with the highest and most prestigious level of recognition from IFNA, highlighting the program’s strengths in academics, clinical experiences and faculty expertise and leadership on a global level.
Addressing workforce shortages
To address workforce shortages and meet health care needs in Alabama and across the nation, the School’s DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway has increased the number of students admitted each year, with the 2025 cohort growing from 55 to 65 students.
“Our goal is to create confident certified registered nurse anesthetists who provide the highest quality of patient care, thereby representing the school and profession at the highest level in Alabama and across the nation,” said Professor and Nurse Anesthesia DNP Pathway Director Susan McMullan, PhD, CRNA, CNE, CHSE, FAANA, FAAN.
“This increase addresses significant workforce shortages across the United States, particularly in the South,” said Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Education Aimee Holland, DNP, CRNP, WHNP‐BC, FNP‐C, FAANP, FAAN (DNP 2012). “It also underscores the commitment of our School and the Nurse Anesthesia faculty to this important work that aligns with our School’s mission, vision and values.”
Exceeding national pass rate benchmarks
First-time pass rates among UAB School of Nursing DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway graduates taking the National Certification Examination continue to exceed national pass rates. The first-time pass rate for the 2024 graduating class was 98 percent, surpassing the national average of 83.2 percent. The overall pass rate for 2024 was 100 percent, the same as 2023.
“We are immensely proud of our program, faculty and students for achieving outstanding national board pass rates, a hallmark of excellence and a testament to the quality of education we provide. These results highlight the effectiveness of our faculty, the strength of our resources, and the dedication of our students, while also enhancing the program’s reputation and appeal to prospective students and employers,” said Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director, Amy Yerdon, DNP, CRNA, CNE, CHSE.
LEAP growing in impact
The School is working with nine other leading colleges and universities in the Leadership Excel and Achievement Program (LEAP)—a pilot program designed to optimize the diversity of the nurse anesthesia workforce by providing access and support for success.
LEAP is a one-year, remote curriculum that focuses on increasing student proficiency and competitiveness in science, scholarship, testing, mentorship and professional socialization. Students who complete the program are then automatically admitted into one of the 10 LEAP-affiliated CRNA programs.
McMullan said nurse anesthesia admissions are highly competitive and many students who meet admission requirements often do not get in. The LEAP Program supports aspiring nurse anesthetists with a strong work ethic and passion for nursing by providing a focused preparatory program designed to enhance their competitiveness and success.
“Research supports that patients benefit from having health care providers who are from similar backgrounds as themselves,” McMullan said. “The LEAP program will help increase the number of nurse anesthetists from diverse backgrounds and improve patient care in Alabama and across the nation. Additionally, the LEAP program is also helping to develop new nurse anesthesia faculty from diverse backgrounds.”
The LEAP Program has grown from five inaugural schools, including the UAB School of Nursing, to 10 schools. The UAB School of Nursing currently has five LEAP students in the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway. UAB’s first LEAP student will graduate in April 2025, and two additional LEAP students will begin their DNP Nurse Anesthesia studies in Summer 2025.
Prioritizing student wellness
The School and nurse anesthesia faculty are dedicated to ensuring the best possible academic support and wellness resources for students. The pathway recently implemented the WellPro Path, a wellness and professional development plan for incoming students. The plan supports and sets students up for success prior to starting the program and helps ensure all have access to the same resources provided by faculty and current students. Resources range from being academic-focused, including learning and test-taking strategies, to covering areas of wellness and community, involving support groups and a mentorship program between upperclassmen and new students.
“We’ve seen students with the same recurring stressors and have prospective and incoming students ask us what they can do before beginning the program. The nurse anesthesia faculty put together our years of experience and what we’ve observed to create something meaningful to share with students,” said Assistant Professor Katie Woodfin, DNP, CRNA, CHSE (MSN 2014, DNP 2022).
Renowned faculty
Professor and DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway Director Susan McMullan, PhD, CRNA, CNE, CHSE, FAANA, FAAN, served as President of the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists in 2024. She previously served as NBCRNA Vice President and served two terms on the NBCRNA board. Her service included board liaison to the NBCRNA Evaluation and Research Advisory Committee for over three years. In 2023, she received the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award. She was named a Fellow of AANA and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2022, and in 2021, the Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists presented McMullan with the Outstanding Advocacy and Service to the CRNA Profession Award.
Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Pathway Amy Yerdon, DNP, CRNA, CNE, CHSE, served as Director on the Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists Board of Directors from 2022-2024 as well as Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the ALANA. She is a current member of the AANA Practice Committee. Additionally, she is currently serving on the Professional Practice Analysis Panel, and previously served as a CPC-A exam item writer for NBCRNA.
Clinical Assistant Professor Kesha Thurston, DNP, MSHQS, CRNA (BSN 1998, MNA 2006, DNP 2019), received the 2024 Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award from the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. She also was recognized in 2023 as a UAB Medicine Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award recipient.
Associate Professor and Interim Assistant Dean for Research and Scholarship Edwin Aroke, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, has been nationally recognized for his research and scholarship regarding epigenetics and chronic lower back pain. Through a $1.7 million R01 grant, Aroke seeks to fill gaps in knowledge and improve practice. In 2024, he received the International Society of Nurses in Genetics Founders’ Award for Excellence in Nursing Genomic Research. He also was named as an American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation Board of Trustee in 2024. He was named 2021 Researcher of the Year by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Foundation and serves as President of the Association of Cameroonian Nurse Anesthetists in America.
Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Acute, Chronic and Continuing Care Bryan Wilbanks, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN (DNP 2012, PhD 2016), is Vice Chair of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation Board of Trustees. As an active member of AANA, he has worked on studies, served as a reviewer for grants and is on the Fellows Selection Committee. In 2021, he joined the AANA Foundation Board and was named an inaugural AANA Fellow.
Assistant Professor Katie Woodfin, DNP, CRNA, CHSE (MSN 2014, DNP 2022) is the Simulation Coordinator for the program. She teaches didactic courses, develops simulations and helps create wellness initiatives for the students. She was recognized for her innovative simulation efforts, receiving the Dean’s Teaching Award for Innovation in Simulation Instruction in 2022 and 2023. Woodfin also is the 2024 recipient of the Nancy Smith Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Assistant Professor Ryan Richey, DNP, CRNA, CHSE (MNA 2005, DNP 2022) is Clinical Coordinator for the program and was a Site Coordinator for the Pathway for a number of years before joining the faculty, during which he was recognized as Clinical Preceptor of the Year. He develops simulations, teaches students in the clinical setting during his faculty practice and helps create student wellness initiatives. He was recognized for his innovative simulation efforts, receiving the Dean’s Teaching Award for Innovation in Simulation Instruction in 2022 and 2023.
Instructor Amanda Waguespack, DNP, CRNA (BSN 2006, MNA 2010, DNP 2023) the School’s newest DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway faculty member. She has served a student clinical education preceptor for UAB SRNAs since 2010. She is a clinical expert in all forms of anesthesia and teaches Anesthesia Pharmacology I & II, as well as Anesthesia Principles, and other courses within the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway.