First Class Of Anesthesiologists Graduate From Nova in Brandon

The first class of anesthesiologist assistants from ’s Brandon campus, 3632 Queen Palm Drive, will graduate Aug. 28.

“The Tampa area, Florida, and the nation in general has a need for more providers of anesthesia,” said Richard E. Davis, dean of NSU’s College of Allied Health and Nursing which runs the AA program.  “With only seven AA programs in the nation, we educate and provide quality AA’s who are ready to work.”

Anesthesiologist assistants work in a care team format with a physician anesthesiologist to render complete anesthesia care.

The 25 NSU graduating anesthesiologist assistant students began their 27- month program in 2009.  Because the field is in high demand, all of these graduates are guaranteed jobs that offer a starting salary between $120,000 and $150,000 according to William Orr, assistant professor and department chair of the anesthesiologist assistant program at Tampa’s NSU campus.

According to Orr, most of the students will begin jobs immediately upon graduation. “Many of our students will be staying in Tampa at Brandon Regional Hospital and New Port Richey Community Hospital, said Orr.  “Others are going to Shands in Gainesville, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and Capitol Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee.”

“Approximately 50 percent of the class are from outside of Florida and have jobs secured in their home states,” Orr added.

Nova also recently launches a at the Brandon campus.