A Chance Encounter at 35,000 Feet

After spending the weekend at the 2024 Multicultural CRNA Conference, Dan Lovinaria, DNP, MBA, CRNA, APRN, CHSE, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, was ready to board his plane and have a relaxing trip back home. As the plane buzzed with the clamor of passengers settling in, Lovinaria walked down the aisle towards his seat, not yet knowing that, instead of a quiet plane ride, he would bring home a story that weaves together a chance encounter, heartfelt connections, and a career shaped by purpose. 

Reaching his seat, Lovinaria began settling in next to his seatmate, John McPhillips, a Vietnam veteran who had just narrowly secured a standby seat. As Lovinaria moved to stow away his bag, he accidentally brushed against McPhillips’s leg, prompting a friendly, lighthearted response. McPhillips joked about his upcoming hip replacement, which he was set to undergo at the Minneapolis VA in just a few days. Immediately, Lovinaria was at attention, excited to share that he works there as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), also known as a nurse anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. 

The two talked throughout the whole flight, bonding over McPhillips’s stories from Vietnam. Each story painted a vivid picture of resilience, forging a connection between the two that went beyond the usual in-flight chatter. By the end of the trip, Lovinaria turned to McPhillips and told him, “Remember these eyes.” 

The next morning, Lovinaria was in action, striding down the halls of the Minneapolis VA with one goal in mind: to be McPhillips’s CRNA. “We kept saying, ‘What are the chances?’ It really felt like fate,” Lovinaria said. “Since he and his wife were on stand-by, he could have not been assigned a seat. He could have sat anywhere else. His wife could have been the one sitting next to me. It felt like I was meant to meet him and I was meant to be the CRNA for his procedure. I requested to be his CRNA immediately.” 

On the day of the surgery, Lovinaria entered the pre-op room with a gentle knock and a beaming smile visible even behind his mask. “Do you remember me?” he asked. 

McPhillips’s eyes lit up in surprise and recognition, his face breaking into a grin. His wife, Vicky, seated nearby, wore an expression mixed with shock and relief as she exclaimed, “It’s you!” The room, filled with pre-surgery tension just moments earlier, now radiated with warmth and familiarity, both McPhillips and his wife feeling like a trusted friend had walked in at the perfect time. 

“It was like a reunion,” McPhillips later recalled. Lovinaria’s presence not only calmed him, but was an immense comfort to his wife, who had admitted to feeling nervous about the procedure. 

Lovinaria typically builds rapport with his patients quickly. Balancing patient education with fostering a trusting environment is a skill he has perfected throughout his career. “Building relationships impacts care and recovery. It’s one of the most important things you do as a CRNA,” he said. 

With the extra time he had with McPhillips on the plane, Lovinaria listened attentively and learned what type of patient he was and how his body responded to anesthesia. “I worked with the anesthesiologist to carefully design his anesthetic plan to avoid using inhalation gas,” Lovinaria mentioned. “McPhillips mentioned that he hated feeling groggy after his previous surgeries, so I suggested changes to make sure he would feel well rested and alert after.” 

Sure enough, McPhillips woke up from surgery feeling “like a million bucks.” When Lovinaria later jokingly asked if McPhillips could describe the surgery in three words, the latter replied, “Couldn’t. Be. Better. And I mean that.” 

This memorable encounter exemplifies Lovinaria’s commitment to patient-centered care—a commitment rooted in his personal journey as a CRNA. With over two decades of experience, including nearly 12 years at the Minneapolis VA, he exemplifies the holistic and empathetic approach that defines nurse anesthesiology. His journey to becoming a CRNA began with a switch from a pre-medicine track to nursing after witnessing the compassionate care CRNAs provided his father when he was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer. He vividly recalls a moment when a CRNA knelt by his father’s bedside, speaking in a calm and reassuring tone, explaining each step of the treatment plan. “From that moment on,” Lovinaria said, “I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else.” He eventually earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Hawaii and later completed his anesthesia training in Minnesota. 

As a CRNA at the Minneapolis VA, Lovinaria takes immense pride in serving veterans. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing their sacrifices, saying, “They protected our freedom. They deserve the best care.” This mindset is reflected in the VA’s commitment to excellence—Lovinaria sees no need for modesty when bragging about the Minneapolis VA’s recent ranking as the top VA hospital in the country and its designation as a 5-star rated VA hospital. 

Beyond his clinical work, Lovinaria, an AANA member since 2000, is a dedicated mentor and leader. He has served as the program director for the University of Minnesota’s Nurse Anesthesia Program, guiding Resident Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists (RRNAs) through the rigorous journey to becoming CRNAs. He is known for his candid and supportive mentorship style, encouraging aspiring CRNAs to be realistic about the demands of the profession while offering the tools and encouragement they need to succeed. “These are the future CRNAs who might take care of me one day,” he says with pride. “I trust them because I guided them well. I can say I’ve done my part for the profession because of them.” 

For Lovinaria, the role of a CRNA is not just a profession, but a calling. From 35,000 feet in the sky to the operating rooms of the Minneapolis VA, Lovinaria’s story unfolds like a tapestry woven with moments of serendipity and years of steadfast dedication to the nurse anesthesiology field. It is a testament to how a single connection can soothe a patient’s fears, comfort their family, and inspire the next generation of caregivers in a profession built on trust and compassion. 

To learn more about Lovinaria, read the Minneapolis VA’s story about his unique encounter with McPhillips