Breaking barriers and creating pathways for diverse talent in nurse anesthesia

by Liz Boehm
Executive Strategist, Human-Centered Research

Creating a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce requires more than simply opening doors—it requires reaching out, building bridges and providing ongoing support to help individuals thrive. Few people understand this better than Wallena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAAN, the founder of the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program.

For nearly two decades, Dr. Gould’s grassroots, non-profit organization has been a stepping stone for nurses who may not have been aware of career-advancing opportunities or who may have faced barriers to accessing these opportunities. The program helps early- and mid-career nurses navigate the complexities of applying to and succeeding in nurse anesthesia programs. As a result, more than 820 racially diverse critical care nurses have successfully entered 92 of the130 graduate nurse anesthesia programs in the United States. That’s an incredible achievement by any standard. Yet for Dr. Gould, the numbers only tell part of the story.

The Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program is driven by a clear and impactful mission: to inform, empower and mentor marginalized diverse populations with information to prepare them for a successful career in nurse anesthesia. During a Caring Greatly® podcast episode, Dr. Gould shared the motivation behind creating the mentorship program and why mentoring current and future generations is a cornerstone for advancing diversity in healthcare. The barriers to advanced education and leadership roles in healthcare are often systemic and deeply rooted—impacting students and mid-career professionals who may not have the exposure, networks or resources to access these opportunities.

Dr. Gould’s work goes beyond mentorship, aiming to dismantle structural barriers that have traditionally limited access for underrepresented groups. One way she has done this is by consulting on the development of admissions processes that
prioritize holistic criteria over standardized tests like the graduate record examinations (GRE), which often present hurdles that have little to do with a candidate’s potential for success. As the lead consultant for a $1 million HRSA Workforce Diversity Grant at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Nurse Anesthesia Program, Dr. Gould has helped shape a model of inclusive recruitment and support that others can follow.

But Dr. Gould’s influence doesn’t stop at education. As the Chair of the Diversity Task Force for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) in 2015–2016, and a member of the American Academy of Nursing Diversity and Inclusivity
Committee in 2019, she’s driven policy change and fostered dialogue that centers on creating equitable opportunities in the nursing profession. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Dr. Gould has been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Black Nurses Association’s Trailblazer Award and the AANA’s prestigious Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2019. In 2015, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, making her the first CRNA of color to receive this honor—a reflection of her commitment to transforming not just nursing anesthesia, but healthcare as a whole.

So, what’s next for the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program? Dr. Gould said the program will be very intentional in its areas of focus, targeting its mentorship efforts on faculty, pain management and PhD CRNAs. Currently, she said, there are only five Hispanic PhD CRNAs in the entire country out of 61,000 in the workforce. Dr. Gould and her team are continuing to innovate and expand their reach, providing educational resources, mentorship and networking opportunities to ensure that every nurse who dreams of an advanced practice role—and even some who didn’t know that was a possible dream—can access the support they need to succeed.

For healthcare leaders, educators and advocates looking to make a meaningful impact, Dr. Gould’s message is clear: we need to focus on building and nurturing a pipeline of diverse talent, because true transformation happens when every voice is represented and every patient sees themselves in the care they receive.

Patient safety depends on care team safety: takeaways from the 2024 Press Ganey report
October 29, 2024

Humans as an essential source of safety: a frameshift for system resilience
September 4, 2024

A neurosurgeon’s view of compassion 
August 27, 2024

Evidence-based practices support the Coalition’s Declaration of Principles
January 19, 2022

System change is at the heart of wellbeing
November 17, 2021