Frank Maziarski 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.
Inducted 2006
