Board Members
Council Officers
Paul Austin, PhD, CRNA, President
CRNA Educator
Texas Wesleyan University
John O’Donnell, DrPH, MSN, RN, CRNA, CHSE, FSSH, FAANA , FAAN, Vice President
CRNA Educator
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Michael Fallacaro, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, FAANA, Treasurer
CRNA Educator
Virginia Commonwealth University
Council Directors
Rachel Davis, DNP, CRNA, CHSE
CRNA Educator
Baylor College of Medicine Doctor of Nursing
Claire Dixon-Lee, PhD, RHIA, CPH, FAHIMA
Public Member
Amanda D. Garcia, BSN, RN
Student Representative
Midwestern University College of Health Sciences Nurse Anesthesia Program
Juan Gonzalez, PhD, CRNA
CRNA Educator
University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
Sarah B. Held, DNP, MBA, RN
Healthcare Administrator
M Health Fairview / Fairview Health System / HealthEast Care System
Terry Keller, PhD, LMSW, LISW, ACSW
University Administrator
Lourdes University
Dennis J. McKenna, DNAP, CRNA
CRNA Practitioner
Medical University Hospital
Julie Pearson, PhD, CRNA
CRNA Practitioner
CarolinaEast Health System
Eric S. Swirsky, JD
Public Member
Kelly Wiltse Nicely, PhD, CRNA, FAANA
CRNA Educator
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia
Chief Executive Officer
Francis Gerbasi, PhD, CRNA, fgerbasi@coacrna.org
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Gerbasi has served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) for 20 years. He is responsible for overseeing the accreditation of 130 graduate level nurse anesthesia programs located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. He is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He completed his undergraduate and graduate education at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. He has published numerous research studies, authored several chapters and a textbook for nurse anesthetists. In 2002 he received the John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation. In 2022, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) presented COA CEO Francis Gerbasi, PhD, CRNA, with the Agatha Hodgins Award during its 2022 Annual Congress, August 12-16 in Chicago. The Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment was established in 1975 to recognize individuals whose foremost dedication to excellence has furthered the art and science of nurse anesthesia.
Accreditation Specialists
Tom Anderson, MLIS, tanderson@coacrna.org
Barbara Farkas, MAdEd, bfarkas@coacrna.org
Susan Monsen, MATD, smonsen@coacrna.org
Molyka Leonard, MPA, mleonard@coacrna.org
Kara Chlebek, MPA, kchlebek@coacrna.org
Accreditation Operations Manager
Liza Curiel, MNA, lcuriel@coacrna.org
Accreditation Operations Specialist
Susan Schneider, sschneider@coacrna.org
Accreditation Finance Clerk
Chris Ramos, cramos@coacrna.org
Executive Assistant
Maria Kozicz, mkozicz@coacrna.org
