By Sarah Morgan Johnson
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Associate Professor and PhD Program Director Edwin Aroke, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, has been selected to serve on the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation Board of Trustees.
As the professional home for certified registered nurse anesthetists, the AANA seeks to support its members and advance the science of anesthesia through education and research. In his new role on the AANA Foundation Board of Trustees, Aroke will work to support the Foundation’s mission. He hopes to leverage his experience as an NIH-funded CRNA scientist to connect other CRNAs with NIH-funded research opportunities.
“By focusing on research and scholarship, the AANA Foundation aims to enhance the quality and safety of anesthesia care, benefiting patients and the health care system. With my background as an NIH-funded scientist, I will provide input on policies related to research and the foundation’s priorities, participate in financial oversight and strategic goal setting and serve as an ambassador,” Aroke said.
Involvement in the AANA and AANA Foundation has been a cornerstone of Aroke’s own career as a scholar and a CRNA. He received a scholarship from the AANA Foundation as a graduate student and was awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grant as an Assistant Professor. This AANA Foundations grant paved the way for Aroke’s award-winning research, which focuses on pain disparities and the role of epigenetics in pain.
The AANA Foundation previously named Aroke the John F. Garde Researcher of the Year and inducted him as an AANA Fellow. Aroke is honored by the opportunity to give back to the Foundation through his new role as a Board of Trustees member.
“Serving as a Board of Trustees member for the AANA Foundation is a profound honor for me as a CRNA scientist. It signifies a unique opportunity to lead and inspire advancements in anesthesia research and education. This role will allow me to contribute my expertise to shape the future of our profession, foster innovation and improve patient care. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to be part of a mission that champions the science of anesthesia and supports the next generation of nurse anesthetists,” Aroke said.
