BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Intense interest, passionate mentor fuel Bell to succeed

Ashley Bell, BSN, RN, has always been fascinated by the way patients are put into a state where they are unable to feel and respond to outside stimuli, and then when they awake, they have no recollection of what took place throughout the surgery. That interest in the inner workings of anesthetic treatment has fueled her passion to be a nurse anesthetist. Pursuing that role enables her to continue to advocate for patients and dive even deeper into her interest in anesthetics.

Black History Month offers time for reflection, and Bell says her educational and professional pursuits as an African American student anesthetist at the University of Pennsylvania creates a win-win scenario. One of the challenges she faces is the lack of diversity within her role. It can be overwhelming to be in a work environment that lacks racial diversity. A person can feel like they do not belong within the community, she says. But, as she keeps working to achieve her dreams, she’s changing the dynamic --- and doing her part to ensure people see others of the same background in her profession.

One of the things that has helped Bell navigate these feelings and challenges is her program director, who is also African American. Her program director even inspired her to apply to an Ivy League institution. There’s a real connection, and Bell sees a lot of herself in her program director, who motivates her and helps her see all of the possibilities that are available to her. Bell’s program director motivates her to keep working towards her ultimate goal: Becoming a CRNA and eventually further diversifying the nurse anesthesia profession.

Bell is blessed to have the opportunity to learn from such an amazing role model and hopes to follow in her footsteps, becoming a trailblazer in her profession. When you hear her story, you can tell Bell is already on her way to achieving her dream.

Photos Submitted by Ashley Bell, BSN, RN

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Family ignited the fire, now Adames pays it forward with service, inspiration

Darlene Adames’ passion to pursue anesthesia grew intensely after working in a high-acuity pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. Her love for critical care, learning in depth about her patients, their physiology, and the medications they were on gave her the opportunity to learn about anesthesia.

The combined practice and science of anesthesia and patient care is what drove her to this path. Though this journey is rough --- and the hours are long and exhausting --- she is grateful to be doing what she absolutely loves.

Adames, BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNA is in her second year at the University of Pennsylvania.

Watching her mother, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic at age 9 and who worked hard and struggled to provide Adames and her sister with a better living, is what ignited a fire in her to continue dreaming big. She has worked extremely hard to be where she is today, and her goal now is to provide her mother and grandmother with the life they truly deserve.

As a Latina SRNA, Adames wants to be a representation of her cultural heritage and her community. Black History Month is not really mentioned or taught in many Hispanic households.

“I think it’s important for us to learn that the only difference is where our African ancestors landed during slavery,” Adames said. “To me, Black History Month is a celebration of how far we have come, all our successes and our future contribution to this world.”

After CRNA school, Adames plans to move back home and serve her underrepresented community. She would like to contribute her time with mission work in South America, the Caribbeans, and Africa. She wants to inspire and influence others that dreams do come true.

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Linda Torres DNP, CRNA, CCRN, Named Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Health, VHA

📷: Linda Torres DNP, CRNA, CCRN Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration

Dr. Linda Torres serves as an advisor to the senior leadership team at the Veterans Health Administration. Among her projects, she is leading VA’s efforts in the White House’s re-launch of the Cancer Moonshot, where service-member environmental exposures are a focus.

Dr. Torres served in the Army as a critical care nurse and deployed in 2012 to Bastion Hospital and Bagram Airfield Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

After her time in service, she earned her doctorate in nursing practice, specializing in nurse anesthesia. She continues to care for patients as a CRNA in North Philadelphia. She earned her doctorate in nursing with a focus on nurse anesthesia from the University of Pennsylvania. There, she enrolled in courses outside of nursing such as non-profit leadership and government relations.

Beyond nursing, Dr. Torres served as the service director and then policy director for the all-volunteer veteran non-profit Action Tank. Her work in this organization focused on the tree canopy, firearm violence, food insecurity, and substance use. She continues to volunteer and plant trees.

Dr. Torres also serves on the board of another veteran non-profit, Team Foster.