Nicole A. Gonzaga Gomez, D.N.P., CRNA, APRN, CHSE, FAANA, associate director of the D.N.P. Nurse Anesthesia program and assistant professor of clinical at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS), was among 49 distinguished leaders in the nurse anesthesiology profession inducted as Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) on August 3, 2024, during AANA’s Annual Congress in San Diego, California.
On hand from SONHS to celebrate her achievement were a handful of her SONHS colleagues, over a dozen second- and third-year D.N.P. students, and several SONHS alumni. For her part, Dr. Gomez admitted being “a little taken aback” when she learned she was selected for induction. “I am grateful to be honored and humbled by the selection to be among such an accomplished, esteemed group of individuals,” she said.
“Earning the Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (FAANA) designation is a major career achievement that reflects a commitment to pursuing excellence in every endeavor,” said Derrick C. Glymph, Ph.D., D.N.A.P., CRNA, CHSE, COL., USAR, FAANA, FAAN, chair of the Fellows Selection Committee. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, are advanced practice registered nurses who are experts in the science and art of anesthesiology. AANA, founded in 1931, has over 61,000 CRNA members and, including this 2024 class, nearly 220 Fellows.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Houston, Dr. Gomez began her CRNA career two decades ago at New York University Medical Center, after graduating from Columbia University. She moved to South Florida in 2006, focusing on obstetric anesthesia and serving as a chief obstetrics CRNA for over a decade. For much longer—since 2010—she has volunteered on surgical missions to resource-challenged regions of Central and South America. After earning her D.N.P. degree from the Johns Hopkins University and joining the faculty at SONHS in 2018, she began bringing students on these missions to give them invaluable global health exposure. At SONHS, Dr. Gomez is faculty advisor for the Nurse Anesthesia Students Association (NASA) and helped launch a popular peer-to-peer mentoring program. In 2023, she was nominated for University of Miami Faculty Mentor of the Year.
In addition, Dr. Gomez is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator® (CHSE) who has presented at state, national, and international meetings on advancements in simulation education, such as mixed-reality applications and peer-to-peer mentorship for advanced skills competencies. Not only is she a CHSE committee member for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, she serves on the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee and is a manuscript reviewer for Clinical Simulation in Nursing and the Journal of Doctor of Nursing Practice. On top of these robust contributions, Dr. Gomez maintains an active professional practice, including at University of Miami Health System, where she holds a clinical faculty appointment in the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology.
SONHS was well represented at this year’s AANA Congress. Dr. Gomez and recent graduate Marianna Ilachtchouk, D.N.P. ’23, a CRNA with Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, presented on the use of IV methadone in surgical pain management; Dr. Greta Mitzova-Vladinov (FAANA Class of 2023), Nurse Anesthesia program director and associate professor of clinical, presented with recent grad John Paul “JP” Moyle, D.N.P. ’23, now a CRNA at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, on virtual reality simulation; and Dr. Shayne Hauglum, associate professor of clinical, gave a number of talks on ultrasound assessment. Read more: https://www.aana.com/news/american-association-of-nurse-anesthesiology-announces-2024-fellows-candidates.
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Established in 1948 as South Florida’s first collegiate nursing program, the world-class University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) offers highly ranked, accredited degree programs in nursing, public health, and health science. For more information, visit sonhs.miami.edu.
