UNF Graduate Student champions patient comfort through research and clinical experience

From shadowing health care professionals in high school to earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesiology at the University of North Florida, Randi Corley has always been driven to make a difference in patient care.

A Jacksonville native, Corley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UNF before spending five years working at Baptist Medical Center Downtown in the Neuro Progressive Care Unit, Neuro Intensive Care Unit and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Those years on the front lines of patient care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, solidified her decision to pursue nursing anesthesiology.

Corley's mother is also a nurse, so she initially thought she might choose a different path. But while shadowing healthcare professionals in high school, she noticed a Registered Nurse Anesthetist and was struck by her confidence and mastery of the field.

"From that moment, I knew anesthesiology was what I wanted to do," Corley said. "Working during COVID and experiencing those kinds of cases made me realize I wanted a bigger role in patient care. That's when I knew I needed to take this next step."

Choosing UNF for its support systems and experiential learning

Corley chose to return to UNF for her doctorate in nurse anesthesiology in 2023, drawn to the program's smaller classes, strong faculty support and opportunities for local clinical rotations.

"UNF allowed me to really connect with my professors and classmates, and the rotations here in Jacksonville helped me build professional connections that I'll carry into my career," she said.

During undergrad, she served with the Student Nurses' Association, built lifelong friendships and participated in the tradition of celebrating with classmates in the campus fountain after their last final exam. In the graduate program, Corley immersed herself in both academics and professional development.

Earlier this year, she joined 25 classmates and five faculty members at the 2025 American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Annual Congress in Nashville, which brought together more than 130 nurse anesthesiology programs nationwide. UNF students presented seven research posters at the conference, among just 86 accepted across the country.

Her doctoral project, one of the seven posters presented, focused on the use of the erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Corley, alongside fellow students Joseph Whelan and Al Lovannitti, adapted the project from an earlier cohort and refined it for implementation.

"I thought it was such an interesting aspect of anesthesia," she explained. "ESP blocks are relatively quick and simple, but they can significantly improve comfort and reduce the needs for opioids. What surprised me most was just how effective they were. Patients reported less pain, both internally and externally, and another study showed people were up and walking sooner after surgery compared to those who didn't receive the block."

The research demonstrated meaningful improvements in postoperative pain scores and decreased opioid consumption, pointing to the potential of ESP blocks not only for laparoscopic gallbladder procedures but also for larger abdominal surgeries.

Corley also noted the challenges of introducing new practices in medicine.

"The hardest part was overcoming hesitancy," she said. "People get rooted in what they know, but evidence shows it takes an average of seven years to implement new practices. Having providers open to trying something different made a big difference."

Standing out on the national and state stage

At the conference, Corley also competed in the AANA's College Bowl, a Jeopardy-style competition that mixes students from different universities. Her team won the championship title after defeating a group of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in the final round.

"It was incredible to see the profession on a national stage," Corley said. "It's a small world, and you can connect with anyone there, and everyone is pushing the field forward with new technology and research."

In early October, Corley and fellow UNF Nurse Anesthesiology students competed in the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (FANA) Annual Meeting's Resident College Bowl. The UNF team claimed victory over programs from across the state, including Florida International University, the University of South Florida and Florida State University.

Looking ahead

Dr. Katherine Meuti, the assistant program director of the nurse anesthesiology program who also presented at the AANA Annual Congress, praised Corley as an outstanding student and future leader.

"Since joining the program, Randi has consistently exemplified the very best of academic and clinical excellence," said Meuti. "She approaches every learning opportunity with curiosity and the drive to master complex concepts. Clinically, she demonstrates a rare blend of compassion and confidence that sets her apart as a future leader in anesthesia. Just as importantly, her optimism and professionalism inspires her peers; whether tackling a difficult case or supporting a classmate, she elevates those around her as a team player and role model for the profession."

Corley is currently completing a fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where she hopes to continue her career after graduating this fall.

"In five to ten years, I see myself still here, working at Mayo and serving the community as a strong nurse anesthetist," she said. "One of the biggest things UNF taught me is to have confidence in the experiences and knowledge I've gained. This is a lifelong learning profession, and I'm excited for what's ahead."