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As the son of a surgeon, the medical field was a natural choice for Jarrod Fontenelle,
who recently became a part of the first class of the nurse anesthesia program at Southern
Miss. So far the experience has been reading, studying, reading, studying, and doing more
of each and class. When Fontenelle and fellow classmates graduate in 36 months, they will
earn an academic degree at the doctoral level. This program is even more unique in the fact
that it is the first in the history of all nurse anesthesia programs to begin and the
doctoral degree. All CRNA programs are going to be going to doctoral programs eventually.
And since this was going to be one of the first, it seemed kind of historic to apply
to it. The program, which began classes in January, is also the only nurse anesthesia
program in Mississippi. Dr. Stuart believes the program's launch comes at a critical time
as health care providers are preparing to lose nearly half of the practicing nurse anesthetists
within a decade. We can't wait until we have that deficit to then start producing nurse
anesthetists. We have to stay on top of what the projected needs will be. And students
like Cillora Hicks say they will be prepared to meet that demand, even if it means moving
to another part of the U.S. I will look across the country for jobs, I don't have to be specifically
staying in one place. I would love to work in Mississippi depending on the job market,
if there's jobs here I would love to stay here, if there's not then I will travel. While
leaving Mississippi may be in her future, Hicks says she's grateful for the opportunity
right now to pursue a nurse anesthesia degree from her home state. From the University of
Southern Mississippi, I'm Layla Essary.