Craig Vana
MSN, CRNA
Instructor

Bio:     

Craig Vana began in healthcare as a third shift registration clerk in the ED and an EMT-Basic in his first year of college. During college he worked his way up to Lead Paramedic while attending the BSN program the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After graduating with honors, he worked as a RN at the Carle Foundation Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center in Urbana, IL in both the Cardiovascular ICU and Surgical ICU.

After 2 years of critical care, Craig attended The University of Iowa Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia. During this time, he served as Chief SRNA and graduated with honors in 2008. Since 2008 he has spent his career working independently in CRNA only practices in Manchester, IA, Mount Shasta, CA, Grundy Center, IA and now in Columbus, WI. He is a Partner & Chief Clinical Officer in Columbia Anesthesia, LLC. Craig is a Clinical Assistant Professor for Rosalind Franklin University Nurse Anesthesia Program and was named Clinical Instructor of the Year in 2022.

Craig became involved with the Society for Opioid Free Anesthesia by creating the SOFA Resource Guide. He currently serves as Treasurer of SOFA and has also contributed to the SOFA Clinical Medication Reference Tool. He lectures for University SRNA Graduate Programs, Private CE Offerings & State Association Meetings on Opioid-Free Anesthesia, POCUS and Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia. He began teaching with Twin Oaks Anesthesia in 2023.

Education:

  • University of Iowa 2005 - 2008 | Masters of Science in Nursing with Honors

  • University of Illinois at Chicago 1999 - 2003 | Bachelors of Science in Nursing with Honors

  • Provena Regional EMS System 1999 - 2001

Experience:

  • 2019 – Present: Columbia Anesthesia Columbus, WI

  • 2012 - 2018: Grundy County Memorial Hospital Grundy Center, IA

  • 2012: Redding Endoscopy Center Redding, CA

  • 2010 - 2011: Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta Mount Shasta, CA

  • 2010 - Present: Pineal Anesthesia, PC Cedar Falls, IA

  • 2008 - 2010: Health Enterprises & Iowa Anesthesia Cedar Rapids, IA