Frank Maziarski
Frank Maziarski, CRNA, BSN, MS, CLNC has excelled in every aspect of his nursing career. He first received his Diploma in Nursing from Creedmoor State Hospital School of Nursing in Long Island New York. Frank then received his Diploma in Anesthesia from Albany Medical Center in Albany New York. He then went on to receive both his Bachelors and Masters in Nursing from the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
Frank is a shining example to any nurse on how to lead a long and illustrious career in nursing. First as a clinical practitioner, he was the second Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to receive an Officer’s Commission into the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. He then proved his heroism by his distinguished service in the Viet Nam war, providing anesthesia in the combat zone. He then became an instructor in the Army School of Nurse Anesthesia, and then a Course Director.
After retiring from the Army, Frank continued his role as an educator, becoming director of the School of Nurse Anesthesia in Nebraska. After 10 years in that position, he then followed an opportunity to return to the Pacific Northwest, his chosen home. As Frank has often remarked, while he was born in New York, his heart is in the Northwest.
Taking a position at the University of Washington as a staff CRNA in 1987, Frank helped train many of the MD anesthesiology residents, who came to highly regard his vast clinical acumen. All the while he was contributing to his profession via submissions to scientific journals on the art and science of anesthesia.
Progressing on his path from clinician to educator, Frank spread his net wider and developed his role in public service as a patient advocate, the nursing profession, and nurse anesthesia. Frank has been a member of WSNA since 1991, and has been active with both the WSNA Legislative Committee and the Washington State Nurses Foundation. Frank also served o the ARNP United Executive Committee as well as their Legislative Committee.
Frank served on the Board of the Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists for many years, becoming President in 1993. He was one of the first members of the National Patient Safety Foundation and also served on the Board of the Council on Public Interest in Anesthesia. From 1997 to 2004, Frank was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Washington Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission where he was elected twice as the Chairman of the Nursing Commission.
Frank’s talents and aspirations then took him to the national arena where he was elected Regional Director for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), then Vice President, and finally in 2004, he was elected President of AANA. During his tenure as President of AANA, Frank put into place many programs that will affect CRNAs and their patients for many years to come. Of particular note was his creation of the AANA’s new Wellness Program, memorializing one of their fallen leaders while at the same time providing for the health and saving the lives of many CRNAs.
Frank’s contributions to the Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists over his professional career and his tenure on the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission went above and beyond the duty required of any professional. Not content to simply serve, he spent countless hours working with his peers and other stakeholders to improve the quality of his profession. Always a thoughtful decision maker, he never shied away from controversy, proving a calm harbor in the often stormy seas of Washington State politics.
Frank is a pioneer in expanding the role for men in nursing. He is a shining example to all men who contemplate a lifelong career in nursing. His long career as an educator has directly guaranteed the progress of our profession by producing hundreds of quality graduates. As an administrator of educational programs, Frank helped develop curricula moving nursing anesthesia education to a Master’s level, guaranteeing the success of our profession. Frank has truly distinguished himself at all levels of the nursing profession.