On This Episode:
Most CRNAs have never heard the name Florence Boswell.
But maybe they should have.
In this fascinating historical episode of Beyond the Mask, former AANA president Debra Malina, CRNA, MBA, DNSc, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, uncover the remarkable story of Florence Boswell, a nurse anesthetist, aviation pioneer, charter member of the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and one of the earliest women pilots in America.
After discovering Boswell’s name unexpectedly inside an aviation museum in Cleveland, Deb and Sandy began piecing together the story of a woman who balanced anesthesia, family life, and a groundbreaking aviation career during a time when women were rarely recognized in either field. Join us as we explore the early history of nurse anesthesia, the origins of the AANA, and the remarkable woman whose determination helped shape the CRNA profession long before most people even knew it existed.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🏛️ She signed the original NANA charter in 1931
🧠 Boswell trained under anesthesia pioneer Agatha Hodgins
🌍 She became one of the earliest instrument-rated female pilots in the world
🚁 Florence founded her own aviation company in Ohio
👩⚕️ Early nurse anesthetists often faced major professional and societal barriers
Important Links:
“She was a remarkable woman, both in the operating room and in the sky.”
