The Duke CRNA Snooze News - Department of Anesthesiology ...

The Duke CRNA Snooze News
Newsletter for the Duke CRNAs & SRNAs Summer of 2008, Volume 9
Please join me in welcoming our new bunch of CRNAs to the Duke Anesthesia department. They
come with not only a variety of training sites and experiences but diverse nursing backgrounds. The
majority of the Duke Anesthesia Team have taught and mentored these “newbies” (because they come
from our very own program!) and now we have the privilege of welcoming them as our colleagues and
friends.
The crew of 5 are working through a year of orientation and we will attempt to track their cases and
prepare them for ALMOST any possible scenario despite the odds of that at Duke! No doubt our
current staff of CRNAs and anesthesiologists will step up to the plate with pleasure and continue to
support them through some of their most difficult and challenging cases. Welcome aboard and please
let us know whatever we can do to make your transition a seamless one. More on our growing staff on
page 2!
Lee in IRAQ
Written Sat. Aug. 30, 2008: “I am doing great here and have a great crew to work
with...which makes the time go quickly. Imagine being surrounded with versions of Dan, Hank
and Temo 24/7...that’s pretty much it (except everyone smells like B.O. all the time and they are
not AARP members). Miss everyone (OK, most everyone) there, and can’t wait to be back in late
Oct. Ramadin starts Monday, and ‘they’ expect us to get real busy. The Marines here are kicking
ass big time. Take care and I miss you, Lee
Su

Joby Edmonds
Joby was born and raised in
Asheville, North Carolina. He went
to Winston Salem State University
undergraduate, worked at Emory in
Atlanta for a couple of years in the
CTICU and is a recent graduate of
our Duke program. He lives in
beautiful Hillsborough and has two
Jack Russell Terriers-Jack and Rim
Shot. His future travel plans include
going to Sweden this fall for a little
R & R and to check out the sites.
Please welcome Leah, yet another
Duke grad originally from Fort
Worth, Texas. She initially
received a Bio-Chem degree from
Texas A & M and went on to get
her nursing degree in 2003 in
Denver. Leah, in the same year
married Sean a tax accountant.
I’m sure some of us can give him
Kate Newman
Amber Fairbetter
Amber another great Duke grad is
from Iowa. She is married to
Spencer a computer network
engineer and they just celebrated
their 1st year anniversary on Sept. 1.
She is an accomplished piano player
of 15 years and loves to travel.
Amber’s latest adventures involved
Ireland, India and Alaska. Her
hobbies include carp and bass
fishing, hiking and hanging out with
her 9 month old German Shephard,
Atlas.
our business! They honeymooned
in Maui and recently returned 5
years later to re-celebrate. They
enjoy having 2 dogs Vizsla (a
Milo) and Lizzie (a Border Collie)
who they can take along when
they hike and mountain bike.
They currently live in Apex.
Zach Prietz
Zach another one of our Duke finest
is from Florida. He is married to
Carrie, a very talented graphic artist
who is starting grad school at NC
State in the fall. It’s her turn now
Zach! They live in North Raleigh
and their hobbies include softball,
baseball and hanging out with their
10 y.o. yellow lab and 1 y.o. big,
black cat! Zach also enjoys deep sea
fishing with his largest catch being a
200 lb Floridian Tarpon!
Leah Fitzgerald
Welcome Kate who hails from Boston, Mass. She is a graduate of Boston
College undergrad and another great recruit from our Duke program! Kate has
lived in Boston most of her life and worked as a traveling nurse for 6 months.
She loves to sail and be on the water anywhere. Kate is a huge scuba diver and
has been all over the Caribbean and Key West. Some day she wants to attempt
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. She recently adopted Casey, a Labrador
Retriever from the shelter who obviously must get a ton of exercise!
Kate is currently training for the Raleigh Rex Half-Marathon in November
and another in Charlotte in December.

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Duke Team Returns to UGANDA

Duke University School of Nurse Anesthesia News
The Duke University Nurse Anesthesia students participated in full force this year at the 2008 AANA
conference with more than half of the students attending. Stealing the show at the conference was
Emily Funk, Class of 2010 with her successful campaign and election as the student representative to
the AANA Education Committee. This election is one of the most important opportunities for student
nurse anesthetists at the Annual Meeting. “I am excited and honored to be elected, and am looking
forward to serving AANA students and representing Duke University in the coming year.” Make sure to
read Emily’s column in the AANA bulletins!
Gabriella Leever, Class of 2010 was selected to participate in the 2008 AANA College Bowl. The
excitement of students from all over the country made the night of the Anesthesia College Bowl
something to remember. “I loved meeting students from various schools and working with them as a
team. Though it wasn’t may team that won, the students did defeat the CRNAs again this year! I am
proud to be a part of a profession that takes such pride in its students.” Way to go Gabriella!
Geebin Mak, Class of 2009 had her MSN research on display in the Annual Conference Exhibition hall.
Her study, “High Fidelity Human Simulation in Nurse Anesthesia Education” brings attention to Duke’s
Human Simulation and Patient Safety Center and its role in our education as nurse anesthetists. Check
out her posters on display at Durham Regional Hospital and the School of Nursing Clipp Building!
Audrey Ezeike, Class of 2009 was appointed to the AANA Steering Committee for Health Volunteers
Overseas (HVO). The steering committee is in the process of standardizing curriculum to be taught in
current HVO-run Nurse Anesthesia programs in Bhutan, Cambodia and Belize. Audrey will serve as the
student voice on the committee, providing the student perspective on pertinent topics. Thanks Audrey!
Joanna Woersching, Class of 2009 was honored to serve as student representative to the AANA
Practice Committee this past year. "I learned how the AANA tries to improve current CRNA practice
settings and standards of care. This committee had a very interesting year that included integrating
evidenced-based practice into AANA projects and guidelines.” Joanna also has an article appearing in
the fall issue of The International Student Journal of Nurse Anesthesia titled ‘Multiple Sclerosis
and Electroconvulsive Therapy’. This is a great achievement for Joanna!
In addition to these amazing achievements, this past summer the students have created the Duke SRNA
Association, a student-run organization under the leadership of President Scott Manning, Class of
2009 to promote the professional growth and fellowship of Duke SRNAs. Please look for more
information in the next Snooze News!
Take time to congratulate our star-studded students on their dedication and hard work for our
Manning University and profession!
Submitted by Gena Burnett, Class of 2010

Emily Funk brings Home the
Gold!
Congratulations to our own
Emily Funk as she was crowned
the National Student
Representative for the AANA for
2008-2009. According to her
classmates and the multitude of
people who came to the Duke
Recruiting Booth, she delivered an
awe-inspiring speech.
AANA 2008, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Yes....Fletch is at Boot Camp
Trish is the one in the middle. Can you
tell?
Duke CRNA Retreat
September 27, 2008
Fabulous Food
Prominent Speakers
The EP Boys at the Cardiac Picnic
Hey guys!
I am writing you from my hotel
room in San Antonio after being out
in the field for 12 days. We were
stationed at a FOB (field operating
base) located in Camp Bullis. It is
basically a bunch of tents, latrines,
mess hall, etc. in the middle of
nowhere. I had my first shower
after the 11th day. I am not
kidding. I learned how to shoot an
M16 and a 9 mm. I am well-versed
on convoy operations and how to
clear a hostile building with my
buddies and my M-16. Hopefully
that is a task I will never have to do
in the real world! The obstacle
course was a blast, however I
sprained my ankle after coming
down the rope. This picture was
snapped about 2 minutes before the
point of impact. And no, it was the
the same side I sprained six months
ago. I had to complete night land
navigation with a cankle! It has
been an experience. I have three
days off before I go back to the
field. We have all been spoiling
Don’t Forget
Friday Breakfast
Club
6:30-10:45am
(every Friday)
ourselves. My girlfriends and
I got facials, pedicures,
highlights, eyebrows waxed,
etc.... We all need a little selfmaintenance
after 11 days
sans showers. Tomorrow
we’re going to float down the
Guadeloupe River on tubes
with coolers full of beer.
Should be a blast. I miss you
guys! T2
Kelly judging at the AANA Student
College Bowl