[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1424-E1425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO RODNEY C. LESTER, PhD, CNRA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 2003

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute today to an outstanding 
representative from the State of Texas, Rodney C. Lester, PhD, CRNA. 
Dr. Lester will soon complete his year as national president of the 
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). I am very pleased 
that one of Texas's own was tapped as the 2002-2003 president of this 
prestigious national organization.

[[Page E1425]]

  Founded in 1931, the AANA is the professional organization that 
represents more than 30,000 practicing Certified Registered Nurse 
Anesthetists (CRNAs). CRNAs administer more than 65 percent of the 
anesthetics given to patients each year in the United States. They 
provide anesthesia for all types of surgical cases and are the sole 
anesthesia provider in two-thirds of all rural hospitals, providing 
these medical facilities with obstetrical, surgical, and trauma 
stabilization capabilities. They work in every setting in which 
anesthesia is delivered including hospital surgical suites, obstetrical 
delivery rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, and the offices of 
dentists, podiatrists, and plastic surgeons.
  Dr. Lester received his PhD in health education from Texas A&M 
University in College Station, Texas; his master's of science in 
nursing from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee; and his 
master's in business administration from Drury College Breech School of 
Business, Springfield, Missouri. He is currently the Nurse Anesthesia 
Division director and associate professor of clinical nursing at the 
University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, School of Nursing. 
He also serves as a member on the Admissions, Progression and 
Graduation Committee at the school. Previously, he was the director for 
the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of 
Anesthesiology and Critical Care in Houston, Texas.
  Dr. Lester has served terms as president and vice president for the 
Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Adding to his professional 
accomplishments, Dr. Lester has become nationally recognized in both 
publishing and speaking on anesthesia-related topics over the years.
  In addition to his service to the AANA, Dr. Lester served his country 
in the United States Army as an officer and certified registered nurse 
anesthetist. He recently retired from the Army after 5 years active 
duty and 24 years as a reservist.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Dr. 
Rodney Lester, PhD, CRNA, for his notable career and outstanding 
achievements.

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