UC and CAMC Partnering on Nurse Anesthesia Program

To address the increased demand for certified nurse anesthetists, the University of Charleston (UC) and Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) will launch a new Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program this fall.

Classes will be held at UC’s Charleston campus, and clinical rotations will be conducted at CAMC and Vandalia Health’s hospitals, including CAMC General, CAMC Memorial, and CAMC Women and Children’s. UC’s Healthcare Simulation Center, Virtual Reality Lab, and CAMC’s Center for Learning and Research will be used for hands-on lab and simulation training.

“CAMC has been a pioneer in educating nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for decades,” according to CAMC President and CEO Dave Ramsey.  “Our approach to training programs has evolved as the education landscape has evolved.  We already partner closely with UC on nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant, radiology, and other programs where we have critical staffing needs.  We are excited to collaborate on the DNAP program with UC, a university that consistently prepares students to become certified practitioners.”

The DNAP program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) and approved by the Higher Learning Commission.  Applications are open for thirty new students to fill the inaugural class of 2027 that will start in August 2024.  DNAP program information can be found here: https://www.ucwv.edu/academics/majors-degrees/doctor-of-nurse-anesthesia-practice/.

“UC is a leader in healthcare education,” shared UC President Marty Roth. “We offer a robust portfolio of programs to help address the state and region’s workforce needs. Each program integrates exceptional lab, simulation, and clinical experiences using state-of-the-art technology, and our students achieve exceptionally high pass rates on licensure exams.  CAMC and UC share common goals to enhance the quality of life in West Virginia.  Preparing the next generation of CRNAs by leveraging our combined education and medical expertise is a logical progression for both organizations.”

Dr. Megan Orphanos will serve as the DNAP Program Director.  She brings over a decade of clinical CRNA and DNAP program experience to the position.  She will also oversee the completion of currently enrolled students in the CAMC-Marshall University DNAP program that will conclude in Spring 2026.