Susan Dastic, CRNA

Bio

I was born in Evanston Illinois. I like to tell the story like this: My mom, who was a nurse was putting my dad through dental school. They had such a limited income that they lived in the basement of my grandmother's house where there was little heat and only one tiny window. Because of the small living quarters, there was no room for a crib. I had to sleep in a drawer. Now, there is a lot of truth to the story. However, I have been told that the drawer part is just a stretch of my imagination. I think my version better emphasizes the hard work, sacrifice and devotion my parent's had to each other and to their professions.

My parents moved to California when my dad graduated from dental school because my mom couldn't take stuffing three children into snow suits every morning, shoveling the car out of the driveway and slipping on the ice all the way to daycare and work while she was 8 months pregnant. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration too. Anyway, after the age of three, I was raised in Danville California.

My parents were my motivation to enter the medical field. I knew that I didn't want to be a dentist (I spent many summers working in my dad's office) So, I became a nurse.

I graduated from Samuel Merritt and St. Mary's Intercollegiate program for nurses in 1986. I then worked in the pediatric intensive care at Children's Hospital Oakland as a staff nurse III, bridging the gap between clinical nursing and administration. I absolutely loved that position and held it for 7 years.

I decided to pursue an advanced nursing degree. I was drawn to anesthesia after spending just one afternoon with one of the cardiac anesthesiologists at Children's hospital. I was accepted to anesthesia school just a year later and moved to Pasadena to attend the Kaiser School of Anesthesia for Nurse Anesthetists. The 24 months that I spent in anesthesia school were some of the best times of my life. I loved what I was learning and all of the influential people that I met. I graduated in 1995.

I swore that the minute I graduated from anesthesia school I'd move back to Northern California, but as life (and, well...OK, LOVE) go, I found myself in San Diego for the next seven years. I worked at a number of Kaiser hospitals in Southern California and at UCSD Medical Center where I got a wealth of experience.

As luck would have it, I had an opportunity to move back to Northern California in 2002. I jumped at the chance to be ""back home"". I wound up in Santa Rosa where I was thankfully hired at Kaiser. I have been working part time (32 hours/week) ever since.

I have to say, that I am proud to be a member of the anesthesia care team at Santa Rosa. I have never worked with such an educated, talented and caring group of anesthesia providers. My colleagues are the best!

I feel very fortunate to live and work in such a beautiful area. Santa Rosa has so much to offer. What, when I think of the days that I peered out of my little drawer to see snow piling up on the window pane....

My Medical Specialty

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I like to provide anesthesia for all types of surgical procedures. But my real love is and always will be pediatrics.

Interests

Currently reading:
Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin

My favorite book or author:
Maya Angelo

Great movie:
The Never Ending Story and Polar Express: Remember I'm a mom!

Family & Friends

People in my life:

My significant other is my soul mate and the love of my life. We have spent 12 years loving, learning and growing together. I'm looking forward to the next 12 years and then the next...

My children and people I care about:

I have a 7 year old son who is everything to me. He is extremely smart, sweet, loving, and beautiful. He is also EXTRMELY active, energetic, and did I say active?

He is my hero. He is an angel with high functioning autism. He is in first grade and is thriving academically. He is making friends and is slowly learning the ways and rules of the world around him. He has worked in his 7 little years harder than imaginable to overcome his disorder. He has taught me and all those around him about patience, tolerance, acceptance and what it means to believe and to love.

My "first child" is my Jack Russel Terrier, Rita. She has used up all nine of her lives (dogs obviously have more than nine!). She is 11 years old and acts like she's three. She loves her position as head of household and reminds us daily of that rank.

Pet Photos:

Rita the Jack Russell

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I have been fortunate enough to have many thrilling and exciting adventures. I traveled to Russia in the 80's and was surrounded by armed guards who took me into "custody" several times throughout my stay. I traveled to Ireland for a month and stayed in old "haunted" castles. I've been on a back packing trip that was almost my last as I survived a rock avalanche and a fall off of a cliff. I've been thrown from a ski boat into shallow water.

Favorite place in the world:

My favorite place is anywhere that I am with my family. BUT, I really like Hawaii. I love to snorkle and swim. I like that tropical breezes, the sand, the temperature and the relaxation.

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Snorkling in Maui