VANA Leadership Elections – 2024
Vice President: Christopher Simons, CRNA, DNAP
District 1 Director: Jonathan Cotton, DHA, CRNA
District 2 Leadership Development Committee: Jen McPherson, DNP, CRNA, CHSE
District 5 Director: Adrienne Wass, DNP, CRNA
Derek Owens, DrAP, CRNA who has served as President-Elect for the 2023-2024 term, assumed the role of President effective October 1, 2024, at which point Maria Hirsch, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA assumed the role of Immediate Past President.
Continuing their terms on the VANA board are Bridget Wolfe, CRNA serving as Treasurer, Kristopher Bosque, CRNA serving as District 2 Director, Ramon Medina, DNP, CRNA serving as Districts 3 & 4 Director, Kelli Kessler, CRNA serving as District 1 Leadership Development Committee, and Nicole Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA serving as District 5 Leadership Development Committee. The Districts 3 & 4 Leadership Development Committee representative will be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Congratulations to the new VANA Board of Directors, and thank you for your commitment to volunteer leadership. Your support of VANA is vital to the success of our professional association. Your participation in the election process is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to your efforts in recruiting volunteers to continue supporting the mission of VANA.
We would also like to express our gratitude to the 2023-2024 VANA Board of Directors. Thank you for your service to VANA.
Interested in becoming more engaged with VANA? Please let us know by emailing [email protected].
Self-submitted information from new board members can be found below:
Jessica Ray, CRNA, DNP:
“I have practiced as a CRNA in Virginia for over a decade in various practice settings and have a passion for CRNA advocacy. I will use my experience as a former VANA district director and current active GRC committee member to serve all CRNAs in Virginia with a shared goal to advance and protect our practice.”
Christopher Simons, CRNA, DNAP:
“My name is Christopher Simons, and I am a DNAP graduate from VCU’s School of Nurse Anesthesia, currently serving as a CRNA at VCU Medical Center. With extensive experience in clinical practice, education and leadership, including my current role as District 5 Director for VANA, I am deeply committed to advancing our profession. As Vice President, I aim to enhance member engagement, support ongoing education and quality improvement initiatives, and foster a collaborative environment for CRNAs across Virginia. I am eager to contribute my skills and passion to further the mission of VANA and strengthen our professional community.”
Jonathan Cotton, CRNA, DHA:
“Will work with all district CRNAs promoting our profession and the importance of obtaining independent practice. Promote the high quality training and service we provide to the community. Stressing we as CRNAs and nurse practitioners are one team and have one large voice.”
Adrienne Wass, DNP, CRNA:
“My participation with VANA started when I was a student representative and has continued through the early part of my career as a member of the Education and Programs Committee. I would love to encourage engagement of students as well as new and experienced CRNAs in the Richmond and surrounding areas through social/networking events, educational opportunities, community service and professional political activism. Let me know what programs you want to see!”
Jen McPherson, DNP, CRNA, CHSE:
Jen McPherson is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA) and retired U.S. Navy Commander. She is the Program Director and Assistant Professor for Mary Baldwin’s Nurse Anesthesiologist Program. She served as a clinical assistant professor and clinical site director with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) School of Nursing in San Diego, where she was responsible for the didactic and clinical teaching of Phase II Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Her areas of expertise include pain management, critical care, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and simulation.
