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2022 Fall Conference Speakers                                     

 

Garry Brydges, Ph.D., DNP, MBA, CRNA, ACNP-BC, FAAN

Dr. Garry Brydges is the chief nurse anesthetist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, overseeing over 120 CRNAs. He is adjunct faculty at both the University of Texas and Baylor College of Medicine Nurse Anesthesia Programs. He continues a passion for teaching and precepting students in focused areas of neuroanesthesia (i.e., craniotomies, skull base surgery, spine surgery, pituitary tumor surgery), surgical oncology, and acute care nurse practitioner expertise in cardiovascular surgery. He has been performing opioid-sparing and non-inhalation anesthesia for nearly a decade in his current practice.

Dr. Garry Brydges has been a CRNA since 2002, graduating from the University of Texas Nurse Anesthesia Program and recipient of the Agatha Hodgins Outstanding Graduate Award. He has an extensive academic background, also graduating from the University of Texas Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program before nurse anesthesia training, concentrating on cardiovascular surgery. He completed his Doctor of Nursing Practice at Texas Christian University in 2011, focusing research in Preoperative Considerations for the Heart Failure Patient with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. Other degrees include an Executive MBA at Texas Woman’s University, and a Ph.D. in Financial Management and Economics in Healthcare Delivery, also at Texas Woman’s University. He is well-published in textbook chapters and journals, such as Health Policy and Advanced Practice Nursing: Impact & Implications, Oncologic Critical Care, AANA Journal, Journal of Nursing Administration, AACN Journal, and many more. In 2018, He was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing for his work in Opioid-Sparing Strategies in anesthesia. On March 2021, he was selected as a Fellow to the first Coldiron Senior Nurse Executive class at Case Western Reserve University.

He completed his term in 2019 as the 79th President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He was the President of the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists in 2012-2013. Currently, he is a board of director for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. He continues to be involved in extensive committee work throughout nurse anesthesia and other healthcare interest groups, such as the AANA Foundation, former AANA BOD Liaison to the NBCRNA Board of Directors, AANA Practice Committee, Texas Department of Insurance – authorization of prescription drug benefits committee, The Joint Commission – PTAC Committee, Oklahoma Foundation of Medical Quality – SCIP Committee, regional chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and ANA’s Congress of Nursing Practice and Economics.

 

Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA

Kristi Hoch, DNP, CRNA Dr. Kristie Hoch is the Program Administrator for the University of Arizona’s DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program. She chose to become a CRNA after serving with them in Desert Storm. Kristie has years of experience as a CRNA in every practice model and setting, to include office based, critical access, academic teaching hospital and trauma centers. She has served as the Rural Facilities Director and Recruiter for an all CRNA company prior to becoming an educator. She chose to become an educator to influence the future of the profession she loves by ensuring students are prepared to provide anesthesia incorporating evidence-based practice. She is a strong advocate for CRNAs

 

 

 

 

Heather Rankin, CRNA

Heather J. Rankin is a CRNA at Children’s of Alabama, located in Birmingham, Alabama, where she has worked since 2006 as both a staff and as a senior CRNA.  Heather received her DNP, MBA, and BSN from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her MSN from Samford University. 

Heather has served the AANA on the BOD and on multiple committees and is the current AANA Treasurer.  She has served the Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists in many roles since 2007 and was ALANA President 2010 – 2011. 

In addition to clinical practice, Heather is adjunct faculty at the Medical College of South Carolina.  Heather, her husband, Wes, and their energetic boys enjoy watching and playing sports and being on the water at the lake or the beach.  

2022 Fall Conference Speaker Materials