New Directors

Public Member

Bonnie S. Cassidy, MPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FHIMSS

It is an honor for me to serve as a public director on the COA.  I served many years in health information management education and accreditation and have a strong commitment to quality education. I received a BS in Medical Record Administration from Daemen College in Buffalo, NY and became a Registered Health Information Administrator having served at two major teaching hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. After receiving my MPA from Cleveland State University I transitioned from health information management in the provider setting to national advisory services firms Price Waterhouse and Ernst & Young, and others before establishing my own consulting business. As President of Cassidy & Associates, I share my expertise by providing consulting services to healthcare organizations focusing on organizational learning, leadership development, revenue integrity, and health information management.

 As a Health Information Management (HIM) leader and Subject Matter Expert (SME), I served as the President of AHIMA/Chair of the AHIMA Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM), both Board appointments were multi-years. I was honored to be the recipient of the AHIMA Distinguished Member Triumph Award, and am a Fellow of AHIMA and HIMSS.

It is a privilege to be the voice and representative of the public in my role on the COA.


Student Director

A. Hayden Miller, MSN, RN, SRNA

Andrew Hayden Miller is a Doctoral Candidate in Nurse Anesthesia at Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University School of Nurse Anesthesia, where he is focusing on integrating a novel approach towards improving anesthesia care for the LGBTQIA+ population by creating a dedicated group of self-selected anesthesia providers in the Cleveland Clinic’s Operating Rooms.

He graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in nursing. He is pursuing his Doctor of Nurse Practice in Anesthesia (DNP) at Cleveland Clinic’s  School of Nurse Anesthesia. Mr. Miller is particularly interested in the care and focus of vulnerable populations and community health and training in various anesthetic techniques and patient care.

Mr. Miller has held clinical and research roles in various settings. He has worked on developing innovative educational approaches for Nurse Anesthesia students, including hands-on simulation training, and actively working in an RN to SRNA mentorship program. His peers and professional organizations have recognized his education and clinical care efforts.


CRNA Practitioner 

LaShonda Gray, CRNA, PhD

I am honored to have been elected as the CRNA Practitioner Director to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthetists. I earned a Master’s degree in Nurse Anesthesia from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011. I also obtained a Doctoral degree in Nurse Anesthesia in 2019 from the University of Pittsburgh. I have been a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for twelve years and currently hold a clinical position as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at a Level I Trauma hospital in Illinois. I am very excited to serve as CRNA Practitioner director with the COA, as I believe the accreditation process promotes well prepared graduates and excellence within our profession. 


Educator Director

(Virginia) Chris Simmons, DNP, CRNA, CHSE-A, FAANA 

It is an honor to serve on the COA Board of Directors as an Educator Director. I became a CRNA in 2002, have worked with SRNAs since 2003, and became faculty with the Duke School of Nursing in 2011. As Assistant Dean, Clinical Professor, and Program Administrator for the Duke University Nurse Anesthesia Program, I am a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, a graduate of Auburn University Montgomery, UNC-Greensboro, and Duke University, and an inaugural AANA Fellow. I was the first CRNA in the world to earn CHSE-Advanced certification and become a National League for Nursing Simulation Leader. Professional service includes the NBCRNA Airway Panel, reviewer and editorial board member for peer-reviewed journals, and multiple other elected positions and committee memberships at the state, national, and international level including service with the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Accreditation and reaccreditation are essential to maintaining high standards for educating and training our nurse anesthesia successors. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the mission of the COA and to work with and learn from esteemed colleagues while serving in this role.