Dr. Paul Austin, a faculty member in the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia since 2008, has been elected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing for 2023. Around the world, 253 nurses, only 8 of them CRNAs, received this year’s honor.

Dr. Austin has had an illustrious career as a clinician and educator. Graduating from a diploma program in 1978 and completing his BSN in 1980, Paul joined the US Air Force. He attended the Navy nurse anesthesia program in 1985, completed his Master’s degree in 1990, and by 1995 was the Director of the Air Force nurse anesthesia program. Dr. Austin’s final stop in formal education was to the University of Cincinnati, obtaining his Ph.D.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, fellow veteran and GPNA Program Director, John Martin, reached out to Dr. Austin. Needing a consultant for the Master’s to Completion Doctorate program at Texas Wesleyan, Dr. Austin was the perfect choice. Not only was Dr. Austin successful in helping to launch the new program, he became a permanent faculty member and Assistant Director for Curriculum. First opened in August 2008, 275 Master’s prepared CRNAs have obtained a Doctorate of Nursing Practice through this program. As the final student graduates in August, Dr. Austin will move full-time from the completion program to the Bachelor to Doctorate program.

When asked, “what excites you the most about the profession?” Dr. Austin replied, “How broadly one can specialize”. He went on to say how humbling it is to receive such an honor and how he looks forward to continuing to mentor other nurses.

Texas Wesleyan is honored to have such respected faculty!