The Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists congratulates Patricia Juoza-Clark, EdD, CRNA, and Jim Alberding, DNP, CRNA, on being inducted as Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists during the AANA Annual Congress in San Diego.
AANA Fellows are recognized in their field for being outstanding practitioners, educators, researchers, and advocates. Acceptance criteria include professional achievements that demonstrate impactful contributions to promoting and advancing nurse anesthesiology in the following areas: clinical practice, education, research, professional advocacy, and meeting the high standards of the AANA. Learn more about Fellows of the AANA.
Both CRNAs said they were deeply honored to receive the FAANA designation.
“I feel that it validates my professional development as an anesthetist who started her career with a certificate in nurse anesthesia,” says Patricia, who went on to earn her Doctor of Education (EdD) two decades later in 2019. She has worked as a pediatric CRNA at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville since 2003.
“The best part of being a pediatric CRNA is easing anxiety and allaying fears of both the children and their parents who have entrusted their children to my care,” Patricia explains. “Sometimes I even get to ride in the bed from pre-op to the OR to distract the child by, say, watching a movie with them. It’s extremely gratifying.”
Patricia also cherishes her role as a mentor to the young SRNAs and CRNAs she works with at Vanderbilt. “Nurture and cultivate them as you would your own children,” she says. “They are our future!”
Jim, who served as TANA president in FY2023, is a clinical associate professor in the College of Nursing at University of Tennessee, Knoxville since 2019.
“I am the product of incredible mentorship and the selfless acts of others,” he says. “Advocacy, engagement, and mentorship must be taught and fostered. Like the old proverb says, “…teach a person to fish, and you feed that person for a lifetime.”
Jim is a firm believer that mentorship is the sustaining force that advances the profession. “As an educator, I strive to provide my students that same mentorship and encouragement I was fortunate to receive. Several of my recent graduates serve on TANA committees. I am also proud to say that a dear friend of mine, a student on the PAC committee when I was the PAC chair, is the current president of TANA.”
Jim’s passion for advocacy and mentorship has led him to serve in numerous leadership roles on the state and national levels throughout his career. Undoubtedly, there will be more to come!
Many thanks to Patricia and Jim for all you do on behalf of our profession!