Dr. Sheila Marie McCarley has practiced as a civilian and military Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for 27 years. After earning her nursing certificate in 1988, she began her career as an operating room nurse. A year later she was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and today proudly holds the rank of Colonel (R).Â
Dr. McCarley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Tennessee-Memphis in 1993 and her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an anesthesia focus from Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia, Nashville, in 1996. She attained her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, in 2021.Â
An active member of the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TANA), Dr. McCarley’s dedication to her profession is reflected in her unwavering service as chair of TANA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force and as District 1 Education Chair. She currently works as a CRNA at Baptist Children and Women’s Hospital in Memphis, where she specializes in providing obstetrical anesthesia care to a diverse patient population. As a person of color, Dr. McCarley strives to maintain a culturally competent anesthesia practice that respects the varied needs of her patient population.Â
Dr. McCarley has been deeply honored to serve and care for soldiers and their families throughout her career. In her practice, she is passionate about educating patients on their anesthesia care and mentoring future nurses and nurse anesthetists. Each day she strives to spread God’s love and enrich the lives of others through compassion and grace whether she is caring for patients, mentoring young healthcare professionals, or serving her country.Â