CRNAs Establish Neaux La Made to Support Underrepresented Anesthesia Residents

The following article was submitted by Brittany Santa Marina, DNP, CRNA and Mallory Simmons, DNP, CRNA, co-founders of Neaux La Made. Neaux La Made (pronounced NO-LA made—short for New Orleans Made) is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of anesthesia providers through mentorship, financial assistance, and providing other essential resources to assist underrepresented resident registered nurse anesthetists. The formation of Neaux La Made was inspired by its founders first-hand and lived experiences of residents encountered in the clinical arena.

In 2013, Brittany Santa Marina and Mallory Simmons met while working as registered nurses in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). The two New Orleans natives quickly bonded over their similar interests and work ethics. This friendship eventually transformed into shared goals to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Intrigued by the CRNAs they saw caring for patients in the unit, Santa Marina and Simmons embarked on a journey that would change their careers and lives completely. After shadowing a local CRNA, the pair knew the journey would be worth the struggle to get there.

As luck would have it, both were accepted into the same cohort of Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center Nurse Anesthesia Program in 2016. Despite being excited to pursue their dreams, they knew finances would become an issue. Even with student loans, it was difficult to contribute financially to their families. Both aspiring CRNAs found themselves picking up shifts in the MICU once finals were over to ease the financial strain on their families.

In 2019, the Neaux La Made founders graduated from LSU’s nurse anesthesia program. After graduation, they began working at a teaching facility that allowed them to interact with nurse anesthesia residents regularly. Recalling their own financial challenges during nurse anesthesia school, they recognized the signs in some of their residents and vowed to assist underserved residents in need.

Supporting Underserved Residents

Neaux La Made Incorporated is a non-profit organization that was created to assist second and third year underserved resident registered nurse anesthetists. The founders and board members of Neaux La Made are CRNAs who currently practice full-time in teaching hospitals, where they encounter residents who experience daily financial struggles associated with nurse anesthesia school. “We strive to leave an impression that we hope will inspire the recipients to pay it forward when they become a nurse anesthesiologist,” said Simmons.

In addition to firsthand experiences and observations, data suggests that minorities are more likely to face financial instability throughout their lifetime.

Although obtaining higher education is a step toward the long-term goal of ensuring financial stability, financial stress can make it more difficult to earn a graduate-level degree or deter people from pursuing higher education altogether. According to Hess, minority populations, especially African American women, carry the majority of student loan debt in the United States.

“Even with student loans, graduate school requires additional costs and commitments that surpass what traditional funding can provide, causing students stress, anxiety, and often depression,” said Santa Maria. “The combination of these aspects could cause students to withdraw from the program or contribute to failing grades, which would result in dismissal from the program of study.”

“Through a series of fundraising events, we hope to secure funding so that we may be able to provide financial assistance, resources, and experiences that enhance professional development. Each year, we plan to host two events and one signature gala, at which residents will be celebrated and presented with a Lagniappe Award.

“As native New Orleanians, we use the term lagniappe to describe things given as a gift or a bonus, so we felt it was only right to use this term as a way to honor our culture within our organization,” explained Santa Marina. “Even though we are beginning our mission locally, it is our hope that one day we can expand to providing scholarships nationwide.”

If you would like to learn more about Neaux La Made Inc. or would like information on becoming a partner, sponsor, or donor you can visit www.neauxlamade.org. All donations are tax deductible and will be used to fund Lagniappe Awards.