Board

Board of Directors

BoardGreg Panos2025-01-02T14:28:05-05:00

Steve Pilot

President

Caitlin Jean Karcich

Secretary

Stacie Tittamin

Treasurer

Nicholas A. Blanck

NJANA Executive Director

Jedd Dillman

Director

Jonathan Katz

Director

Michael Konstantinovsky

Director

David E. McNally

Director

Lori Ann Winner, Ph.D.

Director

Emeritus

Heather Borbely

President Emeritus

Resident Representatives

Mark Pajdak

Resident Representative

Alysia Ruffin

Resident Representative

Brian Uster

Resident Representative

Breanna Vitolo

Resident Representative

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Steve Pilot

President

Steve Pilot, DNP, CRNA/APN-A, joined NJANA as an Associate Member in 2017 then was elected to the NJANA Board of Directors in 2021. Since joining the board, he has held positions such as PAC Chair, PR Chair, and President-Elect.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2013) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (2020) at Rutgers University. After graduating from the Doctoral Program in Nurse Anesthesiology, Steve began his career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA) working for North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) at their Livingston Practice. Currently, Steve continues to work as a CRNA for NAPA on their “SWAT Team” where he travels to various facilities across the Northeast Region to provide anesthesia services.

He is also an Assistant Professor for the Rutgers Doctoral Program in Nurse Anesthesiology and teaches courses such as Cardiovascular/Thoracic Anesthesia, Quality Safety, and Access in Anesthesia, Clinical Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice, and High Acuity Complex Anesthetic Management. He played an integral part in the development of both Rutgers University’s Nurse Anesthesia Resident Mentorship Program and the wellness curriculum.

Professionally, Steve is passionate about wellness and mentorship in the Nurse Anesthesia community with a focus on the professional development of RRNAs. Personally, he loves to travel, binge reality shows, try new restaurants, and go to country music concerts.

Caitlin Jean Karcich

Secretary

Caitlin Jean Karcich, MSN, DNP, CRNA, APN-Anesthesia, is a CRNA and has been a member of NJANA since 2015. She is currently serves on the NJANA Board and is actively involved in the association’s lobbying and communications efforts. Caitlin lives in Morris Plains, along with her husband, Anthony and their son, Dominick.

She loves being a CRNA and says, “Taking care of patients during some of the most stressful, overwhelming times in their lives is what matters most to me. I am honored to serve on the board and to represent so many phenomenal CRNA (APN-A) providers.”

In addition to patient care, Karcich has a passion for lobbying that developed while she was a student and noted that a grant from NJANA enabled her to participate in the 2018 Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C. “I lobbied alongside these fearless leaders, to educate legislators about who we are and what we bring to the ever-changing health care table in our country.”

Professionally, she currently provides outstanding anesthesia care for patients at Newark Beth Israel, Saint Barnabas, and Morristown Medical Centers in the areas of general, neuro, obstetrics and pediatrics. She is certified in BLS/ACLS/PALS and as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN).
As an SRNA she worked in major hospitals in New Jersey and New York. As an RN she worked at Morristown Medical Center in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit (Neurosurgical/Trauma/Medical) and Orthopedic Trauma/Orthopedic Spine unit.

Karcich earned a Doctor of Nursing Practices (DNP) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University. She was extremely active as an SRNA serving as a DNP Cohort 1 – Class Representative, Co-Coordinator of the Student-Driven Mentorship Program, and Assistant in the Simulation Lab. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

In addition, she is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists serving as an assistant to the Federal Political Director for the State of New Jersey since 2018 and as a student lobbyist and mentor program participant while an SRNA.

Stacie Tittamin

Treasurer

Stacie Tittamin, DNP, CRNA, APN-A, received her BSN from The College of New Jersey in 2008 and spent the next 10 years as a cardiac nurse in Overlook Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and Morristown Medical Center.

Stacie received her doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia from Rutgers University in 2020, during which time she served as a student representative to NJANA. She now works for Anesthesia Associates of Morristown out of Morristown Medical Center. Residing in Morris Plains, in her free time Stacie enjoys reading, painting, and watching the New York Rangers.

Nicholas A. Blanck

NJANA Executive Director

Nicholas A. Blanck, MSN, CRNA, APN-Anesthesia, currently serving as the Executive Director of Legislative Affairs; Active member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of their Government Relations and Political Action Committees. Tirelessly advancing legislation aimed at removing restrictive barriers to nursing practice. Nicholas’s educational background began at Rutgers University’s School of Nursing; where he became a distinguished baccalaureate graduate and was awarded entrance into their Atheneum Honors Society, Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing, and their Alumni Association.

At Thomas Jefferson University’s School of Nurse Anesthesia, He served as student-body president; and representative to the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists; graduating with an MSN, and national board certification in the practice of Nurse Anesthesia. He later served two terms as President of the New Jersey Association of Nurse Anesthetists in 2015 & 2016, and was honored with their Trident Award for advocacy, academics, and clinical excellence as a cardio-thoracic nurse anesthetist and their Gavel Award for association leadership. He also is a founding member of The NJANA- Charity And Relief Expenditures fund, a first of its kind charity; proceeds from which are now being distributed to support local Children’s’ Dyslexia Centers.

As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Nicholas is the self-employed owner of UltraCare Anesthesia Partners, an anesthesia management company comprised of CRNA’s and anesthesiologists, contracted to provide anesthesia services for every type of healthcare facility in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. He currently sits as their Chairman of Board, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Nicholas is an adjunct professor of Nurse Anesthesia at Rutgers University’s School of Nursing in Newark, and holds memberships with the NJ State Nurses Association, Shriners Hospital for Children; and the Health Care Financial Management Association.

Committee Experience:

Federal Political Director
Chairman of the Government Relations Committee
Chairman of the Political Action Committee
Chairman of the New Jersey State Nurses Association Joint Protocol Steering Committee

Task Force Assignments:

Historical Documentation Preservation
Budget and Finance Strategy
Alternative Revenue Stream Generation
Foundation of NJANA Charity And Relief Expenditures fund (NJANA- CAREs Fund)

Jedd Dillman

Director

Jedd Dillman DNP, CRNA, APN-A received his BSN from York College of Pennsylvania in 2012. He worked at the University of Maryland Medical Center in the Neuro-Surgical ICU and The Johns Hopkins Hospital Critical Care Transport Team. Jedd obtained his DNP in Nurse Anesthesia from Rutgers University in 2020 and previously worked at both Newark Beth Israel and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Centers. He currently works for NAPA as a member of their Swat Team delivering anesthesia at various NAPA sites across the New Jersey & New York region. Jedd also serves in the United States Air Force Reserves as a Captain and Flight Nurse Instructor. He is stationed at Joint Base McGuire, New Jersey with the 514 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

In his free time, Jedd enjoys traveling with his wife, exploring breweries & wineries, and hunting.

Jonathan Katz

Director

Jonathan Katz, MSN, CRNA, APN-Anesthesia, received his Associates Degree in nursing from Trinitas School of Nursing, Union County College in 2009 with high honors. After obtaining his RN license, he worked as a Critical Care registered nurse at Trinitas Regional Medical Center until 2013. During this time, Jonathan completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from College of St. Elizabeth with high honors, and achieved his CCRN certification. As a registered nurse, Jonathan was recognized with multiple awards including the Daisy Award for his exemplary care as a Critical Care registered nurse, and the Academic Student Leader in Nursing Award from the College of St. Elizabeth.

Jonathan graduated as the valedictorian from Our Lady of Lourdes Nurse Anesthesia Program and was recognized with the Outstanding Student Award from Drexel University. Currently, Jonathan works full-time as a CRNA within the tri-state area. Jonathan has been an active participant with NJANA since November 2013 and enjoys everything the nursing anesthesia profession has to offer.

Michael Konstantinovsky

Director

Michael Konstantinovsky DNP, CRNA/APN: Nursing is a second career for me; my first degree was a MA in English literature which I received from Brown University in 2008. I received my BSN in nursing from the College of Staten Island in 2016, and my DNP in Anesthesia from Rutgers University in 2022. I worked as an MICU/NICU/SICU nurse in NY Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and a Trauma ICU nurse in Brookdale University Medical Center. My passion for medicine is rooted in the transformative nature of truly compassionate care; in the belief that a single dedicated individual has the ability to positively affect change. My motivation to become a more avid participant in the community of my vocation is driven by the reciprocity I experienced during my training. I feel that I want to give back to those who helped me become the provider I am today, and perhaps be a motivating or influential force to future clinicians. I enjoy spending time with my wife and son, particularly traveling with them. I also enjoy playing piano and guitar, fishing, and practicing jiu jitsu.

David E. McNally

Director

Education – Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia, Rutgers University, May 2022.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Wagner College, May 2014.

Employment – CRNA, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, September 2022 – Present.

Senior Staff Nurse II – Cardiothoracic ICU, Maimonides Medical Center, September 2016 – August 2022.

Accomplishments – Developed and implemented a Doctoral Project regarding Substance Use Disorder in Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetists, which included 12 Nurse Anesthesia Programs over multiple states.

Successfully passed the NCE before graduation.

Student Representative – January 2021 – May 2022

Likes and hobbies – I love spending time with my family, my wife and I have 2 young sons that keep us blissfully busy.

I have a passion for teaching. Our profession is enjoyable and yet inherently complex; if I can pass on what I have learned so far and shift the scale from complex to somewhat enjoyable for someone newer, I will consider that a nice accomplishment.

Lori Ann Winner, Ph.D.

Director

Mrs. Winner, Ph.D., MSN, CRNA, APN-Anesthesia, received her BSN from Villanova University in 1996 and upon graduation practiced as a bedside nurse in the Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. During that time, she also worked as a research coordinator in the Pulmonary/Critical Care division.

Mrs. Winner received her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Temple University and a certificate in Nurse Anesthesia from the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia in 2004. She has also completed a post master’s certificate from the Teacher Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing. She is now enrolled in the PhD program in the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Winner has been engaged in teaching the Nurse Anesthesia profession since 2006 both clinically and didactically for the Nurse Anesthesia program at Penn. She is a section editor for the International Student Journal of Nurse Anesthesia and an item writer for the NBCRNA Continued Professional Certification Program.

Heather Borbely

President Emeritus

Heather M Borbely, MSN, CRNA, APN-Anesthesia, has been active in the AANA and the New Jersey State Association throughout her Nurse Anesthesia career. Starting as a student representative to the Federal Political Director for the New Jersey Association for Nurse Anesthetists (NJANA) and she continued on to take over this role as the Federal Political Director (FPD) once she was a certified practitioner and continues in this role today. She is also now serving in the role of Secretary on the NJANA Board of Directors and serves on the State and Government Public relations Committee. Heather has also participated in the AANA Student Mentorship program at the annual Mid- Year Assembly, as a student and also now as an active member, mentoring our current students to why it is important to be an active participant in our state and national organization.

Heather is presently a staff Anesthetist at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ. She earned her BA is Psychology at Fort Lewis College prior to continuing on to a career in Nursing. She earned her AS in Nursing at San Diego State College in San Diego, CA. During this time she was a Corpsman in the United States Navy Reserves from March 2000-March 2008. She then went on to receive her BSN at Felician College in Lodi, NJ. During this time she was deployed oversees to Landstuhl Regional Medical center in Landstuhl, Germany, from October 2006-October 2007. Heather then earned her MSN in Nurse Anesthesia from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Heather also remains an active member in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Mark Pajdak

Resident Representative

Mark Pajdak BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, RRNA is a third-year doctoral candidate in the Rutgers University Nurse Anesthesia Program. He received his BSN from Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ) in 2011. He worked as a Clinical Manager at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell for 3 years before joining the CSICU as a critical care nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital for the past 5 years.

Alysia Ruffin

Resident Representative

Alysia Ruffin BSN, RN, CCRN, RRNA is a second-year doctoral candidate in the Rutgers University Nurse Anesthesia Program. She received her BSN from Salve Regina University in 2016 and has worked as a critical care nurse at Rhode Island Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Morristown Medical Center.

Brian Uster

Resident Representative

Brian Uster BSN, RN, CCRN, RRNA is a second-year doctoral candidate in the Rutgers University Nurse Anesthesia Program. He received his BSN from Stony Brook University in 2019 and worked as a critical care nurse at Northwell Health for three years. Brian also served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps from 2015 to 2021.

Breanna Vitolo

Resident Representative

Breanna Vitolo BSN, RN, CCRN, RRNA is a third-year doctoral candidate in the Rutgers University Nurse Anesthesia Program. She received her BS from Villanova University in 2017 and worked as a critical care nurse at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for 3 years, and as a critical care nurse at the University of Colorado Hospital for 2 years.