Michael Mackinnon
DNP, BSN, CRNA, FAANA
Dr. Michael MacKinnon is a College Associate Professor in the New Mexico State University Nurse Anesthesiology DNP program. A nurse anesthesiologist, family nurse practitioner, and educator, he has practiced nurse anesthesia since 2009 and teaches across multiple graduate nurse anesthesia programs. He also serves as Professor and Assistant Director of the National University Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Dr. MacKinnon earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama, his Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse Anesthesia from Thomas Jefferson University, and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dalhousie University. His independent anesthesia practice informs his teaching in clinical anesthesia, pain management, professional practice, and rural access to care.
His educational work includes developing courses, learning tools, and assessment materials using artificial intelligence, providing faculty training, and creating applications that support academic program management. His clinical and scholarly interests include ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, point-of-care ultrasound, acute and chronic pain management, anesthesia economics, and health policy.
Dr. MacKinnon has served on the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Board of Directors and as president of the Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. His professional contributions include scholarly publications, national presentations, journal review, and mentorship of doctoral nursing students. He is also contributing a forthcoming book chapter on nurse anesthesia practice in rural, remote, and island settings.
Education
DNP, University of Alabama
MSN Nurse Anesthesia, Thomas Jefferson University
BSN, Dalhousie University
Awards & Honors
- Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2026)
- Inaugural Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (2021)
- AANA Board of Directors (2024-2025)
- AANA Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy (2023)
- Arizona CRNA of the Year (2021)
- Principal Investigator, HRSA Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships grant (2023–2027)
Clinical Focus
- Comprehensive Nurse Anesthesiology Practice
- Acute and Multimodal Pain Management
- Difficult Airway & Regional Anesthesia Techniques
- Rural & Independent Anesthesia Practice / Health Policy
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Research Interests
- Perioperative Pain Management & Multimodal Analgesia
- CRNA Scope of Practice, Workforce, and Rural Access to Care
- Anesthesia Practice Economics & Reimbursement Models
- Nurse Anesthesia Education & Professional Leadership
- Artificial Intelligence in Graduate Nursing Education
Selected Publications
- Rural Advanced Practice Nursing: Global Contexts in Rural, Remote and Islands, Springer Nature (2027)
- Outpatient Surgery Magazine “Services Without the Subsidy: Here’s How” 2024
- Beckers ASC Review ”5 key notes on CRNAs and anesthesia care” 8/2024
- Beckers ASC Review “What to know about CMS' rural-pass through program, according to a CRNA leader” 8/2024
- OutPatient Surgery Magazine “Effective Multimodal Pain Protocols” 2024
- Kaur, H. MacKinnon M. “Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome,” ISJNA 20.3 (2021)
- Accardo, D., Isaac, J., Strube, P., MacKinnon, M., & Dabney, C. (2021). Methods to Reduce the Risk of Exposure to Airborne Pathogens in the Operating Room (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33501911/). AANA Journal, 89(1), 71–75.
- MacKinnon, M. A. (2021). Relationship Between Population Density and Scope of Practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Arizona (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34342570/). AANA Journal, 89(4), 325–333.
- Beckers ASC Review “Five reasons that anesthesiologist assistants limit anesthesia flexibility and profitability” 2017
- Permissive hypotension: a change in thinking Air Med J. 2005 Mar-Apr
- Brugada Syndrome: Silent Assassin Air Med J. 2006 May-Jun
- Case Presentation Articles Air Med J. 2006-Presented every 3rd Issue
- Flight Nurse Flip book (created and published)
