Meet Our Faculty

Edward Waters, DNP, CRNA, FAANA
Director

Edward joined as academic faculty in 2003 and became the director in 2019.

Education:

  • BSN: St Louis University, 1984
  • MSN: UCLA, 1988
  • Anesthesia: KPSA, 1996
  • DNP: University of Colorado ,2013

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Obstetrical anesthesia
  • Fluid and electrolyte therapy
  • Diabetes
  • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)
  • Served as a director as well as president of the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
  • Named a Fellow of the AANA in 2021
Sass Elisha, EdD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN
Assistant Director

Sass joined as academic faculty in 2001 and became the Assistant Director- Head of Clinical in 2009.

Education:

  • BSN: CSULB, 1991
  • MSN: KPSA/CSULB, 1996
  • EdD: Pepperdine University, 2005

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Cardiac anatomy and physiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Adult education
  • Clinical evaluation
  • Served as a director with the Council on Accreditation (COA).
  • Named a Fellow of the AANA in 2021
Jennifer Thompson, DNP, CRNA
Assistant Director

Jennifer joined as academic faculty in 2009 and became the Assistant Director, Head of Academics in 2021.

Education:

  • BSN: Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, 1998
  • MSN Anesthesia: KPSA/CSUF, 2004
  • DNP: Southern California, CSU consortium, 2014

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Ultrasound Guidance in peripheral nerve blockade
  • Obstetric anesthesia
  • Bariatrics
  • Pharmacology
  • Patient safety
  • Adult education
  • Multi-media learning
  • Served on and chaired multiple committees with NBCRNA
Sandra Bordi, DNP, CRNA
Academic and Clinical Faculty

Sandra joined as academic faculty in 2007.

Education:

  • BSN: Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • MSN Anesthesia: Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia, 2003
  • DNP: Southern California CSU Consortium, 2014

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Pain physiology
  • Pharmacology and management
  • Endocrine physiology and pathophysiology
  • Geriatric anesthesia
  • Simulation in nurse anesthesia academia
  • Evidence-based practice
  • Admission criteria for nurse anesthesia education
  • Nurse anesthesia policy and advocacy
  • Served on and chaired committees with the NBCRNA and CANA
  • Currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for CANA
  • KPSA Head of Simulation
Jeremy Heiner, EdD, CRNA, FAANA
Academic and Clinical Faculty

Jeremy joined as academic faculty in 2008.

Education:

  • BSN: University of Utah, 2001
  • MSN Anesthesia: CSUF/Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
  • EdD: CSUF, 2013

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Airway
  • Critical events
  • Crisis management
  • Respiratory physiology & pathophysiology
  • Anesthesia simulation
  • Served on and chaired multiple committees with NBCRNA
  • Serves as the KPSA Head of Admissions
Sarah Giron, PhD, CRNA, FAANA
Academic and Clinical Faculty

Sarah joined as faculty of KPSA in 2019.

Education:

  • BS in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology: University of California, San Diego
  • BS in Nursing: Columbia University
  • MS in Nurse Anesthesia: Columbia University
  • PhD in Nursing with emphasis in Psychoneuroimmunology: University of San Diego

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Pain
  • Cardiac
  • Burns
  • Organ Transplant
  • Neuro, Neuromuscular Blockade Pharmacology
  • Inhalational Pharmacology
  • Data Set Analysis
  • Longitudinal Assessment
  • Held numerous positions with CANA and NBCRNA
  • Currently serves on the Board of Directors with NBCRNA
  • Director of the Kaiser Permanente Anesthesia Technology Program since 2021
Mark Gabot, DNP, CRNA, FAANA
Academic and Clinical Faculty

Mark joined as faculty of KPSA in 2022.

Education:

  • BSN: Azusa Pacific University, 2004
  • MSN Anesthesia: Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia/CSU Fullerton, 2007
  • DNP: University of Nevada, Reno, 2021

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Hepatology, hematology, thoracic surgery, and technology for nurse anesthesia practice
  • Patient safety, quality assurance and improvement
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice project coordinator
  • Held positions with CANA
  • Currently serves on multiple committees with AANA
Otoniel “Tony” Castillo
Cer. ATT

Tony joined as faculty of KPAT in 2012.

Education:

  • BA: California Polytechnic University, Pomona

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Anesthesia technology
  • Invasive lines
  • Education
  • Cardiac and transplant procedures
  • Anesthesia gas machines.
  • Served on numerous committees and leadership roles within ASATT and CoA-ATE
  • Current member of the ASATT- NCE item writers committee
  • Serves as a CoA-ATE Site Visitor
Sara Paraspolo
Cer. ATT

Sara joined as faculty of KPAT in 2021.

Education:

  • Graduate of KPAT, 2011
  • S. Biological & Physical Science: Citrus College, 2009

Teaching Areas and Research Interests:

  • Clinical aspects and practices of anesthesia technology
  • Physiology
  • Simulation in anesthesia academia
  • Regional anesthesia.
  • Currently serving with the ASATT-NCE item writers committee

Meet Our Administrative Specialists

Sandra W. Snow-Hinkson
Administrative Specialist III

Sandra has worked for the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia for the last 18 years as an Administrative Specialist III. Sandra attended Ashford University where she completed her baccalaureate in Business Information Systems in 2014 and her MBA in 2015.  Sandra provides clerical support to the faculty and students and assists with new student onboarding and the transition of our KP SRNAs into the workforce.

Janet Stephens
Administrative Specialist III

Janet has worked at Kaiser since 2001 and has been employed at the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia since 2017. Janet provides clerical support to the faculty and assists students to help them transition smoothly through the program.

Meet Our Medical Advisor

Alexander K. Chin, MD
Chief Medical Advisor
  • Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center
  • Chief Medical Advisor, Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
  • Clinical Faculty, California State University, Fullerton

Alexander is a second-generation anesthesiologist. His path to anesthesiology began in high school, when he would attend grand rounds at UC San Francisco with his father. He always knew he wanted to be a physician and started as a hospital volunteer in high school. Later, he worked summers and evenings during the school year at Kaiser Permanente as an anesthesia technician. He finished his undergraduate studies in three years from Stanford University and took another year to pursue a master’s degree in biological sciences.

Alexander attended medical school and completed his anesthesia residency at UC San Francisco. He was President of AMSA during his time at UCSF and participated in lobbying for health issues in Washington, DC. While at UCSF, he was also involved in research on thermo-regulation during anesthesia. Alexander received a grant from Chinese Hospital of SF and presented his research on obstetrical outcomes in the San Francisco Chinese population.

Ramin Zolfagari, MD
Associate Medical Advisor
  • Kaiser Permanente Orange County (Anaheim / Irvine)
  • Associate Medical Advisor, Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
  • Clinical Faculty, California State University, Fullerton

Hello! I began my role as Chief of Anesthesiology in Orange County (Anaheim and Irvine) in December 2019. Previously, I was Physician-In-Charge (PIC) of the OC-Irvine Main OR’s and before that PIC of Sand Canyon SurgiCenter. I have been with Kaiser Permanente since 2006 right after finishing my Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship at Children’s Hospital L.A. I trained at UCI for Anesthesia residency before that and UCI College of Medicine for Medical School. Most importantly, I attended USC for undergrad, majoring in Biological Sciences and Minoring in Spanish. Fight On! I immigrated from Iran with my parents when I was eight years old. We lived in Florida and eventually moved to California when I was 12 years old. My wife Sharon is Korean-American and we have a young son named Cyrus. We have two white Siberian Huskies who I mush with. I enjoy practicing Zen Buddhism, reading, traveling, playing golf, and photography.

Meet Our Clinical Coordinators

Ann Singleton, DNAP, CRNA
UC Irvine Medical Center
Anne Dondis, CRNA
KP Downey Medical Center
Byron Aprecio, CRNA
VA Loma Linda Healthcare System
Christopher Butler, CRNA
KP Panorama City Medical Center
Chad Nonghin, CRNA
KP Irvine Medical Center
Cole Pourciau, DNP, CRNA
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Corry De Robertis, CRNA
KP Los Angeles Medical Center
Cory Thompson, CRNA
KP Woodland Hills Medical Center
Danielle Cuevas, CRNA
Naval Medical Center San Diego
Darlene Falco, CRNA
Kern Medical Center
Erica Nichols, CRNA
KP West Los Angeles Medical Center
Erin Mendez, CRNA
KP Riverside Medical Center
Garyn Pearson, CRNA
Loma Linda University Health
Grayden Shull, CRNA
KP Moanalua Medical Center
Jordyn Hall, CRNA
KP Downey Medical Center
Kelly Kuczwara, CRNA
KP San Diego Medical Center
Loess Zablan, CRNA
KP Fontana & Ontario Medical Centers
Lois MacDonald, CRNA
KP Panorama City Medical Center
Loreto Albaran, CRNA
KP South Bay Medical Center
Marisa Bell, MD
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Mark Gabot, CRNA
KP Fontana & Ontario Medical Centers
Matthew Park, CRNA
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Meagan Zablit, DNP, CRNA
KP San Diego Medical Center
Mike Sliff, CRNA
KP Santa Monica Medical Offices
Natasha Sheehan, CRNA
KP Moanalua Medical Center
Raymond Hussain, CRNA
KP South Bay Medical Center
Ryan Conahan, CRNA
KP Anaheim Medical Center
Susan Kapana, CRNA
KP Downey Medical Center
Tristie Yumul, CRNA
KP Woodland Hills Medical Center
Valerie Sedor, CRNA
KP Fontana & Ontario Medical Centers

Meet Our Alumni

 
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