Education
1998: Bay Medical Center, Panama City, Florida
Masters of Science Nurse Anesthesia
1990: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Science Nurse Anesthesia
1985: Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Bachelor of Science Nursing
Professional Experience
2010- Present: Anesthesia Staffing Consultants, Hillsdale Community Health Center, Hillsdale, Michigan
Independent Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Acute Pain Management
Ultrasound and Image-Guided Pain Intervention in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
Fellow American Academy of Pain Management
Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Region 5 Director
Member Standard Setting Committee for the CRNA Certification Examination (September 2012)
2007- 2010: Banner Lassen Medical Center, Susanville, California
Independent Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Ultrasound and Image-Guided Pain Intervention in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
Professional Nursing Council
2002- 2007: Navy Nurse Corps Officer, Navy Medical Center, San Diego, California
Staff Nurse Anesthetist
Vice-chair Anesthesiology Department for Administration and Nursing Affairs
Chief Nurse Anesthetist
Co-Director Regional Anesthesia Service
Department Head, Critical Care Nursing
Executive Committee of the Medical Staff
Executive Committee of the Nursing Staff
Anesthesia Executive Steering Committee
Chair, Main Operating Room Effectiveness Committee
Chair, Command Nursing Cross-training Committee
Leader, Bariatric Surgery Subcommittee
Department Continuous Improvement Director
Department Risk Management Officer
Department Joint Commission Preparation Director
CRNA Journal Club Coordinator
2003: Deployed Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom IIA, 1st FSSG, Alpha Surgical Company
2003: Deployed Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom I, 1st FSSG, Alpha Surgical Company
1998- 2002: Navy Nurse Corps Officer, Naval School of Health Sciences Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida
Clinical Instructor, Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program
Research Coordinator, Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program
Protection of Human Subjects Committee
Pharmacy and Medication Quality Management Board Committee
1995- 1998: Navy Nurse Corps Officer, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Staff Nurse Anesthetist
Associate faculty, Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program
Department Supply Officer
CRNA Scheduling Officer
1992- 1995: Navy Nurse Corps Officer, Naval Hospital, Sigonella, Italy
Assistant Department Head of Anesthesia
Public Affairs Officer, Naval Hospital
Department Supply Officer
Department Quality Assurance Officer
1990- 1992: Navy Nurse Officer, Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune
Staff Nurse Anesthetist
Deployed Desert Shield/Storm, 5th MEB, USS New Orleans/USS Tarawa
1988- 1990: Navy Nurse Corps Officer, Naval School of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
Full-time Duty Under Instruction, Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program
1985- 1988: Navy Nurse Corps Officer, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Charge Nurse Oncology Unit
Charge Nurse Intensive Care Unit
Professional Involvement
2011- Present: Michigan Nurse Anesthesia Association Board of Directors
2006- 2009: California Nurse Anesthesia Association Board of Directors
2003- 2007: California Nurse Anesthesia Association Fall Program Director
Faculty Appointments
2013- Present: Guest Faculty, Michigan State University
Course: Ultrasound Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management and Interventional Pain Management
2011- Present: Guest Faculty, Flint/Hurley Medical Center Nurse Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan
Course: Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
2006- 2012: Guest Faculty, Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia, Oakland University
Course: NRS 635 Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management
1998- 2007: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
Original Publications
Dewees, J., Schultz, C., Wilkerson, F., Biegner, A., and Pellegrini, j. Comparison of two approaches to brachial plexus anesthesia for proximal upper extremity surgery: Interscalene and Intersternocleidomastoid. AANA Journal. June 2006.
Ward, R., Hawkins, R., Lawrence, R., DiChiara, S., Biegner, A., and Vacchiano, C. The Use of Nalmefene for Control of Intrathecal Opioid-Associated Nausea in Postpartum Patients. AANA Journal. February 2002.
Beigner, A., Olson, R. L., Anderson, D., and Vacchiano, C. A. Quantification of Insensible Water Loss Associated wiht Insufflation of Dry CO2 Gas in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery. Journal of Laparoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques. Volume 9, Number 4, 1999.
Beigner, A. R. Comparative Costs of Anesthetic Techniques. Anesthesia Today. Volume 9, Number 3, 1998.
Published Abstracts
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Annual Conferences
Dewees, J., Schultz, C., Wilkerson, F., Beigner, A., Pellegrini, J. Comparison of Two Approaches to Brachial Plexus Anesthesia: Intersternocleidomastoid and Interscalene. 2002.
Tursi, F., McMindes, D., Steczo, A., Wirth, P., Biegner, A., Pellegrini, J. Comparison of One, Two, or Three Nerve Electrolocation on Success Rates for Brachial Plexus Block. 2001.
Arp, P., Clark, W., Creighton, P., Biegner, A., Vacchiano, C. Brachial Plexus Block with Nesacaine and Dilute Ropivacaine for Brief Outpatient Procedures. 2000.
Ward, R. Hawkings, R., Lawrence, R., DiChiara, S., Biegner, A., Vacchiano, C.The Use of Nalmefene for Control of Intrathecal Opioid-Associated Nausea in Postpartum Patients. 1999.
Meeting of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
Ward, R., Hawkins, R., Lawrence, R., DiChiara, S., Biegner, A., Vacchiano, C. Use of Nalmefene for Control of Intrathecal Opioid-Associated Nausea in Postpartum Patients. 1999.
Biegner, A. R., Vacchiano, C. A. Outcome Study of an Inhalation Anesthesia Delivery System Specifically Designed for the Use in the Field. 1996.
Invited Presentations
2007- 2013:
Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia
2013- Present- Twin Oaks Anesthesia Services
2011, 2012, 2013- Anesthesia Staffing Consultant Ultrasound Regional Anesthesia Conference
2011, 2012- Dannemiller Conference
Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Montana Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Iowa Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Ohio Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Colorado Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Utah Association of Nurse Anesthetists
New England Assembly of Nurse Anesthetists
Midwestern University Nurse Anesthesia Program
Upper and Lower Extremity Regional Anesthesia
Oklahoma Nurse Anesthesia Association
2005- 2007:
Management of the Difficult Airway in the Combat Environment
American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Upper Extremity Brachial Plexus Regional Anesthesia
Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Obstetric Complications
California Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Anesthetic Management of Victims of Chemical or Biological Terrorism Agents
American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Annual Conference, Cleveland, Ohio
California Association of Nurse Anesthetist
Implementation of a Main Operating Room Effectiveness Working Group at a Military Treatment Facility
California Association of Nurse Anesthetists
OR Business Management Conference
Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthesia
1999- 2004:
Brachial Plexus Anesthesia
Regional Anesthesia Instructors Conference, San Antonio, Texas
Comparison of Two Approaches to Brachial Plexus Anesthesia: Intersternocleidomastoid and Interscalene
American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Annual Conference 2003
Comparison of One, Two, or Three Nerve Electro-location on Success Rates in Axillary Brachial Plexus Blocks
Shea-Arentzen Navy Nursing Symposium
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Annual Conference
Brachial Plexus Block with Chloroprocaine and Dilute Ropivacaince for Brief Outpatient Procedures
Florida Hand Society Annual Meeting
Brachial Plexus Anesthesia and Technical Aspects of Peripheral Nerve Blockade
Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Florida Association of Anesthetists
Autonomic Physiology and Pharmacology
20th Annual Smokey Mouth Nurse Anesthesia Conference
Combat Anesthesia Experiences: Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom I and II
California Association of Nurse Anesthetists
United Nurses Association of California
California AORN
Military Personal Decoration
Navy Commendation Medal (2)
Navy Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Action Ribbok (2)