Newswise — PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS – Tamra Dukatz, MSN, CRNA, is presented with the 2016 John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award during the Annual Congress of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, held September 9-13, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the practice of anesthesia through clinical research. John F. Garde, CRNA, MS, FAAN, was a leader and visionary in nurse anesthesia in particular and healthcare in general. Among his many accomplishments and achievements, he was a staunch supporter of research and the AANA Foundation.

“I am fervently honored to be chosen as the 2016 John F Garde Researcher of the Year,” said Dukatz. “John Garde demonstrated unparalleled commitment to our nurse anesthesia profession. While at Wayne State University, he mentored the CRNA administrators who subsequently encouraged and supported my diabetes research. I attribute my own opportunities to this heritage, promoted by John Garde and realized in the AANA Foundation. I wholeheartedly thank all my phenomenal Beaumont colleagues.”

Dukatz is a staff nurse anesthetist at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, Mich., and a clinical instructor for the Oakland University Beaumont School of Nurse Anesthesia. After her son and daughter were both diagnosed with Type I diabetes, Dukatz began to conduct clinical trials regarding insulin glargine. Her work on insulin glargine has been published in one journal, and her work on care of patients with diabetes during surgery has been published in four journals. She has presented at numerous national meetings. Dukatz’s enthusiasm has inspired her students to conduct research that is implemented into practice, impacting patients’ lives.

The AANA Foundation congratulates Tamra Dukatz on being named the 2016 recipient of the prestigious John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award.

About the AANA FoundationEstablished in 1981, the AANA Foundation is a charitable organization devoted to anesthesia research and education. The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The Foundation funds health services research, scholarships, doctoral fellowships, post-doctoral fellowships, research grants, general poster sessions, oral "State of the Science" poster sessions and doctoral mentorships. www.aanafoundation.com

About the American Association of Nurse AnesthetistsFounded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional organization representing more than 50,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists across the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses and anesthesia specialists, CRNAs administer approximately 43 million anesthetics to patients in the United States each year and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. In some states, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia professionals in nearly 100 percent of rural hospitals. For more information, visit www.aana.com and www.future-of-anesthesia-care-today.com.