TANA congratulates Maisen Conley, BSN, CCRN, RN, SRNA, for being chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Patty Cornwell Stewardship and Advocacy Scholarship! Maisen is in her second year at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Nursing Nurse Anesthesia Option and expects to graduate in 2026. The fourth recipient of the scholarship, Maisen was honored on August 5 during the 2024 AANA Annual Congress in San Diego.
The $3,000 scholarship was established jointly by TANA and the AANA Foundation in recognition of legendary TANA member Patty Cornwell, CRNA, who devoted a lifetime of service to her profession, TANA, and the AANA.
Although it will be three years on August 28 since Patty Cornwell passed away, the impact of her legacy still influences CRNAs young and old. Maisen Conley is no exception.
“I never had the opportunity to meet Patty, but her remarkable accomplishments have deeply inspired me,” Maisen said. “Her extensive service on TANA committees, her leadership roles, and the numerous awards she received highlight the profound effect one dedicated individual can have. Her legacy has motivated me not to settle for complacency in my field but to strive for excellence and active involvement. She has inspired me to engage with TANA and contribute to the profession, following in her footsteps of service and advocacy.”
Based on everything Maisen has achieved in her young career, it’s difficult to see her ever settling or being complacent. While her plans for the future include giving back to her profession via advocacy, stewardship, volunteerism, and leadership, she also aspires to one day impact future generations of CRNAs as an educator.
“Nursing has energized me since day one, but going into nurse anesthesia has kicked everything up a notch for me,” Maisen said. “I believe my involvement and enthusiasm in different areas captured the attention of the scholarship committee.” That and the other recognitions she has already earned. Earlier this year Maisen was awarded the Tennessee Nurses Foundation Maureen Nalle Memorial Graduate Nursing Scholarship, and in 2023 she was named a UT Knoxville Alumni 40 Under 40 Award winner and nominated for the Tennessee Nurses Association Rising Star Nurse Leader Award.
Upon graduation, Maisen says her immediate goal is to work as a practicing CRNA in general surgery; down the road, she aspires to become a nursing educator, specifically at the bachelor’s level. “My passion lies in creating a more diverse CRNA community, which I believe begins with solid support and empowerment at the undergraduate level,” she said.
Prior to entering the nurse anesthesia program at UTHSC, Maisen worked for a time at Christian Brothers University in Memphis as an educator. There she found great enjoyment in helping a diverse student population, including many Spanish-speaking students whose second language is English. For Maisen, English is her first language, and she is fluent in Spanish. “The experience highlighted for me the importance of addressing language barriers and health disparities in our patient population,” she said. “As an educator, my aim will be to inspire future CRNA applicants in hopes of contributing to a more diverse and culturally competent CRNA community. This mission is crucial for improving patient outcomes, as there is a significant need for providers who can offer high-quality care across diverse populations.”
Even though her plans for having a significant impact as an educator are a few years away, she is already making a difference in disadvantaged communities as the creator and manager of a volunteer group that provides free physicals to middle school and high school students in the Memphis area. The initiative also raises funds to supply students with books and school supplies, promote childhood health, address food insecurity and violence, and bridge the gap for children to participate in sports and other activities. “These experiences have allowed me to contribute meaningfully to my community, embodying the values of stewardship and advocacy that the Patty Cornwell scholarship celebrates,” Maisen said.
If it wasn’t for another memorable experience in her young life, Maisen might have chosen a different career path altogether. “When I was 17, I had to undergo surgery to remove a benign 5lb ovarian tumor,” Maisen explained. “It was my first time in a hospital, and I was terrified. But my CRNA was confident, kind, and phenomenal at her job, making me feel safe. That experience solidified my career path at a young age, inspiring me to become a CRNA.”
Maisen credits Sara Borges, RN, her preceptor during her bachelor’s program, for being an example of the kind of nurse and educator she aspires to be. “Sara’s teaching philosophy empowered her students to strive for excellence and base their medical care on kindness,” Maisen said. Ultimately, however, Sara gives the nod to her mom for having the most significant impact as her mentor. “Although it might sound cliché, I am the woman, nurse, and future CRNA I hope to become because of her.”