Susan M. Perry, PhD, CRNA, ARNP, Col., USAF, (retired) received her PhD and Masters of Science in Nursing (Anesthesia) degree from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland and her BSN from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Dr. Perry is a Board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and served in the United States Air Force for 25 years, attaining the rank of Colonel in the Nurse Corps prior to her retirement in 2014. Dr. Perry served as Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for both Nurse Anesthesia Services and Nurse Anesthesia Education. As a result of her work with policy, the US Air Force awarded independent practice authority to CRNAs and instituted the first "Direct Accession" plan to allow civilian critical care nurses to enter the Air Force for anesthesia training. Dr. Perry's research interests include guided imagery as an adjunct to anesthesia, pain education and development of operational anesthesia initiatives. Her PhD research focused on the effect of adrenergic stimulation on intracellular calcium release in malignant hyperthermia susceptible B-lymphocytes. After retiring from the US Air Force, Dr. Perry joined the USF College of Nursing to direct the Nurse Anesthesia Program. She served as Senior Assistant Dean for Clinical Graduate Programs from 2014-2017, then was appointed as the first Vice Dean for Clinical Integration and Scholarship. Dr. Perry is a member of the American Academy of Nursing, American Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Physiological Association, and Sigma Theta Tau. Her awards include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, two Defense Service Medals, and an Outstanding Unit Service Medal with a valor device, and the Outstanding Service Medal. Dr. Perry was the first nurse to be awarded the Jerry M. Ross Lecture Award for the AMSUS Society for Federal Health Professionals.