Faculty Awards, Honors, and Public Office
John O'Donnell, DrPH, CRNA, CHSE, FSSH, FAANA, FAAN, CHSE
| 2024 | US News and World Report, #2 Ranking for Nurse Anesthesia DNP Programs, #1 civilian program |
| 2024 | Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) Presidential Service Award Presented at the International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), San Diego, CA |
| 2023 | Sigma Theta Tau International: Lucy S. Kelly Mentoring Award Presented at the Sigma Theta Tau Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX |
| 2023 | President (elected) Council on Accreditation (COA) Educational Programs |
| 2022 | Vice President (elected) Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs |
| 2022 | Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) |
| 2021 | Fellow, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (FAANA), Member of inaugural fellows’ class, AANA Foundation |
| 2020–present | Senior Associate Director, WISER |
| 2020–present | Associate Director, WISER Simulation Fellowship |
| 2020–2024 | Visiting Professor, Taipei Medical University |
| 2020–2023 | Elected Educator Director, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs |
| 2020–2022 | Treasurer, Society for Simulation in Healthcare |
| 2019–2022 | Finance Committee Chair, Society for Simulation in Healthcare |
| 2019–2020 | Co-Chair, Meetings Oversight Commission, Society for Simulation in Healthcare |
| 2019 | Fellow, Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy (one of 2 US CRNAs) |
| 2019–2020 | Founding member, AANA Simulation Sub-Committee |
| 2018 | Carlow University Alumni Laureate |
| 2018–2020 | Visiting Scholar, Siri Raj Hospital, Mahidol University |
| 2017–present | Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator certification, SSIH |
| 2017 | Selected by Chancellor Gallagher to present the BodyExplorer Project at the ACCelerate Exhibition, Smithsonian Institute |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Magazine Nurse Educator of the Year |
| 2017 | PA State Board of Nursing Chair Advanced Practice Committee |
| 2017 | Appointed by Provost to ACIE Learning Management System Review Committee |
| 2017 | Faculty Honoree, Taipei Medical University, Center for Education and Simulation (CEMS) Grand Opening Ceremony |
| 2017 | Co-Chair IMSH International Meeting |
| 2017 | 1st Place, Technology Showcase IMSH International Meeting, Body Explorer System (Doug Nelson PI) |
| 2017 | Invitee, American Heart Association Resuscitation Education Summit |
| 2017 | Recipient of the Chancellor’s Innovation Commercialization Fund (Body Explorer: Augmented Reality Simulator) ($35,000) |
| 2017 | Plenary Speaker, American Heart Association ECC Educational Consensus Conference |
| 2016 | 1st place University of Pittsburgh Medical Education Abstract Competition (Andy Musits PI) |
| 2017 | AANA Anesthesia Payment and Policy Specialist Panel (APPSP) |
| 2016–present | Frank J. Tornetta/LaSalle University/Einstein Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program Advisory Board |
| 2015–2019 | Visiting Professor, Taipei Medical University |
| 2014 | PA State Board of Nursing |
| 2011 | Chancellors Distinguished Teaching Award University of Pittsburgh |
| 2010 | University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Cameos of Caring |
| 2009 | Lifetime alumnus, University of Pittsburgh |
| 2009 | Outstanding Dissertation University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology |
| 2009 | Ake Grenvik Award for Excellence in Education and Assessment in Simulation (WISER) |
| 2006 | National Program Director of the Year 2006, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Presented at 75th annual meeting |
| 2006 | Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Alumni Association |
Nicholas Bircher, MD, FCCM
| 2018 | Selected as Co-Chair, Glycemic Control Task Force, American College of Critical Care Medicine |
| 2014 | Elected to Fellowship, Institute of Systems Wisdom, Philadelphia, PA |
| 2012 | Invited Speaker, 10th China-International Modern Emergency and Disaster Medicine Forum 2012, Beijing, China |
| 2012 | Presidential Citation, Society of Critical Care Medicine |
| 2011 | Presidential Citation, Society of Critical Care Medicine |
| 2011 | Winner, Outstanding Service Award, University Senate, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2010 | Presidential Citation, Society of Critical Care Medicine |
| 2010 | Appointed to Special Task Force for the Reshaping the System of Survival for Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Center for Organizational Dynamics, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
| 2009 | Presidential Citation, Society of Critical Care Medicine |
| 2008 | Invited Speaker, Consensus on Outcomes for Resuscitation Science Conference, American Heart Association, Washington, D.C. |
| 2007 | Invited Speaker, “Hypothermia after TBI 2007,” It’s Hip to Be Cool: Hypothermia and the Injured Brain, Society of Neurosurgical Anesthesia & Critical Care Breakfast Panel, American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting |
| 2005 | Invited Science Expert, International Consensus Conference on Emergency Cardiac Care and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations (C2005), International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation and American Heart Association, Dallas, TX |
| 2005 | Selected as Co-Chair, Glycemic Control Task Force, American College of Critical Care Medicine |
| 2003 | Invited Expert, Wolf Creek VII Conference of Resuscitation Researchers, Palm Springs, June, 2003 |
| 2002 | Invited Topic Expert, American Heart Association, Conference on CPR and ECC, Dallas, October, 2002 |
| 2000 | Invited Topic Expert, American Heart Association, International Guidelines 2000 Conference on CPR and ECC, Dallas |
| 2000 | Invited International Expert, Cerebral Acidosis, Post resuscitative and Initial Utility in Life Saving Efforts, National Institutes of Health, Reston, VA |
| 2000 | Stephen C. Finestone Clinical Instructor Award, Nurse Anesthesia Program, Department of Acute and Tertiary Care, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh |
| 1999 | Invited Topic Expert, American Heart Association, Second International Evidence Evaluation Conference, Dallas |
| 1998 | Invited International Expert, Pan American Congress on Emergency Medicine and Disasters, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Costa Rica and World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine, San Jose |
| 1997 | Co-recipient, Second Place, Research Division, Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award, Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing |
| 1996 | Consultant Reviewer, National American Heart Association Lung and Development Grant-in-Aid Committee |
| 1996 | Invited Speaker, Wolf Creek IV Conference of Resuscitation Researchers, Palm Springs |
| 1996 | Appointed to Medical/Educational Advisory Board, Early Defibrillation Program, Catalyst Research and Communications, Carmel, IN |
| 1996 | Visiting Professor, Seventh International Course on Intensive Care "Jose Manuel Velasco Silez," Hospital Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City, Mexico |
| 1996 | Certificate of Recognition and Honorary Medical Staff Appointment, Hospital Juarez de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico |
| 1996 | Invited Speaker, 25th Annual Educational and Scientific Symposium, Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Orleans, LA |
| 1994 | Honored Faculty Member, Honors Convocation, University of Pittsburgh, |
| 1994 | Invited Guest-of-Honor, Seventh Annual Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Symposium, Paris |
| 1994 | Appointed to Medical Advisory Board, Laerdal Medical Corporation USA, Armonk, NY |
| 1994 | Faculty Opponent, Doctoral Thesis Defense, Faculty of Medicine, University of Uppsala, Sweden |
| 1994 | Invited Commentator, Session on Waiver of Consent in Emergency Research, Changes and Choices for Institutional Review Boards: The Inclusion of Women and Minorities, and Other Emerging Issues in Research, Sponsored by Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research (PRIM&R), Boston |
| 1993 | Honored Faculty Member, Honors Convocation, University of Pittsburgh |
| 1993 | Elected to Membership in the Association of University Anesthesiologists |
| 1993 | Visiting Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke Medical Center, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL |
| 1992 | Fellow, American College of Critical Care Medicine |
| 1992 | Honored Faculty Member, Honors Convocation, University of Pittsburgh |
| 1991 | Invited Expert, United States Department of Transportation Conference on Bystander Care, Miami, FL |
| 1991 | Appointed to International Scientific Advisory Board, Eighth World Congress on Emergency and Disaster Medicine |
| 1991 | Co-Chairman with Vladimir Negovsky, Scientific Session 16.1, "Mechanisms and Methods of Correction of Post-resuscitation Pathology," Constituent Congress, International Society for Pathophysiology, Moscow, USSR |
| 1988 | Invited Guest of Honor, 1st Annual Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Symposium, Washington, D.C. |
| 1989 | Moderator, Section on Disaster Medicine, International Emergency/Disaster Medicine Symposium, Beijing, China |
| 1988 | CPR Program Appreciation Award (Basic Life Support Affiliate Faculty), Montgomery County Division, Maryland Affiliate, American Heart Association, Bethesda, MD |
| 1988 | Navy Commendation Medal (Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Programs) |
| 1988 | Letter of Appreciation, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Six, Washington, D.C. |
| 1986 | Navy Achievement Medal (Quality Assurance) |
| 1985 | Appointed to Committee on Critical Care, American College of Emergency Physicians |
| 1985 | Command Commendation for Quality Assurance, Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD |
| 1985 | Certificate of Appreciation, 1985 Armed Forces Inaugural Committee |
| 1984 | Appointed to World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists CPCR Committee |
| 1984 | Appointed to Disaster Planning Committee, Allegheny County Emergency Medical Services Council |
| 1984 | Invited Expert, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Planning Conference on Emergency Health and Medical Training for Disasters and Mass Casualty Incidents, November |
Megan Dill, DNAP, MSN, CRNA
| 2010–2011 | PANA District V, Recruitment Chair |
| 2009–2010 | PANA District V, President |
| 2009 | PANA District V, President-Elect |
| 2003–2008 | PANA District V Trustee |
Bettina Dixon DNP, MSN, CRNA, CHSE
| 2023–present | Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator certification, SSIH |
| 2019–2021 | Trustee, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
| 2018–2020 | HAI Advisory Panel member, Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority |
| 2018 | University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Cameos of Caring Advanced Practice (clinical focus) |
| 2018 | Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, Doctor or Nursing Practice Winner |
| 2015 | Patient Safety Fellowship from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative |
| 2007–2008 | Chair, PR committee, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
| 2005–2007 | Trustee, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists fand Chair, PR committee |
| 2003 | Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing |
| 2000 | Didactic Instructor of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
| 1989 | Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Outstanding Contributions to Professional Growth, presented by the University Health Center of Pittsburgh School of Anesthesia for Nurses |
Joseph Goode, PhD, MSN, CRNA, CHSE
| 2016 | Margaret E. Wilkes Scholarship Fund Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Simulation in Nursing: Historical Analysis and Theoretical Modeling in Support of a Targeted Clinical Training Intervention. Award Amount: $4000 |
| 2009 | Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Leadership in Nursing Award |
| 2009 | 3rd Place, Junior Scientist Division. Goode, Jr JS, Ranier R, Klain M, Schwartzman D, Buffington CW; The Use of High Frequency Jet Ventilation for Posterior Left Atrial Ablation. Poster presented at the 1st Annual University of Pittsburgh Anesthesiology Research Day, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2006 | 2006 Pennsylvania Didactic Instructor of the Year (co-awarded). Presented by Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
| 2004 | 2004 Pennsylvania CRNA Clinician of the Year. Presented by Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
Richard Henker, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, FAANA
| 2024 | Visiting Faculty, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan Taiwan |
| 2024 | Reviewer, United Nations SURGhub Modules, Global Surgery Foundation |
| 2023 | Founders Award, Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for Excellence in Service. Sigma |
| 2023 | FHI 360 Consultant Pre-service Bachelor’s Degree Curriculum for Nursing Schools in Cambodia |
| 2023–2026 | Chair, International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists Practice Committee |
| 2022–2026 | International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists, Practice Committee |
| 2022–2024 | Editorial Board, Critical Care Explorations |
| 2022–2024 | Secretary, The Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care - G4 Alliance Permanent Council |
| 2022 | FHI 360 Consultant, Pre-service Diploma Curriculum for Nursing Schools in Cambodia |
| 2021–present | Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, AANA |
| 2020–2024 | Visiting Professor, Keio University, Tokyo Japan |
| 2019–present | Board of Directors G4 Alliance |
| 2019–2024 | Chair or Co-Chair, Planning Committee – Biannual Permanent Council Meetings, The Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care 2024 – Peshawar, Pakistan 2024 – Geneva, Switzerland 2023 – Bauru, Brazil 2023 – Geneva, Switzerland 2022 – Dublin, Ireland 2022 – Geneva, Switzerland 2020 & 2021 – Virtual 2019 – Manila, Philippines |
| 2019 | Nurse Influencer, Recognizing 100 nurses with ties to UW. University of Washington School of Nursing Centennial Celebration |
| 2018 | Honoree, Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania 1st Annual Gala, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| 2018 | Visiting Professor funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita Japan |
| 2018 | Luther Christman Award, American Nurses Association |
| 2017–present | AANA representative for The Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anesthesia Care |
| 2017 | Cameos of Caring Award Winner, UPMC Advanced Practice Nurse |
| 2017 | Sheth Distinguished Faculty Award for International Achievement. University Center for International Studies. University of Pittsburgh |
| 2016 | Janice Drake Humanitarian Award AANA, Washington D.C. |
| 2016–2023 | Secretary of Board of Directors, Health Volunteers Overseas |
| 2015–2025 | Board of Directors, Health Volunteers Overseas |
| 2015–2016 | Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs - International Issues Special Interest Group |
| 2015–present | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Reviewer |
| 2014 | Visiting Professor, Mahidol University, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok Thailand |
| 2014 | Visiting Professor, Nakon Phanom University, Nakon Phanom Thailand |
| 2014–2016 | Co-Chair, American Nurses Association Committee on Nursing Practice Standards and Guidelines |
| 2010 | Visiting Professor, Harbin Medical University, Harbin China |
| 2009 | Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing |
| 2009 | Golden Apple Award, Health Volunteers Overseas, Washington D.C. |
| 2009–2017 | American Nurses Association Committee on Nursing Practice Standards and Guidelines |
| 2006 | Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh |
| 2005–present | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Onsite Reviewer |
| 2005 | Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Alumni Association |
| 2004 | Didactic Instructor of the Year, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
| 2000 | Presidential Citation, Society of Critical Care Medicine |
| 1998 | Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing |
| 1995 | Micromedex/ENA Foundation Best Emergency Nursing Research Award |
| 1987 | Excellence in Clinical Practice, Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Mu Chapter |
Laura Wiggins, MSN, DNP, CRNA, Lt. Col (R), USAF
| 2024 | Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Alumni Achievement Award |
| 2024–2025 | Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Vice President; Curriculum Committee |
| 2024–2025 | American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Chair of the Continuing Education Committee |
| 2024–2025 | American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Member of the Continuing Education Committee |
| 2023–present | Program Coordinator for the Pittsburgh CRNA Symposium |
| 2023 | Veteran’s Panel – Annual Advanced Practice Provider Academy |
| 2022–2023 | Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, President |
| 2022 | Daniel D. Vigness Federal Political Director Award – American Association of Nurse Anesthetists |
| 2020–2022 | Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Trustee |
| 2018–2022 | Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Federal Political Director |
| 2017 | Field Grade Officer of the Year – 911th Air Wing, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2017 | Field Grade Officer of the Quarter – 911th Air Wing, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2016 | Recipient, Kuzma Veterans Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh |
| 2016 | Field Grade Officer of the Quarter – 911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron/ 911th Air Wing, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2013–2018 | Key Personnel for USAF Reserves – Top 3% of USAFR Officer Corps |
| 2009 | Clinical Preceptor of the Year – Wright-Patterson AFB Nurse Anesthesia Program |
| 2006 | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist of the Year – United States Air Forces Europe |
| 2006 | 48th Medical Group CRNA of the Year Award |
| 2006 | 48th Medical Operations Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Year |
| 2003 | Most Improved Resident Award – Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Graduate School of Nursing |
| 2003 | Graduate School of Nursing Honor Society – Uniformed Services University |
| 1990–2018 | Military Decorations: Meritorious Service Medal (with one oak leaf cluster) Air Force Commendation Medal (with three oak leaf clusters) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with three devices) Air Medal (for meritorious achievement during aerial flight) National Defense Service Medal (with one device) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border) Air Force Longevity of Service Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon |
Fei Zhang, PhD, CRNA, RN
| 2020–2021 | PI – Center for Research and Evaluation Pilot Funding, University of Pittsburgh Applying Real-Time Analytics to High-Resolution Peri-Operative Data among Non-Cardiac Thoracic Surgery Patients: Intraoperative Risk Assessment through Deep-Learning Methodology ($18,000) |
| 2018–2022 | CO-PI (13% EFFORT); NSF-IIS 1838627 SCH: INT: New Machine Learning Framework to Conduct Anesthesia Risk Stratification and Decision Support for Precision Health ($1,182,305.00) Heng Huang (PI) |