Qualified Planners/Faculty
Christine Cole-Bowron, BSN, RN
Christine is a graduate student pursuing a doctorate in nursing anesthesia at AdventHealth University (AHU). She is the first in her family to attain a college degree. Christine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seminole State College in 2008 with a Nursing Associates in Science degree. From there, Christine went on to work in the progressive care level Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. In 2011, she met her nursing goals by transferring to the intensive care unit where she would spend the next decade of her life helping the sickest of the sick through the lowest periods of their lives. Throughout her education, Christine was also raising children in her home and volunteering at Shepherd’s Hope, a free clinic for the uninsured. By 2016, she had welcomed her seventh child and decided to make a career plan that would work in balance with her mothering identity. She transferred to the highest acuity ICU in her hospital; a cardiovascular intensive care unit that provided extracorporeal membrane oxygen support (ECMO) and offered durable and non-durable ventricular support for the sickest cardiac patients in the area. During her time there, she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in nursing through AHU and transitioned to exclusively admitting open heart surgical patients directly from the operating room. 2021 was the goal year Christine had dreamed of when she developed her career/mothering plan five years earlier. Her youngest son would start kindergarten later that year and so she had fulfilled her desire to be available and present with the youngest those first magical years. She was now ready to apply to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at AdventHealth University. After a panel interview that left her crying tears of joy, she was quickly invited to join the cohort of 2025.
Christine is passionate about safe, efficient obstetrics (OB) care. She has given birth to seven children and understands first-hand the vulnerability OB pat
Disclosures
This author has disclosed there are no financial relationships with any health-care related proprietary entity with goods or services relevant to this activity.
The Planning Committee and the CPD Committee members have nothing to disclose.
Jose Cruz, BSN, RN, CCRN, CSC
Jose is a graduate student pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing Anesthesia Practice at AdventHealth University. He embarked on his medical journey, out of high school, in the United States Navy where he proudly served for seven years. Served as a Hospital Corpsman at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, deployed as a medic with a Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Middle East and ended his military career as a Certified Surgical Technologist and Certified Surgical First Assistant in Pensacola, FL. After years of education and working full time as a surgical technologist/first assistant, he obtained an associate degree and pursued a bachelor’s in biomedical sciences; however, his passion and affinity for nursing reignited. Jose Cruz was not only the first in his family to join the military, but the first to graduate college. Jose graduated with an associate degree in nursing from Valencia College and began working in a high acuity cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU). During his time in CVICU, he spent a year and a half pursuing a bachelor’s in nursing degree. After some time in the CVICU, he made the executive decision to expand his skillset and travel locally in various medical-surgical intensive care units (MSICU), covid intensive care units (COVID ICU) and operating rooms (OR). Traveling locally was the most rewarding experience, so he decided to extend his travel assignments over multiple states. In addition to the travel assignments and nursing strikes, he completed the nurse anesthesia school prerequisites. During this time many certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) played a pivotal role in influencing his decision to take a break from traveling and embark on the next phase of his life, nurse anesthesia school. After years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, motivation and passion, Jose excitedly joined the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice at AdventHealth University cohort of 2025. Jose strives for excellence in being a compassionate, sk
Disclosures
This author has disclosed there are no financial relationships with any health-care related proprietary entity with goods or services relevant to this activity.
The Planning Committee and the CPD Committee members have nothing to disclose.
Janel Frederick, BSN, RN, CCRN
Janel is a registered nurse currently pursuing a doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia at AdventHealth University (AHU). Alongside her academic and professional goals, she takes pride in being a mother to a 13-year-old boy and caring for her 3 Australian shepherds. Her educational path began in 2015 when she obtained an associate in arts degree from Seminole State College in central Florida. In 2018, she furthered her education by completing an associate in nursing degree and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in science and nursing from the University of Central Florida in December of the same year. After passing the NCLEX, she secured her position in the neurosurgical progressive care unit, where she worked for approximately 1 year. Her aspiration to work in the intensive care unit (ICU) led her to begin picking up shifts in the intermediate unit of the neurosurgical ICU. Recognizing her dedication, the assistant manager offered her a position in the unit, which she gladly accepted. After gaining valuable experience in the neurosurgical ICU, she made the decision to pursue a career in nurse anesthesia. Unfortunately, she did not get accepted into a program during her initial application cycle. Determined to improve her chances, she took 2 college courses and achieved excellent grades to enhance her GPA. Additionally, she transferred to the cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) to further expand her knowledge and skills. Due to understaffing in the CVICU’s sister unit, the advanced cardiac surgical unit (ACSU), she frequently found herself floated to ACSU. Working in ACSU in caring for patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and other cardiac devices proved to be incredibly fulfilling, leading to the decision to make ACSU a permanent unit. When the next application cycle for nurse anesthesia programs opened, she eagerly reapplied. This time, she was waitlisted for AHU but denied admission to Barry University. Approximately 2 weeks after being waitliste
Disclosures
This author has disclosed there are no financial relationships with any health-care related proprietary entity with goods or services relevant to this activity.
The Planning Committee and the CPD Committee members have nothing to disclose.
Diana Joseph, BSN, RN
Diana, a dedicated graduate student at AdventHealth University, demonstrates an exemplary commitment to the field of healthcare. Raised in a low-income community, Diana's early experiences instilled in her a profound sense of compassion and a desire to serve her community. Her journey into the healthcare profession began during her formative years, marked by her proactive engagement as a certified nursing assistant while still in high school. Her determination led her to pursue further education, graduating with Cum Laude at the age of 18.
Throughout her career, Diana has exhibited a remarkable dedication to both academic and practical pursuits. While working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), she concurrently pursued higher education, eventually graduating as first-generation with honors from Miami Dade's Honors College. Her commitment to excellence continued as she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University in 2018.
Diana's passion for service extends beyond the confines of her academic and professional endeavors. Her notable contributions, recognized through the President's Award, include extensive volunteer work with organizations such as Alternative Breaks, Meals on Wheels, and the Miami Rescue Mission. A pivotal moment in Diana's journey occurred during her personal encounter with medical care in a fertility clinic, where the compassionate care provided by a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) inspired her profoundly.
Drawing from her experiences in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Diana has honed her skills in caring for the most vulnerable patients. Her diverse experiences, coupled with her unwavering commitment to learning and growth, have prepared her for the next phase of her career as a CRNA.
Diana's aspirations are deeply rooted in her desire to give back to her community and advocate for those in need, a sentimen
Disclosures
This author has disclosed there are no financial relationships with any health-care related proprietary entity with goods or services relevant to this activity.
The Planning Committee and the CPD Committee members have nothing to disclose.
Emily Medal, BSN, RN, CCRN
Emily is a dedicated student registered nurse anesthetist currently pursuing her graduate degree in nurse anesthesia at AdventHealth University. Her unwavering passion for healthcare and patient well-being has always been the driving force behind her desire to create a positive impact in the lives of others. Before embarking on her current educational journey, she gained invaluable experience as a registered nurse in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU), where she sharpened her skills in critical care and developed a deep appreciation for the intricacies of this specialized field. To position herself as a strong candidate for the ICU immediately after graduating nursing school, she took proactive steps to showcase her value.
Prior to obtaining her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Central Florida, she worked as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) in a progressive care unit (PCU) while studying to become a registered nurse. Preceding her job in PCU, she worked as a volunteer at the hospital visiting sick patients. Moreover, she firmly believes in the significance of giving back to the community. Throughout her undergraduate years, she actively engaged in volunteer work, dedicating countless hours to various causes that hold a special place in her heart. These experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective and reinforced her unwavering commitment to excellence. Driven by her diverse background and steadfast dedication, she is resolute in her pursuit to become a compassionate and highly skilled healthcare professional, ready to make a significant difference in the field of nursing.
Disclosures
This author has disclosed there are no financial relationships with any health-care related proprietary entity with goods or services relevant to this activity.
The Planning Committee and the CPD Committee members have nothing to disclose.
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