Chris Erlichman, BSN, RN and Yanet Segura, BSN, RN receive the 2022 Goldie Brangman Award

Goldie Brangman, CRNA, MEd, MBA was an accomplished CRNA and exceptional mentor. Goldie served as the first and only African American President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and President of NYSANA from 1960 - 1961. She famously treated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after a near-fatal assassination attempt in 1958.

Every year at the Annual Fall Meeting the Goldie Brangman Award winner is announced. This year, two nurse anesthesia residents were named for their outstanding research and demonstrated work.

Chris Erlichman, BSN, RN and Yanet Segura, BSN, RN (Albany Medical College of Nurse Anesthesia) were recognized for their presentation on Evaluating Analgesic and Pulmonary Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Fascial Plane Blocks as an Early Intervention in Multiple-Rib Fractures.

Read below to learn more about Chris and Yanet, their research and what it means to be named recipients.

Why is it important to be NYSANA members?

Yanet: Being NYSANA members can only solidify our induction into the profession that has provided anesthesia in the United States for over 150 years. As residents of New York State (the ONLY state remaining without a CRNA scope of practice bill), it is so imperative that we are part of this professional organization. As we fight for recognition, we aim to communicate how vital [CRNAs] are to patients and the country's healthcare system. We owe it to the future of nurse anesthesiology, a career we vigorously fought to join.  

Why does evaluating Analgesic and Pulmonary Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Fascial Plane Blocks as an Early Intervention in Multiple-Rib Fractures interest or excite you?

Chris: As Trauma ICU nurses, we saw patients with multiple-rib fractures that could have benefited tremendously from regional anesthesia and analgesia. Implementing the latest techniques to combat pain, especially in those with chest trauma, is crucial to improving patient outcomes. We firmly believe many patients go without these services because of a lack of familiarity among those taking care of them daily. There should be a more diligent push to include anesthesia experts’ input wherever there is a conversation about pain management. Thus, as highly trained and skillful anesthesia providers, CRNAs should step up to the call. 

As we currently complete our education to become nurse anesthetists, we strive to practice to the full extent of our training, including using regional anesthesia for pain management across a broad patient population. Acknowledging this early on in our new career allows us to advance the profession, open the door for more jobs, and, most importantly, improve access to care for our patients.

What does it mean to you both to be awarded this recognition?

Yanet: As minority students who are both first-generation college graduates, we have a unique appreciation for this award. Ms. Brangman made considerable contributions to our profession, and we only hope to one day fill a small portion of her shoes. Here's to her providing the foundation while we stand on the shoulders of giants and try to contribute our piece to the history of nurse anesthesia.

What do you hope to gain from being members of NYSANA?

Chris: As students, we experienced and interacted with members of national and state organizations and saw firsthand how vital it is to the advancement of CRNAs. NYSANA provides the infrastructure needed for nurse anesthetists in New York to unite and protect this profession. We hope that with our active membership, we can tackle the challenges we face on our home turf.