ODU School of Nursing Appoints New Nurse Anesthesia Program Director
Associate Professor and Chairperson, Karen A. Karlowicz, EdD, RN, is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nathanial "Nate" Apatov as tenured Associate Professor of Nursing, and Graduate Program Director for Nurse Anesthesia. He joins the faculty of the School of Nursing in his new capacity beginning May 10, 2011.
Dr. Apatov received his PhD in Neuroscience (1999) and a MSN in Nursing (1998) from the Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He also holds a MHS (1990) in Nurse Anesthesia from Texas Wesleyan University. Prior to accepting the position at ODU, Dr. Apatov was Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing and Associate Professor of Nurse Anesthesia at the University of Miami. He also holds concurrent positions as Visiting Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of North Florida and as Assistant Professor of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University.
In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Apatov is a highly qualified program director with over 18 years of experience managing both military and civilian nurse anesthesia programs. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in nurse anesthesia curriculum development and program evaluation. Likewise, he is a highly regarded and experienced educator whose primary concern is for student learning, particularly in the areas of pharmacology and pathophysiology.
Dr. Apatov is a past president (2008-2009) of the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, and since 2003 has served as Chairman of the Council of Certification of Nurse Anesthetists. He is a past president of the Hawaii Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, International Anesthesia Research Society, and the American Pain Society.
The appointment of Dr. Apatov follows the successful re-accreditation of the ODU Nurse Anesthesia Program by the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs in January 2011. He fills the position temporarily held by Beth Eargle, CRNA as Interim Program Director. Karen Gillikin, CRNA, will remain as Interim Associate Program Director (half-time capacity) through June 2012. The School of Nursing is grateful for the dedicated professionalism of Beth and Karen during this past year of transition. We look forward to admitting a new class of nurse anesthesia students in fall 2011, and to the exciting changes ahead for the ODU Nurse Anesthesia Program with the leadership of Dr. Apatov.