Bettina Dixon

Dr. Bettina Dixon, DNP, CRNA, CHSE is an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Nurse Anesthesia Program. She has been a full or part time faculty member within the School of Nursing since 1995.

Dr. Dixon has received several honors and awards in her career. These include a Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Outstanding Contributions to Professional Growth, presented by the University Health Center of Pittsburgh School of Anesthesia for Nurses, Class of 1989; Didactic Instructor of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse (2000); Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing (2003); Patient Safety Fellowship from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (2015); Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania, Doctor of Nursing Practice (2018); and the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Cameos of Caring Advanced Practice Award - clinical focus (2018).

Her role as Coordinator of Clinical Education for the Nurse Anesthesia Program includes the responsibility of student rotation assignments, organizing the pediatric simulation course, overseeing clinical site acquisition and visits, and supporting communication between the Program and its clinical affiliates.

Research Areas & Scholarly Emphasis

Dr. Dixon’s DNP scholarly project was on the prevention of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) for anesthesia providers. She has served as Chair for several nurse anesthesia doctoral student projects on related infection prevention topics. In addition, she has served on committees for other students on the use of simulation education for crisis management of malignant hyperthermia and OB hemorrhage.

Teaching

Dr. Dixon teaches extensively within the Department of Nurse Anesthesia and is the coordinator for numerous courses across the Nurse Anesthesia Program curriculum. In addition to classroom lectures, she participates in many workshops and human simulation education. She is a Course Coordinator or guest lecturer within the Nurse Anesthesia Program: Basic Principles of Anesthesia, Basic Principles of Anesthesia Lab, Chemistry and Physics in Anesthesia, Physical Diagnosis – Anesthesia, Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Anesthetists, Advanced Principles of Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology 1 & 2 (Organizer of Problem-Based Simulation), Advanced Principles of Anesthesia 3, Comprehensive Anesthesia Review Seminar and the Clinical Care Courses series.

Service

Dr. Dixon has been elected as a board member and served as a trustee several times for the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She also recently served as a member of HAI Advisory Panel on the PA Patient Safety Authority.

Clinical Emphasis

Dr. Dixon has been a CRNA for nearly 40 years. She is credentialed and maintains her clinical nurse anesthesia practice in adults at UPMC Presbyterian-Montefiore.