Honoring Excellence in Nurse Anesthesiology
Throughout its history, the California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology has recognized the CRNAs, educators, and advocates who advance and protect our profession. From the Sophie Winton Award, named for the pioneer who helped secure nurse anesthetists' legal standing in California, to honors celebrating exceptional educators, legislative champions, and lifetime achievement, these awards reflect the dedication of those who have shaped anesthesia care in our state. We invite you to explore the recipients whose contributions continue to strengthen our practice and our community.
The Sophie Winton award was established in 1990 to honor a CRNA, or group of CRNAs who have advanced the practice and profession of nurse anesthetists. The award honors Sophie Jevne Winton who assisted in organizing the first meeting of California anesthetists in 1931. Winton devoted her career to the support and establishment of a legal place for nurse anesthetists in the professional practice of anesthesia in California. In 1933 Mrs. Winton lent her financial support in a test case in California that was to have far reaching effects on the practice of nurse anesthetists—the case of Dagmar Nelson vs. Chalmers-Frances. She established a dental outpatient clinic in California and was later awarded honors by the Mexican Dental Society in conjunction with the International Dental Association for her advancement in the delivery of dental anesthesia. At the request of a group of plastic surgeons seeking quality anesthesia, she opened an outpatient plastic surgery clinic, numbering among her patients the likes of Judy Garland, Tyrone Power, Ronald Coleman, and Deanna Durbin. Mrs. Winton was the epitome of the independent practitioner who forged new ground for nurse anesthetists.
Recipients:
2022 Melanie Rowe
2019 Dawn Clark, Karen Huff
2012 Gayle Ulshafer
2011 Elizabeth Wong
2010 Fred Cardinal, James Carey, Karyn Karp, Chris Stein, Gayle Ulshafer, Tim Wolf
2009 Nancy Boyajian
2008 Sandra Erickson
2006 Deborah Haight
2005 Debbie Dach
2003 Ruth Ann Terry
2002 Camille Ranker
2001 Tim Wolf
1990 Joyce Kelly