PERSPECTIVES 25th Anniversary - Fall-Winter 2018

24 Nova Southeastern University graduates give back to their profession through their teach- ing of clinical externships for current first- and second-year students, which is motivating in its ability to offer a snapshot of the type of anesthesia care providers these students will soon become. NSU’s AA programs also have influenced education for most other AA training programs. Additionally, some of NSU’s AA alumni have been promoted by their anesthesia groups and currently carry the title of chief anesthetist. One alumna of the Tampa AA Program utilized her knowledge and training to develop an invention that is successful in its prevention of nausea and vomiting, both in and out of the perioperative setting. Two NSU graduates from the initial class of 2008 are active- ly guiding both of NSU’s AA programs. Jermaine Leclerc, M.H.Sc., CAA, program director, has taken the helm for the Fort Lauderdale AA Program, while Llalando L. Austin II, Ed.D., CAA, RRT, continues to lead the Tampa AA Program. Addition- ally, a significant portion of NSU’s AA Program faculty members are also program alumni. Since graduating its inaugural class, NSU’s AA programs have grown into two of the profession’s most sought-after and recognizable programs because of their success, leadership, and academic and clinical excellence. Each year, more than 1,000 applications are received for the two programs, which continue to grow in esteem. In early 2018, the Fort Lauder- dale AA Program displayed its excellence again when it won its first title at the Ethics Bowl, which was hosted at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus. The Tampa program, initially accredited in 2009, was recent- ly awarded continuing accreditation in 2017, receiving zero citations during its accreditation site visit. This is the first time in the history of the programs that this was the result. The professionalism exhibited by the students and faculty and staff members of NSU’s AA programs has left an influence of proficiency that is now encouraged by all other AA programs at the annual conferences. NSU’s AA programs consistently lead each year in the num- ber of student posters presented at the profession’s annual NSU Tampa anesthesiologist assistant students lead the nation in academic performance. national conference. Additionally, the programs have been able to celebrate consistently strong success on the national board exam. To date, the NSU Tampa AA Program has been able to celebrate a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the board exam for five out of seven years. The Fort Lauderdale program has shared equal success on the board exam, with an overall 100 percent pass rate. (continued from previous page)