Hawaii Encore Anesthesiology Retreat 2026

William Howie, DNP, CRNA, FANA

Dr. Howie has an extensive background in nursing and nurse anesthesia. With over 30 years of trauma anesthesia experience, Dr. Howie brings a remarkable depth of knowledge and clinical expertise. Dr. Howie holds Master of Science degrees in both Emergency Health Care Administration and Nurse Anesthesia and completed his doctorate degree in 2010 from The John's Hopkins University. Since 1995, he has been a CRNA at the University of Maryland Medical Center/Shock Trauma Center UMMC, in Baltimore, MD. Duties at the Trauma Center include the provision of anesthetic services to victims of acute trauma. Secondary duties performed by Howie include the provision of monthly educational lectures to newly assigned SRNAs and to function as a member of the Anesthesia Departments Quality Assurance Committee. Most recently, he has assumed a part-time position as a faculty member in the DNP Program, Nurse Anesthesia Track at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Dr. Howie has written a chapter on Trauma Anesthesia that is published in the last two editions of Nurse Anesthesia textbook edited by Elisha Sass.

In addition to his practice as a nurse anesthetist, Dr. Howie is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Academy of Health Sciences for the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Dr. Howie also holds academic positions at the University of MD, School of Nursing.

A retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, Dr. Howie proudly served for 25 years and was called to active-duty multiple times throughout his military career. He has also authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is an active voice in professional advocacy for CRNAs in Maryland. Howie continues to serve as a reviewer for manuscripts submitted to the BMJ (British Medical Journal) Open Quality. He continues to serve on the NBCRNA Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) Committee.

Dr. Howie has published numerous articles in a variety of peer-reviewed journals.

Jon Lowrance, MSN, CRNA

Website: https://anesthesiaguidebook.com/

Jon Lowrance, MSN, CRNA is the chief CRNA at Maine Medical Center, Maine’s only level one trauma center. He also produces the podcast Anesthesia Guidebook… the go-to guide for anesthesia providers who want to master their craft.

Jon's career began with experiential education and wilderness medicine. He worked as faculty at Landmark Learning and NOLS Wilderness Medicine. He completed his BSN at Saint Louis University and his Master of Science in anesthesiology at Western Carolina University.

He has served as clinical & simulation faculty with the University of New England’s nurse anesthesia program, the SRNA Clinical Coordinator at MMC and on MMC’s Medical Executive Committee. He currently serves on the Maine Association of Nurse Anesthesiology’s board of directors and is working towards a PhD in organizational leadership. His research is focused on how leadership, human factors and systems engineering can improve outcomes in perioperative emergencies. Jon’s passion is helping healthcare providers thrive on the path towards mastering their craft.

Patricia McMullen, Ph.D., JD, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN

Website: https://nursing.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/mcmullen-patricia/index.html

Dean Emerita & Ordinary Professor, Conway School of Nursing The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Dr. McMullen practices as an educator, women’s health nurse practitioner, and as an attorney. She holds BSN and MS degrees from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and then completed a Juris Doctor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in nursing at The Catholic University of America. Dr. McMullen has held faculty positions at several universities and has worked clinically at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Baltimore City Health Department, and in private practice. She has been selected as a Distinguished Practitioner by the American Academies of Practice, a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Patricia has presented numerous workshops on legal issues in nurse practitioner practice. She is also the author of a number of research and practice-based articles and texts.

Dr. McMullen has held prior faculty positions at both the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Graduate School of Nursing and the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has worked clinically at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Baltimore City Health Department, and Anne Arundel Medical Center. Over the course of her career, she has combined her interests in nursing and the law by authoring a variety of book chapters and articles dealing with legal issues in nursing. A member of the Maryland Bar Association, she has served on both plaintiff and defense malpractice cases.

During off-hours, Patricia McMullen enjoys tennis, biking, and family time.

Ryan Shores, DNP, CRNA

Ryan Shores, CRNA, DNP is a certified registered nurse anesthetist with 15 years of experience. Ryan is an Assistant Professor and Director of the University of North Florida Anesthesiology Nursing Program. He currently serves as a staff CRNA at multiple clinical sites in Jacksonville, Florida.

In 2002, he received his ASN from Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida, and after two years of RN ICU work, he attended Florida International University for which he earned his MSN in 2006. He received his DNP from the University of North Florida in 2015. He has held a faculty position at UNF for 14 years.

Dr. Shores’s DNP project focused on cost reduction utilizing low flow inhalational anesthesia. His primary topic for publications is in the area of pharmacology. He has chaired and participated in over 35 student oral and poster presentations at the AANA annual congress. He has been lecturing at state, national, and international conferences for the past twelve years.

Dr. Shores is a dynamic speaker who believes that conference attendees bring experience and knowledge to the event. His teaching style includes an emphasis on audience participation and input. His areas of focus include pharmacology, chemistry and physics, regional anesthesia, neuromuscular monitoring, and trauma.

The Encore Faculty Team