2023 Winter Conference

Join us in-person Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at LA Live. Take an ED Day and join us in-person. You may also join the Conference via Zoom Webinar from the comfort of your own home.

A limited number of rooms are available at the JW Marriott Los Angles at a discounted rate of $299 before tax and fees. * If you are interested in reserving a room please contact the office via email at heather@kpnaa.org.

*Note: Attendees who book rooms are responsible for all rates and fees even if canceled prior to the event.

Pending 4 CEs from AANA.

Click here to Register Now

Click here to Register for Zoom Webinar


Saturday, January 28, 2023

Agenda

8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast for on-site attendees

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

How CANA Protects CRNA Practice in CA
Melanie Rowe, MSNA, CRNA

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Current and Future Initiatives of California Association of Nurse Anesthetist: 2023 President’s Perspective
Elizabeth Bamgbose, PhD, CRNA

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

A Description of Impostor Phenomenon in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists
Jeffrey, R Darna, PhD, DNP, CRNA, ACNP-BC

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch Break

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Surviving a Deposition
Kerrie Klein, MSN, CRNA

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

KPNAA Business Meeting (Members Only)

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

KPNAA Attorney Jay Smith (Members Only)


Meet Our Speakers





Elizabeth Bamgbose, PhD, CRNA

Elizabeth Bamgbose, PhD, CRNA is a Program Director and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Program of Nurse Anesthesia.  She has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of nursing and health care at prestigious medical centers on the East and West coast, including her current role where she oversees the doctoral preparation of 72 nurse anesthetist students. Dr. Bamgbose continues to practice in the clinical setting at part-time effort, allowing her to align current practice trends with the content for didactic courses she delivers. Dr. Bamgbose also oversees the research division at the Program of Nurse Anesthesia, which guides each student to complete and disseminate a doctoral research project. This facet of her career has granted access to continually grow her own research portfolio while simultaneously enlightening future nurse anesthesiologists on the importance of translational science. Her research focuses on both maternal well-being in obstetrics as well as wellness of the student nurse anesthetist. On the national platform, Dr. Bamgbose is a member of the AANA Infection Control Advisory Panel and the NBCRNA NCE Item Writing Committee. With a passion for advancing the profession of nurse anesthesia through advocacy, Dr. Bamgbose feels great pride in representing the brilliant members of the California Association of Nurse Anesthetists as President this current year; she has also served in many other roles on the board as well as in committees and appointed positions.






Jeffrey R. Darna, PhD, DNP, CRNA, ACNP-BC

Dr. Darna has been a CRNA and nurse practitioner for nearly twenty years. He was educated at the University of Connecticut (BSN), Yale University (MSN), New York University (DNP), and most recently the University of San Diego (Ph.D.). He is a program director for the University of Southern California Program of Nurse Anesthesia. His research interests include health policy, practice equity, and reducing health care disparities. Dr. Darna is the immediate past president of the California Association of Nurse Anesthetists.







Kerrie Klein, MSN, CRNA

Ms. Klein is a clinical Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who has practiced in both hospital based and independent private practice settings. She graduated from the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia in 2012, where she received the Agatha Hodgins Memorial Award recognizing the outstanding graduate nurse anesthetist of the year. Ms. Klein has served as a Clinical Coordinator for Student Nurse Anesthetists, and on the Board of Directors for the Kaiser Permanente Nurse Anesthetist Association. Ms. Klein has worked with the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)–both on the Standard Setting Panel, and as a content expert for the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program. Ms. Klein’s passion is to promote the visibility of CRNA practice to the public, and to cultivate the professional image of CRNAs.

Ms. Klein chose to pursue a career as a CRNA after working as a paramedic for almost ten years, both in Fire Department (911/emergency/flight) and critical care transport for UCLA Medical Center. The CRNAs Ms. Klein encountered as paramedic were like “rockstars” she wanted to emulate. In her free time, Ms. Klein enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends and has a special talent for bringing people together and ensuring all feel valued.






Melanie Rowe, MSNA, CRNA

Melanie Rowe, MSNA, CRNA received her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Westminster University in 2009. She has served as the CANA PAC Chair since 2012 and a member of the CANA Practice Division since 2016 where she is now the Director. Melanie has been inspired by the CRNAs before her who have defended this great profession and is passionate about protecting CRNA practice in California. She has been a Senior Nurse Anesthetist at UC Davis Health in Sacramento since 2010 where she represents CRNAs on the Advance Practice Provider Unit Based Council. She also Co-Chairs the CA APRN Coalition with HealthImpact, whose mission is to shape health care through workforce strategy, stakeholder convening, and policy advocacy. Melanie was honored with the Sophie Winton Award for distinguished service to CANA in 2022.






Jay Smith, JD

Jay Smith is a shareholder in Gilbert & Sackman, and joined the firm in 1993. He has represented labor unions and their members for over 36 years. He was previously a partner in the Birmingham, Alabama law firm of Cooper, Mitch, Crawford, Kuykendall & Whatley, and before that he was a jury trial plaintiffs’ and criminal defense lawyer for two years at Higgs and Conchin, P.C. in Huntsville, Alabama. Prior to that, just after finishing law school and passing the bar, Mr. Smith served for a year as a VISTA Volunteer, where his project was to launch the Old Firehouse Homeless Shelter in Birmingham, Alabama, which still serves homeless people today, thirty-eight years later. He comes from a working class family in Gadsden, Alabama.

Mr. Smith began representing KPNAA in 2022, after the tragic passing of long-term and deeply treasured counsel Joe Kaplon. Mr. Smith has represented the United Steelworkers International Union for almost his entire legal career, and serves as USW’s District Counsel for the eleven western states. In addition to KPNAA, he is also honored to represent other strong labor unions, including UNAC/UHCP, AFSCME, AGVA, UFCW Local 324, many USW local unions, and IATSE Locals 44, B-192, and 768. In addition to his representation of USW in eleven states, Mr. Smith serves as chief outside counsel for several unions in Southern California or the state. He appears regularly in federal and state courts, before the NLRB and PERB, before arbitrators, and in collective bargaining negotiations. He also represents plaintiffs in class action litigation, primarily in claims involving wage and hour laws. He has participated in special litigation projects in the firm’s Taft-Hartley/ERISA benefits practice. Finally, Mr. Smith frequently provides training in labor and employment topics to unions’ professional staff, local union officers, and stewards.

Read more about Jay Smith.