AANA Congratulates Winners of American Nursing Association Innovation Award

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) congratulates the winners of the 2024 American Nursing Association (ANA) Innovation Award in the “Nurse-Led Team” category, the Immersion Model for Diversifying Nurse Anesthesia Programs. The team was led by Wallena (Lena) Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, founder and CEO of the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program. Gould has been an AANA member since 2002. 

In addition to Gould, the CRNA collaborators on the team are Mark Giles, DNP, CRNA, an AANA member since 2000; Rylee Apodaca, DNP, CRNA, an AANA member since 2017; Tedrick Vernon, DNP, CRNA; Levia Sutton, MSN, CRNA, a PhD student and an AANA member since 2006; Victor Pareja, DNP, CRNA, CHSE, a PhD student and an AANA member since 2018; Nathaly Palacios, DNP, CRNA, an AANA member since 2012; and Daniel Payne, DNP, CRNA, who was an AANA member until his passing in February 2024. 

Also part of the team is Jiale (Gary) Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Global Health PhD Researcher at the Virginia Commonwealth University Nurse Anesthesia Program, and a frequent presenter at AANA meetings. 

“We are honored to be selected as the American Nurses Association 2024 Innovation Team Award recipient for the ‘Immersion Model for Diversifying Nurse Anesthesia Programs,’” Gould said. “As team collaborators, we are all actively engaged in diversifying the nurse anesthesia workforce through innovative and evidence-based initiatives for historically excluded marginalized nurses. As a result, we have mentored over 820 diverse CRNAs across the country, addressing health disparities and improving health equity. This ANA award will increase access and build on underpinning early professional socialization for a diverse nurse anesthesia workforce.” 

According to the ANA’s website, the ANA Innovation Awards “highlight, recognize, and celebrate exemplary nurse innovators who improve patient safety and health outcomes within their communities.” 

The Immersion Model for Diversifying Nurse Anesthesia Programs is an innovative, evidence-based program focused on the diversification of the nursing workforce. It was created specifically for nurses of color who have been historically underrepresented as CRNAs. The Immersion Model aims to help reduce health disparities, structural inequities, and institutional biases. The Immersion Model prepares nurses of color to be competitive applicants for graduate anesthesia programs and successful students while equipping them to provide better health outcomes for the diverse population, according to a news release provided by the ANA. 

The award funds will be used to expand the Immersion Model’s professional events for CRNAs across the country, and to replicate the program for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. 

 The ANA Innovation Awards are sponsored by Stryker, a leading global medical technology company.