M.S. in Anesthesia - Denver
2024 Orientation Information will be available at a later date.
New Student Orientation
Congratulations on your acceptance into the 2025 class of Nova Southeastern University’s Denver Location. The faculty and staff wish to welcome you into the 2023 entering class, and we are just as excited as you are to begin classes in January 2023. The faculty and facility in Denver are purely dedicated to the CAA program and we are committed to ensuring that you receive premier resources with an available staff to assist in your anesthesia training.
We look forward to working with your class in a collaborative effort to promote a positive learning environment and family atmosphere. The goal of the Anesthesiologist Assistant program is to create quality anesthesia care team providers that have the characteristics of commitment, leadership, and compassion to their patients. Every one of you have succeeded up to this point in your educational careers, and NSU Denver faculty is here to help you through your next journey.
The new semester will be here before you know it, and to get you prepared for your anesthesia journey we have provided a few materials. You will be given the book list, which can also be downloaded digitally at the NSU bookstore, and the drug list, which you will be tested on the second week of classes.
Thank you again for choosing Nova Southeastern University Denver, and please know we are prepared to work with you in any way you need as we invite you to the opening of our Denver campus. Welcome to the Mile High City Class of 2025!
Dr. Michael Hurley MD
Medical Director/Associate Professor
Nova Southeastern University-Denver
Jason Kotun M.H.Sc., CAA
Program Director/Associate Professor
Nova Southeastern University-Denver
Orientation and First Day of Class
Orientation for the entering Class of 2023 will be held Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Mountain Time. More information on the schedule of events for orientation will be emailed to each student's NSU email. Classes will begin following orientation.
Immunizations and Physicals
The immunization and criminal background processes are coordinated through a 3rd party vendor, CASTLE BRANCH, and are to be completed prior to attending orientation and classes starting. To begin the electronic process each student will receive an e-vite sent to your Nova Southeastern University student email account. When received, students will follow the instructions for uploading physical examination and immunization documents to the CASTLE BRANCH Portal and completing their background check. For questions regarding immunizations or background check, please contact the Admissions Counselor or Ellen Rondino, Manager of Clinical Operations at er499@nova.edu.
- All incoming students must complete immunizations and have a physical examination. Please have your physician or healthcare provider to fill out the NSU Physical Exam Form and the NSU Immunization Form.
- If a student is having to repeat the Hepatitis B series, then one dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine must be completed prior to the first day.
- Evidence of TB testing:
- The AA program will accept both the two-step PPD or the QuantiFeron Gold blood test.
- A clear chest x-ray will be accepted if the student has a history of a positive TB test.
- Immunization Form
- Physical Exam Form
Medication Sheet
Please review the following document in preparation for your entrance into the AA program. You will be tested on the entire "Anesthesia Medication Sheet" the second week of the program. Please know all drug names, type of drug it is, and dosages.
Anesthesiologist Assistant Booklist
A booklist is provided for the program. The student should purchase all textbooks that are denoted in “red” in preparation for the first semester. In addition, students should purchase the most current edition of the textbook. Many of these books are available electronically and can be purchased in that format from various resources on the Internet. Free electronic versions of certain anesthesia textbooks are available for reading only through the NSU HPD library. However, it is highly encouraged that each student buys a hard copy of each textbook.
Ordering White Coats
All White Coats will need to be obtained by the established deadline. As this process can take up to six weeks, please make sure that you have ordered your white lab coats by the deadline provided by the department. The ordering of your white lab coat is through the NSU Fashions, https://nsu.fashionsealhealthcare.com/. Please select Anesthesiologist Assistant - Denver Program and follow the instructions. For questions, please follow up with Ms. Alissa Pullom , Program Coordinator, at ap1416@nova.edu.
SharkCards
All students are required to have a student ID, a SharkCard. Students must be registered for classes to qualify for a SharkCard. The NSU SharkCard Office will be on campus during orientation for students to take ID pictures. Additional information regarding dates and times will be provided by the Admissions Counselor.
Membership Applications
All students are required to join various anesthesia organizations that support the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession. Please complete the membership applications for the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. One of the first society's that you must join is the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). After you join the ASA, you will be given the opportunity to join the Colorado Society of Anesthesiologist (CSA). It is the ASA's policy that you must join the ASA first before you can join any state society such as CSA. Membership to the CSA is free once you join the ASA.
You are also required to join the Colorado Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (COAAA). Please follow the link below to pay a $25.00 membership to the COAAA.
Please follow the links below to complete your membership applications before the end of the first week of class. For questions regarding membership, follow up with Dr. Wagner, Associate Dean and Chair at rwagner@nova.edu or Professor Jason Kotun, Program Director at jk1087@nova.edu.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists Membership
Select Educational Student Membership ($25). When asked to select your school, choose NSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine. It is the only acceptable choice from the drop-down list. - American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants Membership
- Colorado Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants Membership