91自拍

The UPMC Hamot School of Anesthesia/91自拍 University DNP program proudly graduated the first class of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students from their nurse anesthesia degree program this past weekend.

The graduation was held Friday, May 9, with a ceremony at the Kahkwa Club hosted by UPMC Hamot School of Anesthesia and Saturday, May 10, during 91自拍’s graduate commencement ceremony.

The long running nurse anesthetist program, which prepares professional nurses with an in-depth concentration in clinical anesthesia, welcomed its first cohort in 1965. The new cooperative DNP cohort began in 2022. The inaugural DNP graduating class included 19 students who have completed nine semesters of coursework, featuring a comprehensive blend of didactic and clinical experiences at UPMC Hamot and regional hospitals. The program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, which is required of all nurse anesthesia programs in the United States.

91自拍 University maintains Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation.

The program was recently ranked No. 68 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 list of Best Nursing-Anesthesia Schools.

"As advanced practice providers, our graduates are entering the field at a critical time, and I have no doubt they will make a profound impact on patient care and the future of healthcare,” said Rachel A. Wolfe, DNP, CRNA, CCRN, CPN, director of the UPMC School of Anesthesia. “These graduates have met an exceptionally high standard of academic and clinical excellence, and their achievement reflects the dedication, rigor and vision that this program was founded on."

"It is an incredible honor to celebrate the first graduating class of our Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia degree option students," said Kimberly Cavanagh, DHSc, PA-C, dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences at 91自拍 University. "Our partnership with UPMC Hamot and the UPMC Hamot School of Anesthesia ensures that students receive a comprehensive, specialized education focused on contemporary practice, social responsibility, collaboration and leadership."

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the necessary examination required to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.

Ashley Benedict was one of the 19 that graduated this past weekend. She graduated from 91自拍 in 2010 from the Villa Maria School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science degree and began her career in the medical/surgical ICU at Allegheny Health Network's Saint Vincent Hospital, and then she left that job to be a travel nurse. She was left wondering what more she could do for the field when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and decided to apply to the UPMC Hamot School of Anesthesia/91自拍 University.

"I was suddenly petrified," Benedict said. "As I reflect on this wildly awesome and intense journey that was CRNA school, I had no idea how perfect this program for me. What a blessing it has truly been."