Naples Winter Escape Encore Symposium 2026

Dawn Bent, DNP, MSN, CRNA

Dr. Dawn Elizabeth Bent began her career as an adult critical care nurse in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. She segued into a pediatric intensive care unit and it is not by chance that she remained with this patient population for over 25 years.

Dr. Bent is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and serves as Program Director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) program at Penn. Dr. Bent's pursuit of anesthesia began when she was approached by an anesthesiologist who felt she would excel as a CRNA. She has practiced anesthesia for 17 years and served as an anesthesia educator for 14 years.

Dr. Bent has been awarded by students for her clinical preceptorship and strives to improve patient experiences at St. Christopher’s Hospital where she currently practices pediatric anesthesia. Dr. Bent believes remaining invested in the clinical practice of anesthesia is essential to excelling as an educator.

Dr. Bent feels a personal commitment to the success of each of her students through mentoring, and leadership which helps her guide the next generation of CRNAs.

William Howie, DNP, CRNA

Dr. Howie has an extensive background in nursing and nurse anesthesia. 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.

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. He has retired from the military as Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve after 25 years of service. He was called to active-duty multiple times throughout his reserve career.

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

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 went on to complete 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. she 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.

Kimberly Westra, DNP, MSN, APRN, MBA, CRNA

Dr. Kimberly Westra has been a practicing nurse anesthetist for over 20 years in settings ranging from a level one trauma center to a rural regional medical center. Kimberly practices in diverse settings, including as a solo practitioner, team care model, and as an academic adjunct faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Mrs. Westra is the Chief Nurse Anesthetist at Bayhealth Medical Center on the Delmarva Peninsula. Kimberly is the sole proprietor of Atlantic Specialty Services, serving Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania in ambulatory settings.

Mrs. Westra is the Chairperson for the Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists PAC and has been an active AANA member since 1999. Kimberly enjoys working to advance the future of nurse anesthesia through education as part of the University of Pennsylvania academic team.

Kimberly Westra has worked in education and mentorship programs, working with rising stars from high school students to medical providers in training to support the future of healthcare.