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The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing proudly hosted its 7th Annual Nurse Anesthesia White Coat Ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 14, welcoming the Class of 2027 into the next phase of their rigorous academic and clinical training.

Held in the Meridian Ballroom, the event marked a significant milestone for the nursing anesthesia students as they transition into clinical practice. The White Coat ceremony featured remarks from keynote speaker, Jennifer Banek, CRNA, a Major in the United States Army Reserve and Lake County Coroner.

Leah Baecht, DNP, CRNA, APRN, department chair and assistant professor of nurse anesthesiology, facilitated the program. Judy Liesveld, Dean of the SIUE School of Nursing, recognized the hard work and dedication of the nurse anesthesia candidates. Liesveld highlighted the significance of this cohort, the 10th group of doctoral-prepared nurse anesthesiologists at SIUE.

“The impetus for this ceremony came from the desire to recognize the hard work and preparation our nurse anesthesia doctoral candidates have demonstrated as well as their ongoing commitment to apply the same degree of dedications throughout their professional career,” said Liesveld.

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, addressed the students by sharing her pride in their achievements and the nurse anesthesia program as a whole. Cobb stressed the holistic selection process that identifies students with the potential to thrive in this demanding field and the emphasis to be equitable difference-makers in healthcare.

“We're looking for people who can help change the field, who are change agents, and who will represent and advocate for the diverse populations that you will serve,” explained Cobb. "Equity-minded caregivers contribute to your profession in profound ways…Being able to work with talented faculty who have expertise in this subject matter and in diverse areas of the discipline, who also are engaged in critical care and in the work of hospitals and practice on a regular basis allows you for a kind of engagement that really is career-changing.”

Keynote speaker, Major Banek, serves as treasurer of the executive board of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and served as the 2021-2022 President of the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Banek reflected on her personal journey and the evolution of the nurse anesthesiology profession, emphasizing the critical role of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, (CRNAs) in healthcare delivery and policy advocacy.

“If there's one characteristic I know of CRNAs, it's not that we do our best, it's that we do our best to be prepared, to control the variables that can be managed,” said Banek. “You cannot prepare for each experience, for life will throw all kinds of unexpected twists at you, but you can be open to the learning that each new challenge offers. The stressful experiences, both the exhilarating and the demoralizing, all are normal and essential part of learning. They help guide you into choosing where you want to practice and what kind of clinician you want to be— what kind of person you want to be. And here's the great news: you have what it takes. This is your calling. And here is the even better news: Not only can you handle it, but you are setting yourself on a path that will serve you for the rest of your life.”

The evening culminated in the presentation of 38 white coats, a ceremony symbolizing the students’ transition into clinical training. Each student was “coated” by a nurse anesthesia program faculty member, with a brief biography read to the audience, and each coat was personalized with the students’ embroidered name. Following the coating, students took the Oath to Compassionate Patient Care in front of their family and friends.

The SIUE School of Nursing congratulates the Class of 2027 on this significant achievement in their transition to clinical education and looks forward to their continued success in advancing the nurse anesthesiology profession. When these students complete their program by graduating, they will earn a Doctoral of Nursing Practice specializing in nursing anesthesia and will become eligible to take the National Certification Examination offered by the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

The SIUE Class of 2027 DNP Nurse Anesthesia students are listed below.

• Samantha Abbott
• Zachary Bagwell
• Lauren Boland
• Nhi Bui
• Damien Chan
• Chad Cuconato
• Keidron Duckwitz
• Ayumi Fairchild
• Reiley Friedly
• Ranier Guloy
• Corey Hammer
• Alyssa Heldak
• Zhongxiang Kenworthy
• Brianne Levek
• Keely Lougeay
• Nicolas Luciani
• Michole McDonald
• Sydney Merle
• Vesseka Miladinova
• Kelly Morgan
• Maragret O’Connell
• Mallery Reiff
• Kylie Ritter
• Delaney Ruby
• Erin Schaub
• Jessica Sears
• Taylor Sharp
• Tyler Spiller
• Anna Strake
• Aly Syed
• Elijah Thiel
• Kristin Vo
• Shelby Willen
• Brianna Williams
• Dylan Williams
• Keith Williams
• Easton Wyatt
• Michael Zervogiannis

Photo by Howard Ash, Fact-checked with contributions from notable alumna Brenna Thomas, DNP, CRNA, '07, '09, '18.