Health and Human Services News

Students and faculty attend the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Congress

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Each year, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Annual Congress brings together nurse anesthetists from around the U.S. and helps them renew their passion for the profession. 

Nine students and two faculty from Missouri State University’s School of Anesthesia attended the 2023 congress. It took place Aug. 18-22. 

Nurse anesthesiology’s largest educational event offers students and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) learning and networking opportunities. Two thousand five hundred students from 120 schools all over the country attended the congress in Seattle, Washington.

“As a first-year CRNA student, it was an amazing experience,” Katie Wills said. “It really got me pumped for my future career!”  

Connecting with professionals 

The AANA congress is both a fun and educational opportunity for student and professional collaboration.   

One of the featured activities at the event was the college bowl, a quiz show where Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNA) compete in an anesthesia trivia competition against currently practicing CRNAs. 

It’s refreshing for students to be around people who are enthusiastic about their profession,” Dr. Jeanie Skibiski, MSU associate professor of anesthesiology, said. “It helps to recharge their batteries and keep them positive.” 

The impact on students 

The event’s workshops covered specialties, such as pediatric, cardiovascular and pharmacology. There were many informative lectures on topics relevant to both SRNAs and CRNAs.  

Additionally, students witnessed live demonstrations such as a CRNA performing a tracheal intubation technique on himself. 

“I learned many things and came back with enthusiasm to share my experience with classmates,” Wills said. “I can’t wait to go back and I hope more of us can attend next year.” 

Learn more about the School of Anesthesia

Uncovering the truth about masking

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With the rise of wearing face masks during the pandemic and in the aftermath, do you know the effects of wearing a surgical mask? Could it cause any harm?

Dr. Patrick Brooks, assistant professor of biomedical sciences at Missouri State University, made it his mission to find out.

In response to disinformation about the safety of surgical masking during the pandemic, Brooks developed a clinical trial alongside Dr. Jill Layman, associate professor in the School of Anesthesia and Jessica Willis, coordinator of the RStats Institute.

The study, titled Physiologic effects of surgical masking in children versus adults, was recently published in the Global Health section of PeerJ Life and Environment, an open access and peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Read the previous article

Putting a stop to disinformation

One common misconception about the effects of masking is unsafe levels of CO2 buildup. However, Brooks and his team found that CO2 levels, oxygen saturation and vital signs all remained well within the normal range after the subjects donned surgical masks.

The research team made sure to recruit as many people as possible for the study. A total of 119 people – 71 adults and 49 children – participated in the study.

Brooks, who’s also a physician and surgeon, wants to ensure people know the truth about masking and that the supposed dangers are only a myth.

“After all, surgical masks have been worn for over 100 years without any physiologic side effects,” Brooks said.

He hopes the results of this well-researched study will help to convince any skeptics.

“We completed the largest and most complete study assessing the physiologic safety of surgical masking,” Brooks said. “This is also the only study to compare adults’ and children’s physiologic responses to masking.”

This is important because there are a few key differences between the two:

  • Breathing rates: Children generally have higher respiratory rates than adults, which means they may breathe more rapidly.
  • Lung capacity: Children’s lung capacities are smaller than those of adults.
  • Facial proportions: Children’s faces are different from adults in terms of size and shape.

The study was officially registered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a clinical trial and is the first to be evaluated by MSU’s Institutional Review Board.

Learn more about the department of biomedical sciences

Faculty fan-favorites

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Keith McShan, assistant professor in the department of kinesiology, and Kati Morgan, clinical assistant professor in the School of Anesthesia, are two valuable faculty members in our McQueary College of Health and Human Services. 

Let’s learn more about them during this last month of the academic year! 

What’s been the funniest thing to happen in your classroom?  

McShan: In my ethics and diversity in American sports class, students ran a youth sports meeting in groups and discussed how they’d run a sports league. They had to address issues related to how they’d integrate refugee students into sports, deal with racism within their sports league and get girls involved in sports, among other topics. Students also had role-playing sessions where they acted as parents, athletes and coaches. The students and I had to leave the room because of the outrageously painful laughing we had during this activity. You had to be there! 

Morgan: My classroom is mostly in hospitals during students’ clinical rotations, but we also help them through rigorous simulation labs at the end of each semester. During simulations, it can get a little crazy. We create intense scenarios where the simulation patient is close to dying and the student needs to step in and resuscitate the person.  Some of these situations can get very interesting! 

Where are you from?   

McShan: Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

Morgan: I’m a Springfield native and went to Hillcrest High School. 

What brought you to Missouri State? 

McShan: I finished my PhD in summer 2022. When looking for a faculty position, I wanted to teach courses in the areas of sport and exercise, psychology and sports management. MSU had these opportunities. 

During the interview process, I was enthused to see Missouri State’s focus on teaching. I was excited to create a club where students could develop their talents and I’ve been afforded that opportunity in creating the Kinesiology Research and Career Club. Finally, and most importantly, I felt God wanted me and my wife here at MSU. We sold everything we owned and moved here in faith, not knowing anyone or having ever even been to Missouri before. Since making that decision, my wife has received a job here at MSU and our daughter will be attending school here in the fall. It’s been the best leap of faith we’ve taken in our marriage. 

Morgan: I completed the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at MSU. I loved the program and the faculty. 

What’s your favorite part about working here?  

McShan: The students; they’re Godly, kind and respectful. I honestly enjoy coming to work every day. I pinch myself sometimes at how lucky I am to work with these students here at MSU. 

Morgan: I love watching our students grow and become confident providers working at the top of their game. Our students and alumni have a huge impact on our community through their anesthesia care. It feels good to be a small part of that.  

My other favorite part of being a member of MSU School of Anesthesia is the opportunity to work with an amazing team. Our department has always made me feel like a valued member of the team, which makes it a happy place to come to work each day. 

Explore the School of Anesthesia

Do you have a favorite class to teach?  

McShan: I love all my classes. It’s like having children—you’re not supposed to have favorites! One of my highlights so far was taking a group of 22 students to the NFL Draft in Kansas City, MO. Between an emergency room visit with a student, having Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers for the first time and having my first KC barbeque, it certainly was a fun and memorable time.     

Morgan: Time spent with students in clinicals is always my favorite!  It’s wonderful to observe how much they grow and the impact they have on their patients. 

Dig into the department of kinesiology

Faculty fan-favorites

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Emery Bryant, instructor in the department of kinesiology, and James Keaton, clinical assistant professor in the School of Anesthesia are two fun members of our expansive MCHHS faculty.  

Let’s get to know them better! 

What’s been the funniest or craziest thing to happen in your classroom?  

Bryant: A baby mouse wandered into class in the middle of yoga and startled us all—not the most relaxing session! 

Keaton: In the middle of a demonstration one of my students yelled, “bingo”.  The class had collected several sayings of mine and created “Keatonism Bingo”.  It was funny to see how intently the students were waiting for my reaction. I LOVED it! We all had a great laugh. 

Where are you from?   

Bryant: Liberty, Missouri. 

Keaton: I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 

Where did you go to school for your undergraduate and graduate degrees? 

Bryant: I went to Missouri State for my undergraduate degree, can I get a bear up?! 

Keaton: I attended the University of Central Arkansas (Go Bears!) for my undergraduate degree, Missouri State University (Go Bears!) for my masters and Texas Wesleyan University (Go Rams!) for my Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP). 

What’s your favorite part about working here?  

Bryant: The friendly and supportive environment. 

Keaton: I enjoy the student interactions in our simulation lab. It’s incredibly rewarding to see a student’s progression from novice anesthesia provider to confident practitioner! 

Dig deep into the department of kinesiology 

Do you have a favorite class to teach?  

Bryant: Yoga, of course! 

Keaton: Pharmacology of Anesthesia (ANE 745) is my favorite class. Nurse Anesthesiologists (CRNAs) manipulate a patient’s physiology with many mediations with varying mechanisms of action. In ANE 745 I get to teach students how to apply physiology and pharmacology to clinical practice. It’s a fun intersection of science, technology, critical thinking and skill. 

Learn more about the School of Anesthesia