Recent Graduate Spotlight: Rahbekah Tran
Rahbekah Tran graduated from Old Dominion in May of 2023 and recently started work at Southampton Memorial with Southampton Anesthesiology Associates, after spending her summer working at Virginia Eye Consultants with Goodwin and Snyder.
As a recent graduate from Old Dominion, much of my summer has been spent reflecting on my experience and looking to my future career as a nurse anesthetist. After so many long hours and sleepless nights, I’m confident this journey was all worthwhile in the end. Old Dominion exceeded so many of my expectations.
I’m originally from California, but I moved to Texas for nursing school. When I was looking into anesthesia schools, I was nervous seeing the class sizes of those in Texas—as I have always thrived in a more personalized educational environment. I looked at each school’s clinical sites, and some were even as far as Alaska! So, when I learned of Old Dominion, their small class sizes and plethora of clinical sites, I thought that this may be a better fit for me. I applied.
I memorized the telephone area codes of all of the places I applied, hoping for an invitation to interview. One day the phone rang with one of those critical area codes. I dove for the phone and answered just in time, but didn’t hear the name of the person who I was speaking with. From my experience with other schools, most of the initial calls were from administrative assistants looking to set up interviews. This time, however, I realized after hanging up that I was speaking to the Director of Old Dominion’s anesthesia program! Dr. Apatov had called me directly.
During my interview, it felt right—it felt like a family. I loved talking with other students, and with my soon-to-be professors. My husband and I sold our house in Texas and bought an RV to make relocating with our small zoo of pets a little easier. We lived cozily in our tiny house for most of school, until, just recently, we decided Virginia would stay our home and (finally) bought a house.
It hasn’t always been easy but staying involved at ODU, as well as professional organizations like VANA has helped to feel like part of a community. I’ve served on Old Dominion’s curriculum committee and was involved in VANA as a student, attending most VANA meetings. The work being done at these meetings impacts all CRNAs, and I’m proud to do my part. For instance, once you start CRNA school you go from making a nurse’s paycheck to essentially being unemployed. Both VANA and ODU work to find solutions to help aspiring CRNAs shoulder this burden, such as scholarships. This is a small example of the things VANA does to help combat barriers to the growth of our profession.
I wouldn’t be where I am without my most important mentors. Their roles in my life are one of the biggest blessings to come out of ODU for me, personally. Dr. Howard Goodwin, Dr. Hartgerink, and Dr. Gillikin have each impacted my life in major ways. I’m lucky to have attended a program that has faculty so committed to their students. I wouldn’t have even known about the small all-CRNA group that I joined without the help and guidance of the staff at ODU. I am thankful to be able to serve the small community that I practice in. By practicing to the full extent of our practice, we are making quality care more accessible and helping patients by providing personalized and up-to-date anesthetics.
I’m excited to be back doing anesthesia and caring for patients. Little moments can impact lives in the perioperative world. Whether I’m quelling psychological nerves or numbing physical ones, I feel most fulfilled in those moments. I look forward to seeing how my skills develop with the guidance of my amazing former preceptors turned co-workers at Southampton. I’ll also be serving in a faculty role in the fall, helping in simulation labs and with lectures. I’m excited to take the lessons I’ve learned to help future CRNAs, just like my faculty helped me.
If I can share one piece of advice for someone following my path—it is to surround yourself with people you aspire to be like, because simply being around them will push you to be your best. Then, one day, you may find yourself being that same inspiration for someone else.
