Her innovations helped lead to major advances in modern surgery and earned her the title of the 'mother of anesthesia.

William J. and Charles H. Mayo at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn., a position she held until 1908 when she married Dr. George Kessel.

Her delivery of fourteen thousand anesthetics without an anesthesia-related death established a record for the safety of the practice of anesthesia by nurses.

Charles Mayo bestowed upon her the name “Mother of Anesthesia” for her mastery of open drop ether.

This award recognizes the accomplishments of CRNAs involved in direct patient care, who have made an important contribution to the advancement of nurse anesthesia practice.