Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 17 Change is often accompanied by new opportunities. The faculty and staff members for the anesthesiologist assistant (AA) programs within NSU’s Department of Anesthesia faced a groundbreaking change with the first year of implementation of the Central Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants (CASAA). For the first time, all AA programs across the country would use similar systems that have proven to be key throughout the admissions process among other health care professional programs. Initiated in May 2015 and culminating this past April, the CASAA was rolled out with minimal expectations; however, these expectations were rapidly exceeded, because the number of appli- cants to the AA programs surpassed all previous years within months of the CASAA’s implementation. While the average annual number of program applicants has been consistent in recent years, the application period ended with more than triple these numbers for the opening year of the CASAA. Both AA programs experienced a significant increase in program applica- tions, resulting in enrichment of the applicant pool. While there were growing pains throughout the first year of the CASAA system’s implementation, the benefits of using such a system in aiding the admissions process are far reaching. The record-breaking number of applicants is believed to be due to the streamlined approach the CASAA offers to program application. Essentially, the CASAA has functioned to further increase the demand for a high-demand professional graduate program, which has contributed to admissions numbers that are equally as competitive as most medical schools. The two existing NSU AA programs are excited to realize the degree of growth that may be experienced in the years to come. n TAMPA BY LLALANDO L. AUSTIN II, ED.D., RRT, CAA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR CASAA Proves Successful in Its First Year