Park Ridge, Ill. – Paul Santoro, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), has been elected 2008-09 Vice President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

"I have long been active in AANA, but being elected national vice president allows me to advance my profession on an even larger scale," said Santoro. "I take great pride in representing the nation’s CRNAs, who safely administer approximately 30 million anesthetics annually."

Paul is the president and founder of Anesthesia Staffing Consultants, Inc., an anesthesia staffing and consulting company. He is also a member of the allied medical staff of numerous hospitals and surgery centers in the southeast and mid-Michigan areas.

Santoro has previously served as the AANA Treasurer, 2000-02 Region 3 Director, and a member of the AANA Practice, Public Relations, CRNA PAC, and Bylaws Committees. He is also a past President of the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

A CRNA for more than 20 years, Santoro received his master’s degree in nurse anesthesia from the Henry Ford Hospital/University of Detroit Nurse Anesthesia Program in Detroit, Mich., and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Detroit with a bachelor’s degree in science. In addition, he earned his diploma in nursing from the Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing.

Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., AANA is the professional organization for the more than 36,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). As advanced practice nurses, CRNAs administer approximately 27 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States. CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is available and are the sole anesthesia providers in more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals.

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