Who’s Who? PANA President Debra Minzola, That’s Who!

Debra Minzola, Ph.D., CRNA, recently was named to the Marquis Who's Who list for her work as program director of the Geisinger/Commonwealth University Nurse Anesthesia Program. The list features professionals doing outstanding work in their professions.

Minzola gained attention after being featured in a university-wide Commonwealth University news article, “A Professional Pipeline: Geisinger/Commonwealth Nurse Anesthesia Program Provides Vital Professionals,” Aug. 1, 2023, that spotlighted the 36-month anesthesia program that attracts students from as far away as California, Oregon, and Arizona. The class only accepts 15 students who graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Commonwealth University nurse anesthesia graduates have earned a compelling reputation in the industry, with the Class of 2022 earning a 100% pass rate in the National Certification Exam (NCE), while the average pass rate was 82%.

The program – which was affiliated with Bloomsburg University before its merger with two other state-affiliated schools, Lock Haven and Mansfield, to form Commonwealth University – is headquartered at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

“Approximately 60% of our graduates are staying with the Geisinger System,” Minzola said. “That says a lot about the good relationship between the university and the clinical site. It makes it a more positive learning experience, and they want to stay here. Our recruitment has been phenomenal for Geisinger.”

Photo courtesy of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

If Minzola’s name sounds familiar, that is because she recently was installed as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), which represents approximately 4,000 CRNAs and students statewide.

She recently helped the statewide association mark national CRNA Week in Pa. in January. You can check out her message to members HERE, where she celebrate all the innovative CRNAs and nurse anesthesia residents who provide exceptional care to their patients during their most vulnerable moments.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Dawn Bent’s hard work helped her overcome challenges to be a mentor for many

Dawn Bent, DNP, MSN, CRNA, didn’t choose to be a nurse anesthetist as much as the profession chose her.

She was working as an ICU nurse for eight years when one of the anesthesiologists that she worked with told her: “I think you would be a great nurse anesthetist.” She didn’t know what that was, and so he took her over to the operating room and let her see the profession in action. She still wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t forget. About a year or two later, she explored the profession again and decided to pursue the career path.

“I don’t know if I ever told him, but to this day I thank Dr. Stayer for introducing me to the profession,” said Bent, who works at the University of Pennsylvania and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Dawn Bent, DNP, MSN, CRNA

Today, Bent is a program director, a role she takes seriously for a number of reasons.

“There are so many challenges from an educational standpoint,” Bent says. “It is even more challenging as a director of color. I say that because we have such a diverse cohort of students on every level that giving them exactly what they ‘need and want’ can pose difficulty.

"I want to be an example to every student regardless of their background, but I know that students of color look up to me in a very different way. I want to make sure that I am being a great example to all of my students.”

Some of the students featured during PANA’s Black History Month commemoration have named Bent as their mentor. And, Bent has her own list of mentors, too. “It’s almost like, 'where do I begin here,'” she says.

The late Art Zwerling touched her education and clinical life so deeply. He was one of the best in the OR and she wanted to follow his lead at all times. She also can’t say enough for Maria Van Pelt (nee Magro), who is not only her friend but definitely always a text or phone call away. “She is so graceful in her approach and has the best poker face out there.” Bent says she learned so much from her.

With all this support, Bent’s greatest achievement thus far is her program director role and working with her associate director. This was not a role that she sought out and she was not even sure she would do it any justice, but they put together not only a team between the two of them, but also with their students and program administrator.

“The value of partnering with our students gives me such hope that in the future they will look at students as their partners so we can actively break the cycle of needing our students to be resilient,” Bent says. “Anesthesia education requires resiliency, but it also needs an environment of gentleness and tolerance to a degree. We were all students at one point.”

As a first generation Jamaican American, Bent’s family always stressed the importance of hard work, but she also recognizes that some from diverse backgrounds may work hard but are still not afforded opportunities. Her focus is continuing to be the face of hard work, mentorship and caring. There are a lot of talented Black Americans out there and some just need the platform in order to shine, she says.

As for what’s next? Bent hopes to continue to make a difference in the lives of students and grow the profession. Being a program director of color, she understands that students from diverse backgrounds — all of them — need an advocate and a mentor.

“I have had students reach out to me that do not go to my program and ask me lots of questions and ask me to mentor them,” she says. “I can’t help but say yes because there were people who invested in me when they really didn’t have to. Giving back means a lot. Working in partnerships with others who have the same heart for students is what I am looking to do.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Miller’s wiping away stereotypes about what Black women can do

As an African American female, Black History Month holds a special significance for Lexus Miller, RN, BSN, CCRN, who currently is enrolled in the Bloomsburg University DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program. The month gives her --- and others --- the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black people throughout history.

Black History Month provides a space for reflection and conversation about the ongoing challenges Black people still face today, and how these issues impact their lives and experiences.

As SRNAs, Black women have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the health-care field by providing quality anesthesia care to diverse patient populations and increasing diversity in the field of anesthesia.

Being a first-generation college student, and as an African American SRNA, Miller hopes to inspire young Black women to pursue careers in anesthesia and help to break down barriers and wipe away stereotypes about what Black women can and cannot achieve.

She’s already doing her part and promises to be a force for future success.

VIEW MORE BLACK HISTORY MONTH STORIES