Contributing Excellence as a Nurse Anesthetist

Christian Falyar, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the West Virginia University School of Nursing in 1995, was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (FAANA) during the AANA’s recent Annual Congress in Chicago.

The AANA is the national organization representing nearly 59,000 of the nation’s CRNAs and student nurse anesthetists, anesthesia experts who deliver more than 50 million anesthetics to patients across the United States each year.

Falyar was part of the AANA’s second class of FAANAs, a select group of anesthesia professionals who are recognized as accomplished leaders and outstanding practitioners, educators, researchers, and advocates for the profession.

“Being selected as a fellow of the AANA is a great honor,” Falyar said. “It is validation by your association and peers of your dedication and contributions to the profession.”

Currently, Falyar is Director of the Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship for the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia in Madison, Tenn.; a content expert for APEX Anesthesia Education, Richmond, Va.; and owner of VAULT (Virginia Ultrasound), an online education and consulting business.

“I’m indebted to many CRNAs for the positive impact they’ve had on my career,” Falyar said, pointing out two individuals in particular. “Mike Fallacaro, the former program chair at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), saw the potential in me as both a student and faculty member, and Chuck Biddle, editor of the AANA Journal, taught me the value of research in our profession and always pushed me to find answers when I didn’t think they existed.”

After receiving his BSN from WVU, Falyar went on to earn his Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) in 2009 and Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) in 2010, both from VCU.

“Nurse anesthesia is a great career, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Falyar said. “I tell nurses and nursing students interested in pursuing a career in nurse anesthesia that if you are doing it for the right reasons, you’ll never question the amount of time and effort it takes to achieve your dream.”

Falyar and his wife, Susan, have two daughters, Morgan and Mason.