Jul 13, 2026
Tanya Smith on being interim chief anesthetist at VCU, new workforce challenges, and how CHP still holds a place in her heart
One of the newer leaders within the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is Tanya Smith, CRNA, DNAP, who was named interim chief nurse anesthesiologist in October 2025. Having attended the College of Health Professions in the early 2000s, Smith has worked for VCU Health for decades and draws on her experience to guide the department into the future.
“It's fantastic for us that she is a program alum; it's incredibly satisfying to see one of our alumna taking on this prestigious leadership position,” said Nickie Damico, Ph.D., Herbert T. Watson Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Nurse Anesthesia. “She has proven herself quickly to be highly capable, and I'm just thrilled to see her doing so well. She did not previously hold a leadership position at VCU Health, so taking on that role in such a large institution is a significant lift.”
While her new role has more administrative responsibilities and revealed more of the “wizard behind the curtain,” the position has been fulfilling as well.
“I think the most rewarding part is fighting for the ones that you serve,” Smith said. “And then realizing that communication itself could fix a lot of our problems.”
Career and time at CHP
Smith’s career began in the late 1990s as a volunteer. Then she served as a nursing assistant on the Mother-Infant Unit and the Labor and Delivery Unit before earning her RN and Master's in 2002 in CHP’s Department of Nurse Anesthesia.
“(I) started working in the NICU, and then went back to school and became a CRNA, and I graduated in 2004 and continued working with the health system as a CRNA,” she said.
She credits CHP with building friendships that last to this day, noting that the college had a supportive, family-like environment.
“You get to know the people, and you share a common bond, but it kind of extends out of the reason why you initially got to know the people (there),” she said.
Since her time at CHP, Smith has seen the evolution of the nurse anesthesia field, especially on the demand side of the workforce. She noted that at the time she graduated in the mid-2000s, there were few open CRNA positions. She also notes that salaries have increased over the past 20 years.
“There are spots everywhere, so you really have your pick of where you want to go when you graduate, so that's different,” she said.
While some aspects of the work have changed, Smith noted that others remain the same.
“The same rigorous course content (is still being taught), and you can still identify with the students and remember what you went through, and also what current students are going through,” she said.
Workforce issues
As Smith has settled into her leadership role, she says one of the main difficulties she faces is workforce retention, and VCU Health is not alone.
“We're all in the same boat, we're all short of anesthesia providers,” Smith said. “We're only graduating so many, and we're all in need of CRNAs and anesthesia providers. From a recruitment standpoint, we're all pulling from the same pool.”
Smith says one way to address workforce challenges is to be aware of market value and what the department offers compared with other facilities and universities. She also highlights that the advantages of living in or near the city of Richmond, along with VCU itself, can be distinguishing factors compared to other institutions. Another solution she mentioned was graduating more CRNAs in general, but that could present its own challenges.
“(It’s) a very hot topic (issue) right now, with the nurses (threatened to be) classified as a professional status, and that's going to take a huge hit to the CRNA workforce,” Smith said. “The Class of (2029), when they start, will (possibly) not be able to qualify for enough loans to pay for school, so that's a national issue, not just at VCU. I think that's one thing that we have to address and be aware of as a collective.”
Smith recognizes that many students are putting their lives on hold to attain a degree in nurse anesthesia, and the sooner that money is in their hands, the better off both the students and the department will be.
“I think if we can somehow figure out the challenge, to stay competitive, I think it would give us a competitive edge,” she said. “I think we're uniquely situated here at VCU from the health system side and the university side to have an impact on the next generation of CRNAs, and in the next workforce.”
The links between the Department of Nurse Anesthesia and CHP are strong, with Smith affirming that the department will help educate the next generation of CRNAs, thereby encouraging students to stay at VCU.
“It’s very rewarding to be a part of the student's journey,” Smith said. “You get to kind of see them the whole way through. When they first start, they're still unsure, and then you see them become more confident, and then you see them really transform and become a CRNA.”
Her message to current nurse anesthesia students is that it is worth it, and while there may be struggles, it is rewarding in the end.
“It's one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life,” she said.