Board Members
Council Officers
President
John O’Donnell, DrPH, MSN, RN, CRNA, CHSE, FSSH, FAANA, FAAN
CRNA Educator
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Vice President
Rachel Davis, DNP, CRNA, CHSE
CRNA Educator
Baylor College of Medicine Doctor of Nursing
Treasurer
Dennis J. McKenna, DNAP, CRNA
CRNA Practitioner
Medical University Hospital
Council Directors
Paul Austin, PhD, CRNA, FAAN
CRNA Educator
Texas Wesleyan University
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
Eric S. Swirsky, JD, MA, MHPE
Public Member
Kelly Wiltse Nicely, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN
CRNA Educator
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia
LaShonda Gray, DNP, CRNA
CRNA Practitioner
V. Chris Simmons, DNP, CRNA, CHSE-A, FAANA, FAAN
CRNA Educator
Duke University Nurse Anesthesia Program
A. Hayden Miller, BSN, RN
Student Representative
Cleveland Clinic Foundation School of Nurse Anesthesia / Case Western Reserve University
Chief Executive Officer
Francis Gerbasi, PhD, CRNA, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer
fgerbasi@coacrna.org
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, FAAN, 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. In 2023, Dr. Gerbasi was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. The Academy recognizes nurses that have made outstanding contributions to healthcare at national and international levels.
Director of Accreditation Services
Tom Anderson, MLIS, tanderson@coacrna.org
Accreditation Specialists
Susan Monsen, MATD, smonsen@coacrna.org
Molyka Leonard, MPA, mleonard@coacrna.org
Kara Chlebek, MPA, kchlebek@coacrna.org
Susan Schneider, sschneider@coacrna.org
Director of Office Operations
Liza Curiel, MNA, lcuriel@coacrna.org
Accreditation Operations Specialist
Pauline McKenna, pmckenna@coacrna.org
Accreditation Finance Clerk
Chris Ramos, cramos@coacrna.org
Executive Assistant
Maria Kozicz, mkozicz@coacrna.org
