Kara Hedman, DNP, CRNA
NYSANA President 

Kara began her nursing career in the Intensive Care Unit at Highland Hospital after completing her nursing degree. She went on to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia from the University at Buffalo and has since practiced as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in a variety of hospitals and surgical centers across the Rochester, New York region. With nearly a decade of clinical experience, Kara is dedicated to advancing safe, evidence-based anesthesia care and supporting the highest standards of practice within the profession.

Rachel Dubay, DNAP, CRNA
President-Elect

Rachel received her BSN from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1998. She spent the next 13 years working in the Cardiac ICU at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY as well as the Emergency Room at Saratoga Hospital. She pursued her degree in Nurse Anesthesia at Albany Medical College and graduated with her MSN in 2013 where she received the Geraldine MacDowell Award for outstanding academic and clinical achievement. After graduation, Rachel worked at St. Peter’s Hospital for the Anesthesia Group of Albany. In 2017, she returned to Albany Medical College’s Center for Nurse Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, sharing her knowledge and her love for teaching. In 2020, she completed her doctorate and earned her DNAP from Central Connecticut State. You can find Rachel in the classroom sharing her love for teaching, in the operating room, shopping or spending time with her family and her golden retriever Jax. She joined the NYSANA Board of Directors in 2022 as a Director and has led several committees including Programs and Educational Districts. She currently is faculty at Albany Medical College Center for Nurse Anesthesiology as an Academic Coordinator and the incoming President-elect for NYSANA.  She is passionate about advocating for the CRNA profession and enhancing the member experience.

Joseph Gnolfo III , DNP, MS, BSN, CRNA, ACNP
Secretary 

Joseph attended Stony Brook University and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He subsequently graduated from Yale-St. Raphael’s School of Nurse Anesthesia in New Haven CT with a Masters in Biology and Nurse Anesthesia and later would earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia from Buffalo University. He had previously served as faculty and staff CRNA at St. Raphael’s Hospital, Staff CRNA at Hartford Hospital. For the past 14 years he has worked at Stony Brook University Hospital as a CRNA and Director of Nurse Anesthesiology, Chief CRNA, and Clinical Coordinator of Nurse Anesthesia Education. Joseph has served as Chair of the Resident Liaison Committee for the NYSANA for the past year. While pursuing a career in nursing Joseph spent a short time with the NYPD. In his personal time Joseph is an avid fisherman, husband, and a father of three children.

Michael Cogan, DNP, CRNA
NYSANA Immediate Past President

Michael earned his BSN in Nursing from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, in 2000, his MSN, Nurse Anesthesia, in 2009, from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and his DNP from Chamberlain University in 2024. He has served as adjunct faculty for Rutgers University and Hofstra University. He is currently employed at Stony Brook University Hospital in Long Island, NY. Michael has completed numerous medical missions in his career, delivering anesthesia to children receiving life-changing surgeries. When not working, Michael enjoys exploring the world and traveling the Northeast on his boat with his wife Leigh.  

Mark Blazey, MS, CRNA, DNP
Treasurer

Dr. Blazey received his BSN at the University of Buffalo and graduated from the Nurse Anesthesia program at Northeastern University in 2013. He earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Northeastern University in May 2020, with a scholarly project titled Development of a Preoperative Educational Pediatric Interactive Relational Agent Using E-Delphi. Dr. Blazey currently provides clinical care in all anesthesia areas at Niagara Frontier Anesthesia Services, New York.

Christian Cansino DNP, CRNA, FNP, ACNP 
Director

Christian Cansino, DNP, CRNA, FNP, ACNP is a practicing nurse anesthetist, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Columbia University, and healthcare entrepreneur based in New York City. He provides anesthesia care across multiple hospital systems while teaching nurse anesthesia students in pharmacology and crisis resource management. His work focuses on advancing education through innovation, including the development of AI-driven learning tools and simulation-based training. In addition to his clinical and academic roles, he is currently pursuing an MBA at Columbia Business School with a focus on healthcare strategy and artificial intelligence, and is the co-founder of a health technology company aimed at improving inefficiencies in healthcare education.

Jennifer Ross Majumdar, PhD, MSN, CRNA
Director

Jennifer Ross Majumdar, PhD, MSN, CRNA earned her BSN from Washington State University, her MSN in Nurse Anesthesia from Boston College's Connell School of Nursing, and her PhD in Nursing from The Catholic University of America. She began her career as an ED and ICU nurse at Providence Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, WA, and has practiced as a CRNA at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center since 2015, where she now serves as a Nurse Scientist. Her research focuses on perioperative symptom science, caregiver distress during ambulatory oncology surgery, and wellness and safety among nurse anesthesia providers and students. She is Assistant Professor and Assistant Specialty Director of the Nurse Anesthesia DNP Program at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing (CUNY), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nurse Anesthesia Education, and serves on the AANA Educator Podcast Steering and Membership Committees. Within NYSANA, she chairs the Educational Program and Nominating Committees.

Christina Massaro, MSN, CRNA
Director

Chrissy Massaro is a CRNA based in New York City. She specializes in cardiac anesthesia and has been practicing since she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017, where she also worked as a cardiac surgery ICU nurse. Before her nursing career, Chrissy graduated from Eastern University with a BS in Psychology and worked as a Community Support Professional for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Today, Chrissy integrates her communication skills into her passion for elevating the practice of her peers, manifested by leading ultrasound-guided IV and central line workshops in her workplace, hosting annual simulation conferences for aspiring CRNAs, and serving as the CEO of Confident Care Academy, an online continuing education platform to provide continuing education and mentorship for critical care nurses and future CRNAs.

Sabrina Petrillo, DNP, CRNA, AGACNP-BC
Director

Sabrina is a practicing nurse anesthetist at Northwell Health in New York City.  Throughout her years as a CRNA, she provided lectures on pain management to staff nurses and advanced care providers, organized a Perioperative Skills Day to educate staff about pertinent aspects of anesthesia, provided PACU nurses with a preparatory course to attain their certification, and implemented an outpatient orthopedic ERAS protocol.  These opportunities earned her the CRNA of the Year Award in 2017 and the Clinical Nursing Excellence Award in 2019 at New York Presbyterian- Lower Manhattan Hospital.

Sabrina received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Quinnipiac University, her Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, from Columbia University, where she received the Anne Penland Award, and her BSN training at Dominican College. She is currently the assistant director of the AGACNP-CRNA- DNP program at Hofstra University. During this time, she graduated from the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and became a board-certified nurse practitioner. Being a lifelong student, Sabrina is incorporating the nurse practitioner's role to provide quality health care as a full-service provider while supporting the nurse anesthesia students during their program. She hopes her work with NYSANA will continue promoting and improving the CRNA profession in New York State.

Antonio Leonardo Lacerda Rosa Silva, Columbia University 
Resident Representative

My name is Antonio Leonardo Lacerda Rosa Silva, and I am originally from Brazil. I moved to the United States ten years ago and earned my Associate Degree in Nursing from Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), followed by my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hunter College. I am currently in my second year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program at Columbia University.

Before beginning my nurse anesthesia training, I worked as a registered nurse at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, caring for a diverse and largely underserved patient population. This experience strengthened my passion for serving underserved communities and improving access to healthcare.

As a future nurse anesthetist, I aspire to continue serving communities where access to healthcare remains limited while also becoming a strong advocate for our profession. I am especially passionate about engaging future CRNAs in professional advocacy and encouraging them to recognize that advocacy should not end after graduation. I hope to inspire others to remain involved, use their voices, and advocate for our profession throughout their careers.

Outside of my academic and clinical training, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and mentoring others pursuing careers in nursing and nurse anesthesia.

Erin Murphy, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
Resident Representative

Erin Murphy earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The Pennsylvania State University in 2019. She began her nursing career in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, where she gained experience caring for critically ill pediatric patients.

Erin is currently a second-year nurse anesthesia resident at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, pursuing a dual Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She has a special interest in research and enjoys presenting research at professional conferences. After graduation, Erin looks forward to practicing as a CRNA, providing high-quality, patient-centered anesthesia care, and contributing to the profession through research, advocacy, and mentorship.

Outside of her studies, Erin enjoys running races, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Paula Castro, Hofstra University 
Resident Representative

Paula Castro is a second-year nurse anesthesia resident at Hofstra University where she is pursuing a dual Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University and spent five years working in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital. Paula is passionate about professional involvement within the CRNA profession and is honored to serve as a Resident Liaison on the NYSANA board. She looks forward to contributing to the organization while gaining a deeper understanding of the professional, legislative and leadership efforts that advance nurse anesthesia practice.

Upon graduation, Paula hopes to provide safe, high-quality anesthesia care while remaining actively involved in the profession. She has a strong interest in medical mission work, particularly in Spanish-speaking communities, where she hopes to draw upon her background in Spanish and medical interpretation to better connect with and serve patients. Outside of her academic and professional commitments, Paula enjoys traveling, discovering new restaurants, hiking and a good spa day. 

Matthew Fabozzi, Albany Medical College
Resident Representative

Matt is a second year nurse-anesthesia resident currently studying at the Center for Nurse Anesthesiology; part of the graduate studies division at Albany Medical College. He received his BSN from Western Governors University after obtaining his associate RN degree from Memorial College School of Nursing. Matt began his nursing career in 2014 spending almost the entirety of his time in the MICU at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. His first exposure to the role of a CRNA was in 2010. He worked as a scrub tech in the obstetric unit at St. Peter’s Hospital. That experience helped solidify his dreams of working as a CRNA (although life took a few detours to get him there).

He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, enjoys the summers at his lake house on the Great Sacandaga Lake, weight training, and going to concerts. He is looking forward to being a representative from his school and becoming a part of what NYSANA has to offer for residents and CRNAs alike.

Erika Curcio, St. John Fisher University 
Resident Representative

My name is Erika Curcio and I am a first year resident pursuing a dual DNP degree as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and CRNA at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY.  

Prior to this, I completed my BSN at Roberts Wesleyan College and have been working at Rochester General Hospital in the Cardiac ICU for the last 4 years. Becoming a Nurse anesthesiologist has always been a goal of mine, and I couldn't be more excited to positively contribute to the art of anesthesia, continue learning and advocating for my patients. 

One fun fact about me is as an undergraduate nursing student, I had the privilege of conducting an individual research project that I was able to present at the NEC in the Rockies in Breckinridge, CO. Since then, I have continued pursuing leadership opportunities by serving as charge nurse, preceptor for new nurses, and leading unit council in the cardiac icu. 

Outside of my professional and academic commitments, I enjoy being outside, spending time with family and friends, and traveling! 

Molly Metzger
NYSANA Executive Director
Message from the NYSANA Executive Director
Together with her team at Accent on Management, Molly Metzger provides professional association management. Her team manages the day-to-day operations of NYSANA, which includes managing finances, contracts, and the website. She plans meetings and events and coordinates communication with the membership. She assists the board president in leadership onboarding. These services leave the volunteer board members and committee chairs with time and resources to pursue the goals of advancing the profession of CRNAs in the state of New York. 

Accent on Management provides professional services to 5 CRNA state organizations in addition to more than 20 additional professional associations.

Paula Castro, Hofstra University 
Resident Representative

Paula Castro is a second-year nurse anesthesia resident at Hofstra University where she is pursuing a dual Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University and spent five years working in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital. Paula is passionate about professional involvement within the CRNA profession and is honored to serve as a Resident Liaison on the NYSANA board. She looks forward to contributing to the organization while gaining a deeper understanding of the professional, legislative and leadership efforts that advance nurse anesthesia practice.

Upon graduation, Paula hopes to provide safe, high-quality anesthesia care while remaining actively involved in the profession. She has a strong interest in medical mission work, particularly in Spanish-speaking communities, where she hopes to draw upon her background in Spanish and medical interpretation to better connect with and serve patients. Outside of her academic and professional commitments, Paula enjoys traveling, discovering new restaurants, hiking and a good spa day.