School of Nursing launches nurse anesthesia doctoral program

The University of Rochester School of Nursing is launching a nurse anesthesia doctoral program, with plans to welcome an inaugural cohort in Summer 2027.

Anesthesiology is one of the most in-demand subfields in healthcare, but faces severe shortages across the nation. Employment for the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) role is expected to grow by 38% by 2032, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) reports. This boost to the nurse anesthesia workforce would be especially impactful for rural areas, where CRNAs make up about 80% of anesthesia providers.

“To best serve our surgical service patients, we must come together to produce physicians and nurse anesthetists in a meaningful, thoughtful way. We want to have graduates who are ready to take the world by storm as clinicians, academics, leaders, and administrators,” said Program Director Alison Henry, CRNA, DNP, MSN. 

The new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program at URochester, with a dual focus in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP), is a full-time, 36-month program designed for registered nurses seeking preparation in both nurse anesthesia and acute care management of adult and older adult populations.

The program will prepare graduates to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care in complex clinical environments such as operating rooms, intensive care units, emergency departments, and specialty surgical services.

In addition to completing coursework at Upstate New York’s No. 1 nursing school, CRNA students will gain hands-on clinical experience across the University of Rochester Medicine network and in settings throughout the Rochester and Buffalo region.

“The development of our CRNA program is an exciting moment in School of Nursing’s rich, 100-year history, reflecting our continued commitment to addressing our community’s most urgent health concerns and creating new opportunities for nurses to advance their careers,” said School of Nursing Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN.

“Under Dr. Henry’s leadership, and with support and collaboration across our academic medical center community, we are well-positioned to prepare future nurse anesthetists to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care.”

The deadline for applicants seeking admission to the CRNA program for Summer 2027 is Aug. 31, 2026. Prospective students are invited to join virtual info sessions with program faculty and the Admissions team on Wednesday, May 27, with a 6 p.m. session and 8 p.m. session.

Meet program faculty and learn more about the School of Nursing at an Open House on June 9 at 5 p.m.

Learn more about the DNP Nurse Anesthesia program.