Janice Drake CRNA Humanitarian Award
2023 Recipient Janice Drake CRNA Humanitarian Award
Clare Golden, DNP, CRNA
The Janice Drake CRNA Humanitarian Award is presented to a CRNA who volunteer and provide anesthesia, education, and training in areas of need in the United States and overseas. The recipient of the 2023 Janice Drake CRNA Humanitarian Award is Clare Golden, DNP, CRNA.
Clare Golden began her nursing career as an ICU nurse and was certified as a CRNA in 1980. Golden practiced for 40 years before recently retiring. Golden worked at University Hospital in Newark, NJ, for 27 years, and as Chief CRNA for 17 of those years. Golden was also the foundation Program Director of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Nurse Anesthesia Program, serving in that role for 13 years, converting it to the Rutgers University program and transitioning that program to the doctoral level. Since 1989, Clare Golden has served as a volunteer anesthesia provider on more than 60 medical missions to developing countries including: Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Bangladesh. Under the auspices of Healing the Children, teams comprised of CRNAs, plastic surgeons, oral surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other volunteers provided desperately needed care to infants and children with congenital defects and burn contractures. Golden and other volunteers often lived and worked under spartan conditions, managed very challenging cases, but never sacrificed the standard of care that all patients deserve. Golden also supported and mentored 17 SRNAs on these medical missions. Many of them have continued to volunteer after graduating. Golden’s dedication to humanitarianism and helping CRNAs and SRNAs launch a life of service to others has earned her this prestigous award.
