In 2025, the Decatur Memorial Hospital Nurse Anesthesia Program celebrates 60 years of providing education and training in the field of nurse anesthesia.
The program, which launched in 1955, was founded by a group of Decatur anesthesiologists who recognized the need for a nurse anesthesia program in central Illinois, including Howard Wibbles, MD; Merlin Budd, MD; Paul DeBruine, MD; Ronald McGregor, MD.
Today, the program continues in affiliation with Millikin University and offers a full-time, 36-month course of study that provides doctoral-level nursing courses, followed by anesthesia-specific courses and clinical rotations at DMH. Decatur Memorial Foundation supports the program by funding scholarships for students.
“This program has a long history at DMH and has graduated more than 500 skilled nurse anesthetists who have served patients here in central Illinois and beyond,” said Dana Flatley, CRNA, DNP, current director of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Program. “We are proud to continue that legacy.”
This spring, the program celebrated its 60th anniversary with a dinner attended by alumni, faculty and current interns, offering an opportunity to reconnect and reflect on the program’s rich history.
Guests enjoyed historical displays showcasing archival photographs, handwritten meeting minutes and newspaper clippings that chronicled the program’s development over time. Among the guests was Delores Stutzman, the program’s first graduate (Class of 1956), who shared personal reflections on the early years of nurse anesthesia training in central Illinois. Another honored guest was Alan Plapp, who was one of the first students to serve on the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs.
Four of the program’s six administrators—Betty Horton, PhD, CRNA, FAAN; Diane Ritter Malone, MSN, CRNA; Rhonda Gee, DNSc, CRNA; and Dana Flatley, DNP, CRNA—were in attendance, representing decades of visionary leadership and academic excellence. The program also recognized Jon Jacoby, MD, who has served as Medical Director for over 25 years, providing invaluable guidance and clinical support to students and faculty.
Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in administering anesthesia. In addition to a nursing license and advanced degree, they also attain additional certification and training.
“Sixty years after this program’s visionary founding, nurse anesthesia continues to be a thriving, in-demand field,” said Tamar Kutz, interim president and CEO of Decatur Memorial Hospital. “It’s inspiring to see our graduates making a difference at DMH and other hospitals around the area.”
To learn more about the program, visit https://memorial.health/about-us/professionals/nurse-anesthesia-program/.