[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONORING DEBORAH A. CHAMBERS, CRNA, MHSA PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN 
                   ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDSEY O. GRAHAM

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding resident of South Carolina, Deborah A. Chambers. Ms. 
Chambers will soon complete her year as national president of the 
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). I am very pleased 
that one of South Carolina's own was tapped as the 2001-2002 president 
of this prestigious national organization.
  The AANA is the professional association that represents over 28,000 
practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Founded in 
1931, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists is the 
professional association representing CRNAs nationwide. As you may 
know, CRNAs administer more than 65 percent of the anesthetics given to 
patients each year in the United States. CRNAs provide anesthesia for 
all types of surgical cases and are the sole anesthesia provider in 
over two-thirds of rural hospitals, affording these medical facilities 
obstetrical, surgical and trauma stabilization capabilities. They work 
in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered, including hospital 
surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; ambulatory surgical 
centers and the offices of dentists, podiatrists, and plastic surgeons.
  Debbie has been a nurse anesthetist since 1981. She received both her 
anesthesia training and Masters of Health Service Administration at the 
Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, SC. She has been a 
solo practitioner since 1993 at the Microsurgery Center in Anderson, 
SC, as well as in both Greenville Memorial Medical Center and Saint 
Francis Bon Secours Hospital System in Greenville, SC. In addition to 
her role as a solo practitioner, she was the Clinical Coordinator at 
the Medical University of South Carolina School of Nurse Anesthesia at 
Greenville Memorial Medical Center from 1988-2000. Even with her 
demanding schedule as a practicing nurse anesthetist and AANA 
president, Debbie has continued to be active as a CRNA representative 
for pharmaceutical advisory panels such as Pharmacia and Glaxo Smith 
Kline since 2001 in order to advance the practice of anesthesia.
  Debbie has held various leadership positions in the AANA as regional 
director, vice president, and president-elect before becoming the 
national president of the AANA in 2001. Ms. Chambers has actively 
served within the SC Association of Nurse Anesthetist as a District 
Representative on the board of directors and then in 1994 as state 
president. Since 1994, Debbie has taken her experience and knowledge 
from the work place and her AANA leadership roles to lecture on 
political and academic anesthesia related topics before different 
professional groups and societies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today in recognizing 
Ms. Deborah A. Chambers, CRNA, MHSA, for her notable career and 
outstanding achievements. Congratulations Debbie.

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