Emory Nursing’s Cole, Jeter named American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Fellows
June 11, 2026
Katie Cole and Leslie Jeter will be inducted as Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology in August.
Two faculty members from the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing – Assistant Clinical Professor Katie Cole, DNP, CRNA, CHSE-A, and Senior Clinical Instructor Leslie Jeter, DNP, CRNA, MS – have been named Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.
Cole and Jeter are two of only 42 nurse anesthesiology experts across policy, research, administration, practice and academia selected for the fellowship.
Cole is the inaugural assistant dean for simulation-based learning and a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced (CHSE-A). Her scholarship involves aligning simulation with best practices, integrating virtual reality into health care simulation, and examining learner outcomes associated with emerging educational technologies. Her work has also explored advanced airway management skill decay and competency development in nurse anesthesia education. She is president-elect of the Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists and a noted voice on nursing workforce development, health care access for Veterans, and nurse anesthesia practice. She also maintains active clinical practice as a CRNA within the Emory Healthcare system.
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in Georgia for 30 years, Jeter served three terms as president of the Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She has also served as a trustee of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation and a member of the AANA Infection Control Advisory Panel. Her area of scholarship is infection prevention and control in health care, specifically anesthesia practice. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Emory in 2017 and joined the faculty two years later, teaching DNP and cardiovascular perfusion students.
“The newest class of AANA Fellows represents a remarkable commitment to advancing nurse anesthesiology through leadership and service,” said Dan Lovinaria, DNP, MBA, APRN, CRNA, CHSE, FNAP, FAAN, FAANA, Fellows Selection Committee Chair. “Their expertise and contributions are driving progress across healthcare – informing policy, improving patient outcomes, and, most importantly, expanding the impact of CRNAs nationwide.”
The FAANA inductees will be honored during the AANA Annual Congress on Aug. 21-25, in Boston, Mass.
About the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
The Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is a top nursing school committed to educating visionary nurse leaders and scholars. Home to the No. 1 master’s, No. 2 BSN, and No. 2 DNP programs nationwide, the school has been recognized as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing. The school offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and non-degree programs, bringing together cutting-edge research, distinguished faculty, top clinical experiences, and access to leading health care partners to shape the future of nursing and impact the world’s health and well-being.
