Nurse anesthesia residents from the Austin Campus joined their classmates at the Main Campus for a series of lectures, workshops, and professional development activities.
The first Austin-based cohort of nurse anesthesia residents at Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies traveled to Connecticut for three days of skills training alongside their classmates at the Main Campus. The occasion marked the first in-person meeting for the two groups of second-year doctoral students.
The week kicked off with an airway-on-demand workshop led by Professor William Rosenblatt, MD, director of anesthesia for otolaryngology and anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine. The internationally recognized airway expert delivered a lecture and participated in an extended Q&A with the nurse anesthesia residents. Dr. Rosenblatt also provided expertise during a hands-on lab through which students gained practical experience using a range of airway devices.
The second day of activities was devoted to career readiness, networking, and professionalism. Sessions with career center staff focused on building professional networks and writing résumés, while a panel with experienced certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) focused on transition to practice.
“The professional panel comprised CRNAs from diverse geographical regions, working within different anesthesia models and bringing a range of experience levels,” said Austin-based nurse anesthesia resident Ani Avanesian. “The diversity enabled us to pose questions and gather a variety of perspectives based on individual experiences.”
The activities also included a career fair with representatives from 19 leading healthcare and anesthesia groups, providing the opportunity for nurse anesthesia residents to explore a wide range of jobs, network with potential employers, and gain valuable insight into post-graduation opportunities.
During the final day, students presented group projects on ultrasound-guided concepts and marked the start of their clinical education at the Egan School’s second annual Pinning Ceremony.
By all accounts, the week was a success, as the nurse anesthesia residents continued to develop their skills and professional competence. Their packed schedule was not all work and no play, however. The cohort found time to unwind with a kickball game and a happy hour at Elicit Brewery, home of the craft beer collaboration ‘42 Brew.
“It was great to see and hang out with our classmates from Austin,” said Sheikh Ilias, a nurse anesthesia resident at Main Campus. “It almost felt surreal, honestly, after only seeing them via Zoom over the past year of didactics. It was a truly memorable week for all of us, getting to know them and sharing quality time.”
