Ohio Dominican University proudly celebrated the graduation of its second cohort of students from the Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies Program, marking a significant milestone for both the graduates and the University. The cohort achieved a remarkable 100 percent pass rate on the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) board examination, underscoring the strength and rigor of ODU’s program.
The graduating class consisted of 24 students, and all have signed employer contracts, resulting in a 100 percent job placement rate. Fifteen graduates will remain in Ohio to begin their professional careers, with six working in Columbus, four in Dayton, and one each in Mansfield, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Mayfield Heights. The remaining nine graduates have accepted positions across the country, including Texas (three), South Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Florida.
The Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies Program prepares students for vital roles within anesthesia care teams through an intensive curriculum that combines classroom learning, simulation, and hands-on clinical experience. Graduates are trained to provide safe, high-quality anesthesia care while maintaining a strong focus on patient-centered practice.
Program Director Aaron Grabovich praised the cohort’s dedication and accomplishments:
“Over the past two years, Cohort 2 has conquered complex pharmacology, physiology, amongst many additional topics and skills, while mastering the art of anesthesia. The students balanced the science of medicine and anesthesia with the art of patient care, proving to be not only competent clinicians, but compassionate professionals.
The students learned how to manage airways, vital signs, lines, and regional anesthetics, while learning how to comfort patients in their most vulnerable moments.
This journey was not easy. It demanded long nights of study, early mornings in clinical rotations, simulation, and skills labs, travel across the country—isolated from family and friends and countless hours of practice. But they persevered!
In doing so, the students proved that excellence is not just about knowledge—it’s about character, compassion, and commitment. We are so proud of our students and their 100% NCCAA board passage and 100% job placement. Welcome to the anesthesia community.”
Ohio Dominican University congratulates the Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies Cohort 2 on their outstanding achievements and looks forward to the positive impact they will make in operating rooms and healthcare systems across Ohio and the nation.