Decatur Memorial Hospital marks 60 years of nurse anesthetists training
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur, Ill.
Decatur Memorial Hospital (DMH) is celebrating a major milestone as its Nurse Anesthesia Program reaches 60 years of educating skilled professionals for Central Illinois and beyond. Established in 1955 by local anesthesiologists to meet growing demand, the program has graduated more than 500 certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) who have provided critical care in surgical and medical settings across the region. “We are proud to continue that legacy,” said Dana Flatley, CRNA, DNP, the program’s current director.
Now affiliated with Millikin University, the program offers a rigorous 36-month, full-time curriculum that combines doctoral-level nursing coursework, anesthesia-specific training and clinical rotations at DMH. Scholarships funded by the Decatur Memorial Foundation help support students pursuing this specialized field. Program leaders say the mission remains the same as when it began: to prepare nurse anesthetists who will serve the local community and strengthen health care in Central Illinois.