UANA Elections

President Elect Candidate:

Krystal Tipping

Krystal Tipping

My name is Krystal Tipping. I have three crazy children: 7 year old twins, and a 3 year old little girl. I have been married for 17 years to an amazing, supportive husband. I have been a CRNA for 11+ years, and I love being a nurse anesthetist; I am and incredibly proud of our profession.

I grew up in Ogden, Utah and attended Weber State University where I received my ADN, and BSN degrees. I then had the opportunity to attend and graduate with honors, and received a Masters of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. It was an incredible experience. I received my first job as a CRNA in Gainesville, Georgia at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center. I had an amazing opportunity to learn and grow as a new graduate. I wanted to learn and do it all. I worked with fellow CRNAs on the Labor and Delivery team and the CV team. After two years of working in Georgia, I was offered a position back in Utah with Rocky Mountain Anesthesia at Ogden Regional Medical Center. After almost eight years with Rocky Mountain and the great folks at Ogden Regional, I moved on to becoming an independent contractor. Over the last 11+ years of being a CRNA, I have had the opportunity to work at multiple facilities, offices, surgical centers providing anesthesia and interventional pain injections throughout Northern Utah.

I have had the opportunity to meet many CRNAs throughout this state and understand the worries and concerns we face. Regardless if we are independent contractors, work in rural or urban areas, or are employees of an anesthesia group or hospital organization, we need to be a united front and work together to improve the future of our profession in the State of Utah, and our nation. I have been nominated as a candidate for the position of President-Elect for the UANA. If elected, I will eagerly and gladly serve our association and would be honored to represent the UANA to the best of my abilities. Not only am I aware of the pending changes that could greatly impact us, I understand the importance of details and building bridges to help improve the climate for CRNA’s in our state. With that said, I have a great desire to see our profession, and the Nurse Anesthetists in the state of Utah to be recognized, and respected for the exceptional, safe care we give day in and day out.

Secretary/Treasurer Candidates:

Art Shimata and Eddy Steele

Art Shimata

Hello fellow CRNAs. Many of you I know from many of the UANA meetings but wanted to give you a little background on myself. Originally from Hawaii, I joined the Air Force 1986, and started my medical career as a flight medic. After Desert Storm/Shield I got out and went to nursing school here in Utah at Weber State. After practicing for several years I decided to attend anesthesia school. I finished my BSN and in 1999 I attended Gonzaga University and became a CRNA in 2002. I have been practicing for 16 years doing everything from teaching, to locums, to solo practice, to combined CRNA/MDA practice, owning a business, serving on the UANA as the Federal Political Director and serving as a Board Member. I feel that I know the issues that go along with all of these practices, and duties. I am also open and willing to listen and understand the personal issues that befall us all in our various practices.

I am not seeking election for any misanthropic reasons, but rather, I feel an obligation as a CRNA, to my career. My hopes are to encourage members to voice their concerns. I fully realize the sensitive matter of CRNAs in collaborative practices and opt out issues. I believe that we have to be aware of the growing efforts of MDAs and their encouraging AA programs. I believe we should strongly fight any efforts on this particular front. I know many are busy with their profession, and personal lives, but as a fellow CRNA and member of this great profession it is vital that we all be involved. One letter from one constituent to one senator can and will make the difference. Thank you for all of your efforts to this magnificent profession.

Eddy Steele

My name is Eddy Steele. I grew up in Davis County Utah. I graduated from Westminster’s Nurse Anesthesia program in 2010 and have been working at the VA hospital in Salt Lake since that time. Westminster’s program gave me a chance to learn anesthesia in a variety of settings. I was able to train in all CRNA groups, in care team models where you weren’t allowed to do anything without MD permission and in models where there was good collaboration between MDs and CRNAs. I’m thankful that I was able to see so many models and to know that as CRNAs we add value to all of these models.

I have been a part of UANA since I was in anesthesia school. I have learned a lot from the great people that we have had serve over the years. I hope to continue to add to the UANA as Secretary/Treasurer.  Serving in various positions I have learned that there is only so much that the UANA can do to advance our practice and profession.  We need as many CRNAs in Utah as possible to rise up and take action by calling or writing their legislators, becoming delegates or even consider running for office. The more people in office get to know us as individuals and understand the value we add to healthcare the more we are able to help influence the laws that govern our practice.

Board Member Candidates (Two will be elected):

James Benson, Glen Judd, Sonia Klonoski, Angie Salerno, and Chris Torman

James Benson

My name is James Benson. I was recently nominated to serve as a Board member for the UANA. I received my BSN from the University of Utah and worked in TICU at both LDS Hospital and IMC. I received a MSNA degree from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT in 2010. Shortly after graduation we moved to Columbia, Missouri and worked primarily at The University of Missouri Women’s and Children’s Hospital as well as the University Trauma Center and the University Orthopedic Hospital for 4 years. I also worked at Boone County Hospital and several surgery centers in St. Louis and other areas in Missouri. In 2015 we moved back to Utah and I am currently a partner and co-owner with three other CRNA’s at Cloud Nine Sedation providing office-based anesthesia along the Wasatch Front.

I have worked under every anesthesia model in multiple anesthesia settings in my career. I understand the challenges of these different work environments. As a business owner, I also understand the challenges that we face as independent contractors. I look forward to the opportunity to support our profession and strengthen our position in Utah.

Glen Judd

My name is Glen Judd. I am running for a board member position for the UANA. I have been a CRNA for 13 years. I have worked as a nurse for 22 years. I received my associate degree of Science in Nursing from The College of Southern Idaho and my baccalaureate degree from Weber State University. I received my Master’s from Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia in California. After graduation I worked for the VA in Salt Lake City for a couple years and then later became an independent contractor and worked at Davis hospital’s Labor and Delivery. During this time I independently worked doing anesthesia in clinics, dental offices and with plastic surgeons. I since contracted for two plastic surgeons at Tanner Clinic and am working solely for them. I have been the provider for them for 8 years. I have worked in many different settings from medically directed, to team models, to CRNAs only, to independent. Each setting has given me unique perspectives and insights to those types of practice. All these experiences has shaped me and given me tools that I feel enables me to better serve as a representative of our association. I am very committed to our profession and have served the state in some form since I became a CRNA.

I have had many leadership opportunities that has enabled me work and communicate effectively with others to bring out the best in them. I have been student body president at the College of Southern Idaho. I served in the U.S. Army reserves for 21 years. I retired as a Major in June 2014. I was with 934th Forward Surgical Team at Fort Douglas, Utah and I was the commanding officer. I have served in our association as President, President-Elect, Federal Political Director, and State Government Relations Committee member. I have spent many hours on our Nation’s capital and our State’s capital promoting and defending our scope of practice. I feel it is important to be involved to ensure that we are able to practice to our full scope and enjoy this great profession that we have. I follow 5 simple principles that guide my actions these are; Active Optimism, Decisive Action, Relentless Tenacity, Strong Moral Compass, and Interpersonal Support. These principles provide me a framework that will enable me to serve effectively as your board member. I would be honored to serve with all of you in promoting our great profession.

Sonia Klonoski

I am Sonia Klonoski, Board Member Candidate nominee, I was raised in Apple Valley, California and received my ADN in 2005 from Victor Valley College, my BSN from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2010 and I obtained my Masters of Science in Nurse Anesthesia in 2013 from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. I practiced as a staff anesthetist at Loma Linda University Medical Center from 2013 to 2018 where I served as the CRNA Values in Practice representative. I moved with my family in 2016 to Salt Lake City and have been practicing as an independent 1099 at multiple locations in Utah and Salt Lake counties. I also recently started a part-time staff anesthetist position with the University of Utah.

I have watched the growth of nurse anesthesia opportunities over the past five years here in Utah and it makes me excited about our futures, despite the current challenges we are facing with COVID-19. I welcome the chance to serve my fellow nurse anesthetists and I will be a diligent and consistent voice for the continued advancement of our professional opportunities, I love what we do for our patients and communities! Thank you for your consideration.

Angie Lee Salerno

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in our association and hope to be able to represent our community. I am from Pocatello Idaho in which I received my associate’s degree in nursing from Ricks College and my BSN from Idaho State University. Shortly after obtaining my degree I began working as a peri-operative RN and fell in love with the operating room! After witnessing and working with great anesthesia professionals I developed a strong desire to become a CRNA. After moving to Utah and obtaining years of ICU experience I began my dream of becoming a CRNA and started anesthesia school at Westminster College in the fall of 2009. After graduation I began practicing and currently work at several different facilities, in particular, Jordan Valley Regional Hospital and an outpatient endoscopy center. I currently live in Draper with my two beautiful daughters who are my world.

I would excel as a board member due to my ability and experience working with different personalities. I enjoy working with people and I tend to get along with them easily. I enjoy getting to know new people. I would hope to bring diversity with my background and have innovative ideas and suggestions that I could contribute. I am a hard worker and would enjoy working hard for our association. I would work hard with other members of the board to ensure our association is up to date with protocols and legislation and that all is being done for our best interest! I hope to be of service!

Chris Torman

I am originally from Ogden, UT and graduated from Weber State University in 1999 with a BSN then from the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia in 2003. I completed a DNP at the University of Northern Colorado in Greely and graduated in the spring of 2020. I am an independent practice CRNA at several locations in northern Utah. I was also an administrator in the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) program at Westminster College for eight years. As a former president of the Utah Association of Nurse Anesthetists, I have been an active opponent keeping anesthesia care safe and equitable in the state of Utah. I have remained politically active in issues that affect the practice of anesthesia for my entire career.

I would like to continue to give back to the profession that I respect by serving the CRNAs in the state. I would like to get back on to the board to help with the issues that we continue to face in our state. I believe that my former experience and understanding of the climate and my political networks will help me serve effectively. I will take every opportunity to promote our profession and defend our scope of practice.