November 22, 2009

Go Sell Crazy Somewhere Else. We're All Stocked Up Here!

It happens all the time. More than we realize. People lie everyday, everywhere. Patients do it everyday – “Did you eat anything after midnight”? “No”, comes the response – only to later find that they ate a full breakfast! Experts say that often people lie to make themselves appear better in the eyes of others or to boost their self-esteem. According to one expert, people lie “not so much to impress other people but to maintain a view of [them]selves that is consistent with the way [others] would like us to be”. The truth is that there are as many reasons for lying as there are people. And then there is lying on a different level altogether. Probably everyone has encountered that person who lies about everything – compulsive liars. “A compulsive liar is defined as someone who lies out of habit. Lying is their normal and reflexive way of responding to questions. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable while lying feels right. Compulsive lying is usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary. For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning rather they simply lie out of habit - an automatic response which is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship”.

And then within the classification of liars there are the best of the best - pathological liars. These people can do nothing but lie. And they are so extremely cunning and manipulative that others easily fall prey to their equivocation and prevarication. Lying is a part of their reality. Lying gets them where they want to be. “A pathological liar is usually defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others. Pathological lying is often viewed as a coping mechanism developed in early childhood and it is often associated with some other type of mental health disorder. A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused - it is done to get one's way). Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. A pathological liar often comes across as being manipulative, cunning and self-centered”

Perhaps one of the best publicized individuals that might fit this description is Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. He is highlighted in the Steven Spielberg movie, Catch Me If You Can, the real-life story of this gifted forger and confidence man who attempted to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice. Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., had a natural talent for making subterfuge work to his personal advantage. While at school one day, Frank successfully passed himself off as a substitute teacher. His small-scale success gave him some ideas, and he soon discovered bigger and more profitable ways of hoaxing others, passing himself off as Pan-Am airline pilot, a pediatrician, and an assistant attorney general. Frank was such a good forger that he managed to pass more than $4,000,000 in fraudulent checks!

We might be tempted to think that these sorts of liars are not very prevalent. A quick look reveals that this is not the case. We are surrounded by people like this:

James Frey: After his autobiography A Million Little Pieces became a bestseller thanks to Oprah Winfrey selecting it for her book club, it was discovered that important parts of the book had been fabricated.

Stephen Glass: While working as a reporter in the late 1990s for The New Republic, it was discovered that Glass had been making up facts in his stories. Glass had gone so far as to create fake websites and sources.

Jayson Blair: In 2003, the New York Times reporter was caught plagiarizing and making up parts of his stories. He resigned and published a book in 2004 called Burning Down My Masters' House: My Life at the New York Times. In the book, he blames his behavior on a past battle with bipolar disorder and drug problems.

Janet Cooke: Washington Post journalist Cooke won a Pulitzer Prize for a story called 'Jimmy's World," about an 8-year-old heroin addict. The only trouble was that she had created the entire story out of thin air. Once it was discovered, Cooke resigned and returned the Pulitzer. She has since sold the movie rights to her story.

Like Glass and Blair, Cooke lied about her schooling and previous experience in order to get the job. She falsely claimed to have a degree from Vassar College and to have studied at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Jack Kelley: In 2004, it was exposed that USA Today correspondent and Pulitzer Prize nominee Jack Kelley had been fabricating stories and sources. He denied the charges and resigned.

Bill Clinton: The 42nd President of the United States. Lied under oath about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and subsequently, in 1998, became the second president in U.S. history (the first was Andrew Johnson) to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

Richard Nixon: The 37th President of the United States. After it came to light that he had been involved in illegal activities, including wiretapping and harassment of political opponents in the Watergate scandal, Nixon lied and tried to cover up the misdeeds. The truth eventually came to light and he resigned before he could be impeached.

Baron Münchhausen : A German baron who served in the military and returned home with tall tales about his adventures. He reportedly told people that he'd travelled to the Moon, ridden cannonballs, and escaped from a swamp by pulling himself out by his own hair.

And let’s not forget Bernie Madoff: the former Chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange and the admitted operator of the Ponzi scheme that might be "the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history". In March 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 felonies and admitted to turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors of almost $65 billion. Apparently it came naturally to him. "Bernie showed his con-man colors as early as high school, when he held an English class enthralled with an oral book report -- one that he made up on the spot out of whole cloth". He also robbed Uncle Sam out of two years of Vietnam War-era Army Reserve active duty by developing a case of nerves."

Thinking about the acts of these people forces us to ask questions: How can a person lie about everything and still seem so believable? How is it that a person could do these sorts of things? How is it that a poseur could be so successful? How can a person portray themselves as godly, say to your face in the most convincing manner that they care about your well-being, pray for you, shake your hand, hug you, pat you on the back and then seek to destroy your reputation via calumny if and when they find you in the way of their goals and desires? The answer may lie (no pun intended) within science. Recent evidence suggests that “pathological liars may have more capacity to lie and fewer moral restraints”. It seems that pathological liars have “the equipment to lie and they don't have the disinhibition that the rest of us have in telling the big whoppers.” Though in a different league and on a totally different scale, to be sure, the administration of MTSA would easily fit into the above list - like a hand in a glove. However good the administration of MTSA may look externally, they are as phony and bogus as one of Frank Abagnale’s checks. Both Frank Abagnale and Bernie Madoff are great examples of how far pathological liars may propel themselves despite, and possibly because of, their prominence. Based on some of the careers of these pathological liars, it appears that the lies of these individuals took them very far indeed. The administration and the school look somewhat like every other anesthesia school in the nation. Part of the subterfuge includes claims that they reflect the highest godly standards and that they are “a leader” within the academia of anesthesia education. However they may portray themselves -- it’s all a deception.

As has already been dealt with in this blog, the insularity of MTSA is part and parcel to what makes their delusion operate. It’s unlikely they’d be able to get away with their mode and manner of conduct were it not for that. They tout the fact that they are the only free-standing anesthesia school in the nation as something grandiose and wonderful. I’m sorry. I’ll call this one as I see it – it’s a load of crap! “Whooo hooo! Yippee! No one else is like us!” Why is that supposed to be such a big freaking deal!? Is that something to be proud of? Let’s take a quick look at how different #69 is when compared to the top schools in the nation. Recently The Blogger did some research. The top 20 schools were contacted and asked a variety of questions; one of which regarded class size. Interestingly, when compared to these schools #69, MTSA, was shown to have a class size between 2 and 6 times larger than the top 20 schools. Some sources say that the administrators would like to see a class size of 100! Now, this begs the question, What in the world is going on over there? Why would a school in the bottom 3rd of the national rankings have a class size bigger than all the top schools? Indeed, the class size of MTSA is bigger than the class size of the top 3 schools combined!!!! Despite the complaints of instructors, alumni, and others, MTSA has opted for quantity above quality. They are attempting to educate 2-6 times more students than any of the other top schools all the while having, comparatively speaking, very little educational resources. And they actually have the audacity to portray themselves as leaders in anesthesia education despite the fact that these top schools have leaders that are the best of the best in nurse anesthesia. The credentials of these administrators are very, very impressive. They have scores of publications, textbooks, research, and degrees to their credit all of which serve to enhance their credibility and define them as leaders and educators within these top-ranked schools. True to the fashion of Madoff and Abagnale, the administrators of MTSA come up short in this department. When juxtaposing their credentials and degrees alongside those of John Nagelhout, director of the program at Kaiser Permanente, whose textbook is used across the country, or of any of the others listed in the top 20 we find the administration of MTSA to be sorely lacking. Between the President and Dean of MTSA: a few degrees (none from any top-ranked schools), no known affiliations or memberships with professional organizations or entities, no cited research, and no known publications. So here’s the picture: MTSA is not affiliated with any entity or University; the administrators of the school have, when compared to the top schools, very little in the way of credentials, not even close when compared to the top 20 schools; they have contributed nothing significant to the profession of nurse anesthesia in the way of research, the President is not a CRNA, they are working only 4 days a week, graduate 2-6 times more students than any top school, thumb their nose at the Board, the alumni, and all CRNAs in Nashville, AND yet maintain they are a leader in anesthesia education all the while reflecting Christ. I would really like to believe that the President and Dean have taken that phrase “Do more with less” to new and lofty heights. However, for me, it is very difficult to believe that the administrators of a 69th ranked school with few credentials between the lot of them are able to achieve what the best schools in the country cannot or will not. When looked at critically we simply find that something is terribly amiss at MTSA. Are they crazy? Can they just not help what they do because of some pathologic disorder? Well . . . I can answer the first question affirmatively! However, other questions need to be answered: Why is the class size so large? Is it for the money? Why would they choose to be so out of step with every other school of anesthesia? Since we already know that teaching anesthesia is secondary to the primary goal of sharing the doctrines of their church, maybe it’s so they can expose more people to their religion. There is nothing straightforward about MTSA and for that reason alone the answers to these questions are likely to be something really goofy. A quote from one of my favorite movies seems appropriate here: “Go sell crazy somewhere else. We’re all stocked up here!”

October 30, 2009

Before he was president of MTSA!

October 26, 2009

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words!

Costume suggestions from The Blogger.

Admiral Stockdale



Bernie


Irkey


Wolfie


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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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October 18, 2009

New Comments!

Thank you for having the "balls" to get the truth out about this school!! You are a blessing. I graduated from MTSA over 15 years ago and even then it was a disaster. I am a former SDA . . . and now am a Christian. When the school claimed to "reflect Christ" I used to cringe as I knew they were no more" Christ like" than the man in the moon! After ALL these years . . . they still don't get why the alumni don't want anything to do with the school. The students were all treated like "crap"! Now the problem is the "mass" production of an inferior product. [Many of] the students that are coming out of this program are completely unprepared. Most don't even know how to manage an airway. I know this because I used to mentor the students on their rotations. What is coming out of MTSA is frightening!! But, let me say, it is in no way the students fault. These students are smart, but the school is opening such large classes that these kids are not getting the proper training required. They are coming out to their first jobs completely unprepared . . . and the blame goes back to the school. The school claims to be a friend to the CRNA . . . what a Joke! This school has flooded the whole Middle Tennessee area with an inferior and incompetent product that makes the rest of us look really bad. Again, thank you for this site. Keep up the great work!


"Thank you for your site . . . keep up the good work in getting the truth out!!!"


I just found out about this site . . . and I can tell already that I'm going to LOVE it!!!!

October 13, 2009

Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins

It’s that time of year when folks dress up and pretend to be all manner of people or things. This holiday must surely be the most hallowed time of year for the administration at MTSA. It must be revered above all others because the administration pretends so well; better than anyone else. And they’ve been doing it for so long! Sadly, pretense is a way of life for the administration. Many of the commenters on this blog have used a very fitting word when describing the administration – hypocrite. This author must admit, that is a word well suited for the administration. And it certainly fits the holiday. The word is derived from the Greek and literally means, “I play a part”. That being the case, “hypocrite” is indeed the correct word.

The administration of the school wears the mask of educational and spiritual integrity. The truth, however, is that they manipulate the interview/admission process in order to allow those they favor to gain admittance to the school. They pretend to be fair and honest in all matters regarding discipline. The truth is that when students sprayed graffiti on the walls of a building destined for demolition, scrawling words that depicted the administration in an unfavorable light, the administration punctuated their disfavor and displeasure by disciplining these students in a harsh and severe manner. These students were threatened with termination and expulsion and some were not allowed to graduate with their class. However, a student allegedly caught soliciting a prostitute and allegedly possessing narcotics from a clinical rotation barely gets slapped on the wrist. The administration pretends that they are the reflection of Christ Himself. However, when those arise who might threaten their power, challenge their methods, or question their integrity, they seek to deal with them by fabricating canards and lies in an attempt to ruin their reputation and lessen their credibility. They proclaim their zeal for God, throw on their meretricious cloak of religiosity, bellow and bleat about their love for the school and its need to “reflect Christ” – all this is nothing more than a pretense to cover their desire for control and self-aggrandizement. They have well hidden their true character; concealed it by heavy subterfuge. Few would ever imagine that persons claiming to “reflect Christ” and espousing the virtues of their religion could be capable of the heinous deeds that they commit. Their design truly is most clever and the disguise is very difficult to detect. The acts of the administration are the exact opposite of the façade they daily wear. What a burden this must have become over the years; continually trying to squelch those who would dare to remove their mask; those who would reveal their true identity. The duplicity necessary for such treachery requires Herculean effort. But when it comes to pretense, they are masters. Kudos.

Even to this author, this all sounds a bit like some grand conspiracy theory. Sometimes the truth IS very strange. The irony and paradox of stating the truth about them is that it makes the person tugging at their mask seem, to those who think they know them, every bit as depraved! This seems unavoidable because of their vigorously proclaimed religiosity and because of a firm presumption by many that the administration will do and is doing what is in the best interests of the school. No one wants to give credence to the suggestion that the administration is self-serving, that they have hidden agendas, that they have long ago jettisoned their fiduciary responsibilities in favor of promoting “religious principles” which only serve to further hide their personal agendas. No one wants to have to admit that the administration mostly operates with a the-end-justifies-the-means mentality. In a way, it’s the same sort of situation that exists when living with an abusive spouse. Sometimes those closest never suspect a thing until they see the black eye, the bruised lip, the scars, etc. Even then, it’s difficult to believe that a spouse could do such things. And yet, it happens.

Experience has taught me that individuals cannot perpetuate this particular brand of dualism, self-deception, and lunacy ad infinitum. Sooner or later, someone or something, will rip away these fig leaves they wear and everyone will see the administration for what they really are – treacherous charlatans. Their comeuppance will arrive and when it does The Blogger will take no glory in it. There will be no delight in seeing the shame and misery that ultimately follows such an exposition. There surely must be many, however, who will breath deep and easy in the fresh air of vindication and exoneration. It is for this reason alone that I look forward to that day and to the day when their leadership, feckless as it is, will be regarded by all as ephemera; an ancien régime long forgotten.

If these words seem harsh to the reader it can only be because you have not experienced the mean-spirited, duplicitous, self-serving actions of the administration first-hand. The truth IS sometimes harsh. No one wanted to believe that the religious leaders in Christ’s day were a “brood of vipers”. No need to mince words – it was the truth. I’m guessing you might have had a hard time convincing the other 11 disciples that Judas was a betrayer; until he kissed Him on the cheek. This brand of deceit and wrong-doing within the administration cannot be dealt with effectively by simply saying “Please” and “Thank you”. It will only end when those having sufficient backbone are willing to stand up and say, “No more. The craziness ends here”.

Given that the Halloween holiday is upon us, I will leave you with a fitting fairy tale. Who might the old woman represent?


“Suddenly the door opened, and a woman as old as the hills, who supported herself on crutches, came creeping out. Hansel and Gretel were so terribly frightened that they let fall what they had in their hands. The old woman, however, nodded her head, and said: “Oh, you dear children, who has brought you here? Do come in, and stay with me. No harm shall happen to you." She took them both by the hand, and led them into her little house. Then good food was set before them, milk and pancakes, with sugar, apples, and nuts. Afterwards two pretty little beds were covered with clean white linen, and Hansel and Gretel lay down in them, and thought they were in heaven. The old woman had only pretended to be so kind; she was in reality a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had only built the little house of bread in order to entice them there. When a child fell into her power, she killed it, cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her. Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a keen scent like the beasts, and are aware when human beings draw near. When Hansel and Gretel came into her neighborhood, she laughed with malice, and said mockingly: "I have them and they shall not escape me again!"



BOO! Happy Halloween!

The Blogger

October 05, 2009

New Comments!

"Keep telling it like it is! . . . Thank you for blowing the lid off these hypocrites. I’m drinking a toast to you right now!"


"The blogger speaks nothing but the TRUTH about that place. I say, print more of what that school has done over the years. Go blogger go!!!"

Plebeian Madness!

What can be seen within the administration of MTSA is a perfect storm of craziness; equal parts of power, controlling personalities, and religious fanaticism; a disturbing and unacceptable trifecta. Let’s look at what actions this dangerous trifecta will allow. It has come to light that Jim & Tammy Faye like to play hard and fast with the schools reputation, with relations at clinical sites, and with the reputations of others. According to recent intel, Jim & Tammy Faye contacted the employers of a local CRNA and told them they had anonymous “feedback that is both disturbing and unacceptable.” They alleged that this CRNA was so negligent in his performance that patients’ lives and safety were in jeopardy. Allegedly this rose to such a level, and was so “disturbing and unacceptable”, that they elected to withdraw students from the clinical rotation. Curiously, however, Jim & Tammy Faye vehemently refused to disclose any details whatsoever. Despite repeated attempts and requests they have refused to reveal what it is that is so “disturbing and unacceptable”. Even in the face of repeated requests from the CRNA’s attorney and threat of legal action – outright refusal. It is interesting that they seek to “reflect Christ” and force captive audiences to submit to their personal religious beliefs and yet harbor no compunction about trying to destroy someone’s reputation. How can the administration be allowed to employ such tactics with impunity? Does the Board of Trust not care that these charlatans and poseurs are flaunting their antics far and wide like wild, uncaged, circus-monkeys? They are ruining the school’s reputation and professional standing with maniacal abandon. They have a skewed single-mindedness of purpose that can only be compared to and often seen in those having delusions and mental disability. What could be the logical purpose behind the idea of bringing forward an anonymous claim that was “disturbing and unacceptable” and then refusing to disclose the details? This type of behavior is the standard operating procedure of the administration; all–out destruction of those not aligned with their agenda. What was the real purpose of such a canard if not to destroy this CRNA’s reputation and force submission? Indeed, reliable “feedback” indicates Tammy Faye has suggested to others that this could “all go away” if the CRNA in question would simply come in to the school and talk with the administration. Sounds a bit like the Dark Ages doesn’t it? Confess or suffer the consequences. Again, these tactics are not an uncommon practice of the administration.

These actions should put all clinical rotations on notice that the administration of the school thinks they can use the students as a bargaining chip to control them. “Do what we say or we will pull the students from your rotation”. I wonder how the students feel about such antics? Their clinical rotations may go away at the whim of the administration. Who the hell do these people think they are? Are they using these same tactics in an attempt to control the Board? Lest you are duped by their façade of religiosity, control is synonymous with oxygen. Seek to deprive them of it and watch what happens. They are all about control and are capable of morphing into anything in order to maintain it. It’s anesthetic sci-fi at it’s best. Did the school operate in such a fashion when Nelda Faye was there? When, oh when, will someone drive a dagger through the heart of this plebeian madness?

October 04, 2009

Perception is Reality!

I want to clarify something relative to SDA’s lest someone gets the wrong idea. I have no disdain or disrespect for Seventh-day Adventists. There are many fine folks within the denomination, within the local churches, and even at MTSA. What this author takes issue with is the fanaticism that the administration fosters, nurtures, and propagates. They wield their zealous beliefs in an unbalanced manner that is uncharacteristic among most of Adventism. It is very clear that the administrations first and foremost concern is not with educating the best-prepared nurse anesthetists but their paramount concern is making sure, as stated before, that everything is SDA-certified. A brief visit to the school’s website will bear this out.


Let’s note the very first statement relative to the mission of the school: “It is the mission of Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia to provide a Christian, Seventh-day Adventist learning environment that fosters the pursuit of truth”. It is an assumption of the author that the most important aspect of a mission statement is that which is stated first. A mission statement essentially states your reason for being. It is the essence of what your school, company, or organization is all about. The mission statement is used as a measuring stick for everything else that happens within an entity. I posit that the mission statement of MTSA is unbalanced relative to why the school exists. Since the number one stated goal of MTSA is making certain the learning environment there is SDA, then everything else is secondary. Primary goal? Making sure they’re SDA-certified. Secondary goal? Let’s look again at the mission statement: “Excellence in anesthesia practice”. Does that seem unbalanced to anyone else but me? Shouldn’t excellence in anesthesia practice be the paramount goal for sake of teachers, for the sake of students, for the sake of potential employers, and for the sake of patients? Don’t you think that most patients, if asked, would say that between the two, they’d be concerned most about “excellence in anesthesia” and not whether or not the learning environment was SDA-certified? The primary goal is revealing the truth about your religion? Wow! That’s fanaticism!


“In response to this mission, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia views itself as a leader in academic and professional excellence”. I’m sorry, what does this mean? You are responding to your own mission statement and your response to this statement is, “We’re a leader”? Again, what does that mean? Who is following you? If you are a leader, what other schools recognize this besides you? You are touting yourself as a leader. Pony up with some evidence. That’s a very bold claim: MTSA views itself as a leader. Who else does? Unless you’ve got some evidence to back up this claim it’s little more than narcissism. Especially in light of the fact that you’re ranked 69th.


When we get to core values we see similar values topping the list: “A Christian, Seventh-day Adventist values-driven curriculum and program”. This is THE most important core value. Again, this is evidence of how important it is to push the religious beliefs of the administration to the forefront. Not excellence in teaching or learning. I’m curious, is it necessary to say “Christian, Seventh-day Adventist”? Adventism IS Christian so I am uncertain why the redundancy is necessary. “Academic and clinical excellence” again takes a back seat to religious beliefs. We value teaching our religion over academic and clinical excellence. I guess they want to make it clear where they stand on that matter.


As if to underscore the administrations vociferousness on this matter, the administration punctuates yet again their desire to make certain that everyone understands what is most important to the school. And it’s not excellence in anesthesia. The educational philosophy is as follows: “God, the Creator and sustainer [sic] of all creation, is the source of all knowledge. Humankind, created in the image of God for the purpose of communion with Him, has sinned and as a consequence has separated from him [sic]. God, through His infinite love, sent His Son to restore a right relationship with humankind—a relationship that begins on this earth and continues throughout eternity”. This must be why they view themselves as a leader, even though no one else is following. For some reason they feel duty-bound to tell you about their religion and if they don’t, you can’t properly and fully understand your anesthesia education and training. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with those statements. What I think is absurd is the idea that telling students about these things must overshadow everything else. They must tell you about God and about their religion in order for your anesthesia training to have meaning and purpose. Is that what Jesus did? Did He require folks to listen to the dogma and doctrines of His church before He healed them? I personally think a much better approach might be to instill core values into the curriculum that will allow students to see that that have a responsibility to be good stewards of all they possess, i.e., time, talent, and resources. God gives them all. To him/her whom much is given, much is expected. This, I think, would be much more palatable than the fanaticism that is now interwoven into the administration via inbreeding and nepotism. But hey, perception is reality. And they view themselves as “leaders”. So, yeah, lead on. And as you do please realize that all the top schools, the ones that are ranked higher than you, those that are true leaders within anesthesia education, they are doing it differently.


On a bright note, MTSA will soon have a new President. Whew, is that good news or what? No more marionettes, please. Just to clarify: “A marionette is a puppet controlled . . . using wires, . . . [or] strings; a marionette's puppeteer is called a manipulator. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden . . . in different forms of theatres or entertainment venues” or at fanatical anesthesia schools. It really has been entertaining. Don’t let the door . . .

September 29, 2009

Coming Soon - BlogWear!

MTSAffront.blogspot.com T-shirts and bumper stickers!!! Ideas for designs are welcome! Stay tuned!

September 27, 2009

Where Else Can You Have a 4-day Work Week?

“It is the philosophy of MTSA that it be operated as a freestanding, single purpose, anesthesia specific, graduate degree granting institution; rather than be enveloped by a multi-disciplinary university.”

Why would anyone choose this as a philosophy for their school? It is a philosophy that places it at odds with all top rated anesthesia schools not to mention most all of the rest. Is it that MTSA is so much further ahead of all those other schools? Or is the converse true? Is it that they are further behind? Form usually follows function. Architecturally speaking, if an object has to perform a certain function, its design must support that function to the fullest extent possible. Let’s take a look at MTSA – the stated values, goals, and philosophies of the school. Surely within these we’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the visions and aspirations of the school as well as an understanding of this philosophy.

First off, we see that MTSA “views itself as a leader in academic and professional excellence, specific to graduate nurse anesthesia education”. This is a very interesting portrayal of the school. From this quote we can see that the administration has a very unbalanced self-view; dare I say a delusional view. Although they may view themselves as leaders, there is ample evidence to suggest that this is not the case. By the way, what criteria do you use in making that claim? Based on the claims of most of the alumni that have been sent to “The Blogger” they believe your staff is bloated, the class size is too big, the administration is malevolent and self-serving, and they want to know what you’re doing with all the money. But I digress. Let’s forget about the alumni for just a moment and get back to you being a “leader in academic and professional excellence”. You see, I think most anyone with half a brain would tell you’re off your academic rocker and that you’re setting a really bad precedent by alledgedly admitting someone to the program who is a convicted felon and a drug user. I’ll stop by Walgreen’s and get some of those really big crayons and try and draw it out for you in a way that’ll make sense. Were you off your medication when that happened or what? Maybe someone left a vaporizer turned on in close proximity to your office or something. If queried, I’m certain you’d have some anonymous and purportedly veracious answer detailing why you thought it was a good idea. It really is interesting to see “academic and professional excellence” juxtaposed alongside the alledged admittance of a felon and drug user. Umm, I’m guessing that most “deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools” would say that’s just plain crazy. Wait, wait, wait! The answer just came to me. I’ll bet he or she was family. Right? If not, I’ll wager $500.00 that this person was SDA! But, hey, your academic and professional excellence stands alone, so business as usual – Just do whatever you want! That IS business as usual!

As has already been mentioned a few times in this blog, U.S. News ranked MTSA 69th in the nation among other anesthesia schools. To reiterate, this ranking is “based solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline. Respondents rated the academic quality of programs on a 5-point scale: outstanding (5), strong (4), good (3), adequate (2), or marginal (1)”. So the administration of MTSA thinks the school is “a leader” however, your peers rank you 69th. Your peers gave you a 2.6 – not outstanding, not strong, but a 2.6. Let me say it for you – “Almost good”. Not quite good, but almost. Hmm, sounds like there is a discrepancy there. While you view yourself as a leader, those at the top of their game, those ranked among the best in the nation, -- they view you as “Almost good”. Hey, maybe you can use some of your well-honed tactics on these folks at U.S. News and on your peers. After all, your M.O. is to attack those who differ with your opinion or those who threaten you in some way. No doubt, the administration will posit that the rankings are unfair in some way and that they really should be among the top ten.

“Researchers Evan Rogers and Sharon J. Rogers have compared rankings produced by the 1995 National Research Council study with those U.S. News has developed, looking specifically at the U.S. News rankings based on peer assessment data only. They concluded that there was "a very high positive association between U.S. News peer assessment scores and rankings and those reported by the NRC." Their article in the May 1997 issue of the American Association of Higher Education Bulletin further discusses this topic”.

If the vision of the administration were truly one that tended toward “academic and professional excellence” then we could reasonably expect them to be laser-focused on securing top-notch academic instructors possessing stellar credentials and qualifications along with recruiting the very best students both regionally and nationally. Among a myriad of other things that sounds reasonable, right? I mean, it does if your goal is “academic and professional excellence”. Let me spell it out for you. Everything at MTSA, I mean EVERYTHING, is secondary to the primary goal and that primary goal is making absolutely certain that everything that can be SDA-certified IS SDA-certified. That’s why they are freestanding. That’s why they're 69th. That’s why some students are referred to as non-SDA. That’s why many of the alumni hate them and won’t loosen their purse strings. That’s why there are no instructors with great credentials and qualifications (Larry Lancaster excluded of course – hey, by the way Larry, in my opinion you are one of the best instructors to ever walk through the doors of that school. I think my class should get together and get you a gift card at Fortnum & Mason. Kudos!)

This obscenely myopic vision is why the President and Dean are both SDA. It is why, if the administration had their way, every person associated with and/or working for the school would be SDA. “Reflecting Christ in Anesthesia" is code for “All Things Adventist”. Don’t you know? No one can properly “reflect Christ” unless they are SDA. That’s why they are freestanding. Because if they were not they would lose control of this myopic, ethnocentric, xenophobic stranglehold that causes the school to languish both in funding and in ranking and yes, in “academic and professional excellence”. MTSA is not reaching and will never reach its true potential as long as this religious fanaticism continues. HELLO? Who works for whom here? Don’t any of the board members read this blog?

More to follow . . . .

September 20, 2009

New Comments!

From non-alum:

"I can't stand this school. I've seen the way the students are treated, and how unprofessional the faculty and administration can be. I am a Christian, and I see nothing about this organization that "Reflects Christ", through anesthesia or any other thing they do. Not even close. Nepotism is the perfect word . . . whether that nepotism happens within actual blood-[realted] families or within the SDA "family." I have never been so happy to work in an area (now) where I don't have to listen to SDA rhetoric constantly all day long".

"I just wanted to say that it's not just alumni who are sick of this school. The market is flooded with CRNAs, and good luck to all the new graduates who need a job in town!"

From alum:

"Did you know they let in a student last year with a conviction for robbing a bank [a felon], and he had a history of drug use. Those with concerns on the admission comittee were told it was OK because he didn't use a gun to rob the bank, and he was now a SDA (so he must be OK). Some people on the admission comittee had serious reservations and this guy still got in. This is the story I get from someone in the know".

"Ready for the next one . . ."

"More posts please, LMAO"!

"I don't think you should change a thing. Great new blog. Keep up the good work".

"Preach on, brother (or sister)"!

"You are absolutely 150% on the money! Nothing like luring people in with the "reflecting Christ in anesthesia education" angle, and then actually "reflecting ANTI-Christ", once the tuition money is forked over. Your 3 entry blog is everything that has pissed me off about that school since I attended. They told me that they were "just like a big family". What a joke! I was one of those unfortunate individuals that was subjected to this unchristian behavior, and I am (WAS) an Adventist, while watching select others get whatever they wanted. And like clockwork they want my alumni donations. I've got a donation for them . . . I wonder if I could sue them for falsely advertising the "reflecting Christ in anesthesia education" lie. Thank you for telling it like it is! ---------------- a former MTSA castigation horse".

"The truth and the light will set MTSA free from so many years of unethical pratices. I agree with the blog updates that these events have occurred multiple times with first hand knowledge in so many ways. Please support this blog and add your stories to help change the future of CRNA's from MTSA".

"WOW! Negative most definitely does not mean untrue . . . nice post. The Alumni is watching . . . and waiting".

September 19, 2009

Whited Sepulchres

Great News! MTSA may have moved up in rank! The Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program has closed so that may mean they move up one without having to change anything. Now, if only 67 more schools close they can be number 1!


One of the vulnerabilities of writing a blog like this is that you may be perceived as crazy or as malfeasant as the entity or person you are seeking to expose. Which begs the question, Is it better to do or say nothing about the wrongdoing of those in power so that public opinion of oneself may be preserved? I think the answer to that question may lie within the following quotes:


“Evil will triumph when good men do nothing”.

"If we believe a thing to be bad, and if we have a right to prevent it, it is our duty to try to prevent it and damn the consequences." — Lord Milner


It is a risk to speak up. That’s why more people don’t do it. Often times when you speak up about the wrongdoing of others you become a target. I was raised to believe that I should never pursue a fight or enjoy controversy but that I must never be reticent to engage either when and if necessary. So let’s talk about why this blog exists. Why in the world would anyone do such a thing?

It’s simple really. The administration of this school is malfeasant, misguided, and meretricious. No, they are certainly not Nazi baby-killers but their actions do rise to such a level that I believe someone must do something to see that it stops. The motto of the school is “Reflecting Christ in Anesthesia.” That, in my opinion, is a very audacious motto. As a school, if you are claiming that your primary focus is to reflect the Creator of the universe then you had better be ready to live and die within that motto. To clarify what I mean by that, simply this: There should be no room for malfeasant behavior within the administration of a school making such a bold statement. Forget about the schools reputation! You are, according to your own motto, reflecting God. Therefore, as an administrator, you’d better measure up; zero tolerance for charlatanism here. If those charged with the administration of the school are chronically and continually engaging in behavior blatantly non Christ-like what needs to be done? Who needs to know? Who is in charge of these people? Shouldn’t someone say something?

I have been tied to the Administration’s whipping post for too long now and I’ll have no more of it. I am tired of being lied to and lied about. The Administration is claiming to reflect Christ and yet engaging in duplicitous behavior that should never occur in any school, let alone one claiming to “reflect Christ.” And duplicity is the word best describing the modus operandi of the administration. They have continued over many years and are continuing to operate under a façade of religiosity. It’s best called pseudo-spirituality. As best I can tell, character assassination, vilification, dishonesty, innuendo, lying, – none of these serve to reflect Christ! They are wrong to commit these acts even if they weren’t professing to reflect Christ. The fact that they do them while wrapping themselves within the meretricious banner of “reflecting Christ” makes their actions loathsome in my opinion. Who is responsible for MTSA’s version of Jim Baker and Tammy Faye? Will someone please hold them accountable for their actions? Hello? Who’s minding the store here? Someone needs to step in before they ruin the school! They either need to change the administration or the administration needs to change.

Reflecting Christ doesn’t automatically make one better prepared to take a certification exam. Reflecting Christ doesn’t make you better at managing a difficult airway. Reflecting Christ doesn’t help you better understand how to deliver a variety of anesthetics. Let me make my point a different way. What if the motto of the church was, “Delivering Anesthesia Education and Training of the Highest Order”. Wouldn’t that seem a bit odd? Wouldn’t you ask yourself something like, “I thought the church was supposed to reflect Christ -- His sacrifice and His works. Why is the church trying to provide anesthesia education"? Seeking to reflect Christ is a laudable goal for any individual and for some entities, but it’s not a goal that imparts anesthetic knowledge or makes you the best anesthesia school. That should be obvious based on the current ranking.

As an entity, if you want to reflect Christ then do the works of Christ: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide shelter for those that have none, comfort the grieving and dying, preach salvation to the outcast, give sight to the blind, care for the widowed, etc. These are the deeds I know to be a reflection of Christ. Let’s be honest here- relative to the schools audacious claim -- it’s never been about reflecting Christ anyway. As a child I was always told a variation of the popular axiom – “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see”. My father would say, “If you hear someone standing on a soapbox telling you how virtuous they are and what wonderful things they do – you'd best steer clear of that person. Good people don’t need to tell you how good they are”. People who reflect Christ don’t need to tell you, “Hey, I’m reflecting Christ”. You can tell. I think the motto should read: “Reflecting the Doctrines and Dogma of the Seventh-day Adventist Church”. But then wait, that wouldn’t be true either really. More correctly: “Reflecting the Beliefs of the Family That Runs the School and Are Members of the Church Next Door”. There. That’s much more accurate!

"As a leader, you have to not only do the right thing, but be perceived to be doing the right thing. A consequence of seeking a leadership position is being put under intense public scrutiny, being held to high standards, and enhancing a reputation that is constantly under threat."
— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward in Firing Back

It is the perception of more than just a few that the leadership of the school has some other agenda besides competing for the number one spot with VCU. It is for that reason, many believe, that alumni funds and support languish. My guess is that the administration of the school doesn’t care what the alumni think. If they did they would have been mending fences long ago. There are many who love the school and would like to support it and would like to be engaged in some fashion. But you get what you give -the alumni are responding with apathy. While I do not speak for all alumni, a great many I know will not engage the school and will not support it financially until this dynasty ends. Where is Moses when you need him?

So . . . if you’re satisfied over there with a 69th ranking, if you’re OK with paltry alumni support, if the pseudo-religiosity game seems best in your eyes, if you think trumpeting your religious beliefs and placing them above what the school ought to be about is right, if you think vilifying those who dare to call you out qualifies as efficient administration – then you’re doing a great job! I think most folks still call it delusion.

September 10, 2009

"If You Have Integrity, Nothing Else Matters. If You Don't Have Integrity, Nothing Else Matters".

Within The Principles of Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), integrity is the very first thing mentioned --- “Section 1.1 The institution operates with integrity in all matters”. And rightly so. Unless you have integrity nothing else you do will really matter. Here are three definitions of that word:

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.


Can the administration of the school pass muster within any of these definitions? This blog has already highlighted some of the malfeasance occurring within the administration of the school. Some years ago prior to a SACS visitation I overheard an administrator of the school discussing two part-time employees of the school who had been listed as full-time employees in order to meet SACS requirements. I recollect there being some talk about this because there were concerns about possible repercussions if this were known. These two people were then full-time employees at TCMC. They were, and still are, full-time anesthesia providers and their affiliation with the school was part-time. To the author of this blog this type of behavior seems dishonest and malfeasant. If it occurred, it violates the very essence of what Section 1.1 entails. Lack of integrity equates to trying to be something you are not – like operating a school that professes to “reflect Christ” all the while engaging in this kind of alleged abhorrent behavior.

I like this quote: “To reach a great height a person needs to have great depth”. (There are many quotes about integrity. I chose this one because it’s anonymous.) Assuming this is true, administrative integrity must exist in a shallow puddle over at MTSA. MTSA touts itself as the first and only regionally accredited, anesthesia-specific, graduate degree-granting, program in the United States. As such, it ought to be held to the highest standard; perhaps even higher due to its unique status. Scrutiny, properly brought to bear will likely reveal many additional deficits. I feel certain that all institutions struggle with a variety of problems relative to maintaining proper checks and balances. As a free-standing institution MTSA should embrace a mode and manner of conduct that would avoid the very appearance of cronyism and nepotism. Instead, they have adopted a means of operation that allowed the Council on Accreditation to give them less than a perfect accreditation. This type of overt nepotistic behavior threatens the schools very existence and lessens its reputation and standing within the academic community. Unless this overt nepotism can be dealt with effectively, MTSA will continue to operate as a “Mom & Pop” sort of school all the while touting itself as a “University.” Has the current administration of the school, through a variety of actions both past and present, demonstrated an inability to “make reasonable and responsible decisions consistent with the spirit of integrity in all matters”? Any and all business of the school and the conduct of those charged with its’ administration should be predicated upon the one supreme principle “essential to the purpose of higher education” – integrity.

Speaking of University and higher education, let’s revisit this issue of school ranking for just a moment. Based on MTSA’s ranking after 50 years, how long does it take to get to number 1 – 150 years? According to the MTSA website, “MTSA ranks as one of the largest”. So . . . if your criteria for choosing an anesthesia program is that it must lack administrative integrity, be “large”, and rank in the bottom 1/3 – Hey, we’ve got what you’re looking for! It should be fairly obvious to all but those having zero common sense that ranking – either low or high – is, to some degree, tied to the leadership of the institution. It should also appear obvious that if your leadership style tends toward religious and institutional-inbreeding, nepotism, cronyism, and neuroticism there’s a better than average chance you might rank a little lower than number 1 – say, I don’t know -69th? I would also expect that the Director of a number 1 program like Virginia Commonwealth University would have commensurate credentials and qualifications.

Let’s juxtapose the two and you draw your own conclusions.


Vice President and Dean of MTSA

Diploma, Nursing, Mountain Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing
Certificate, Madison Hospital School of Anesthesia
BA, Ottawa University
MEd, Tennessee State University
MS, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
Additional study at, Capella University (Online), Andrews University, and Tennessee State University

Licensed Registered Nurse
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Licensed Advance Practice Nurse

I would list the qualifications of the Director at Virginia Commonwealth University, the Number 1 ranked anesthesia program in the country, however it is over 15 pages long. You may view it here. He has more credentials and qualifications than the President and the Dean put together. And, oh, their program started in 1969. You need more than just impressive credentials to make it to the top. Let's hope MTSA can find someone like the guy at VCU! Heck, another Nelda Faye Ackerman would be a step up!

It's All About Control!

Wow! The emails are coming in so fast I can barely keep up. I just want to say a quick thank you to Phil for all the free publicity! Did you ever wonder what living in a socialist country might feel like? Here’s a glimpse below. And remember, if you know of anyone harboring Jews, er, uh, I mean writing anything you think we wouldn’t like, call the propaganda minister immediately!

Disdains Meretriciousness,

Thank you for the service you are providing. I had been thinking of something similar for quite sometime. Kudos to you for beating me to it! I look forward to having discussions about this subject and providing material (such as what is written below) for your excellent blog.

Colonel Nathan R. Jessep USMC

---------------------------------------------------------------

As an MTSA alum, I received an email this week from Phil Hunt concerning this blog. See below.

"Dear Alumnus,

Several of you are already aware of a blog that was recently created and posted that does not have the blessing of MTSA, but is in reality very negative about our School. If any of you happen to be invited to view this blog, please be aware that it was not posted by anyone from MTSA. I would appreciate you calling or emailing me if you receive any phone calls or are invited to view this blog. Emails from Ikey DeVasher at ikey@mtsa.edu are valid. Any other emails that are similar, but not exactly the same as listed in this email, are NOT from Ikey or MTSA.

I want to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your commitment to and support of our School. Please continue to remember the School in your prayers.

Yours in His service,

L. Phil Hunt, EdD MTSA President"

Let's take another look at one of the sentences. "I would appreciate you calling or emailing me if you receive any phone calls or are invited to view this blog." After I read it, the thought struck me: where have I seen something like this before? It took a couple of minutes but then it came to me. Just in the past few weeks a similar plea for information was introduced at our highest level of government.

See the site below: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/facts-are-stubborn-things/

“There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”

Interesting terminology used here. "There is a lot of disinformation . . . out there". "If you get an email or see something on the web . . . that seems fishy," "Since we can’t keep track of all of them . . . we’re asking for your help." Well I'm just a simpleton from the south, but I see a similarity between Dr. Hunt asking for people to contact him about viewing this blog and the current administration asking for people to send "disinformation" to an email address with the word FLAG as the primary component of said address. I know if I were establishing a snitch line (and make no mistake, it is a snitch line), I would probably come up with an email address that didn't signify that I was marking certain people with opposing views with a FLAG. But that's just me. What the hell do I know anyway, I was educated at MTSA for God's sake.

But the main question to ask ourselves is why would the White House or old Phil want to be contacted about "disinformation?" That is probably the easiest question to answer. We all know why. Control. And one thing MTSA has had for decades is control. Control of their image. It is basic human nature to want to always be portrayed in the best light. But they now have encountered something they cannot control. Thank Gaia for Al Gore and his internets.

One more point about Dr. Hunt's email. In it he mentioned that the blog was ". . . in reality very negative about our School." Notice that nowhere in his email did he state that what is contained in the blog is not true. Interesting. Very, very interesting. Until next time I will leave you with a quote from author Aldous Huxley:

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad."

Semper Fidelis,

Colonel Nathan R. Jessep,USMC

September 09, 2009

Pay No Attention To That Man Behind The Curtain!

Careful now. If you are reading this blog it might just be against the policy of the administration. What better way to let people know what this blog is all about than to TELL THEM what it is about. You can’t afford to let them form their own opinions. You certainly can’t leave that determination up to the individual. Because they’re not smart enough to figure things out for themselves, are they? Er, uh, I mean, they are not smart enough to reach the right conclusions. You must make certain they reach the “correct” conclusion. Damage control mode. You must TELL THEM what this is about. It’s very similar to what the media already does – report the news and then tell the public what it means. So . . . read the blog entries out loud - like a mother reading to her children. LOL! And then instruct them, tell them, teach them, what they are to think about these matters. Probably should send out an email to all the alumni too. They won’t be able to figure it out on their own either. Board members, staff – let’s see who else do we need to tell what to think.

It’s obvious, based on comment after comment, that there is an underlying ill will among many of the alumni toward MTSA. These folks, despite having received an education that places them among the top wage-earners in the nation, close their pocketbooks when asked to support their alma mater. The common thread? Nepotism and mistreatment. It seems as if, relative to this ever-increasing number of displeased alumni, MTSA finds itself in a conundrum. If they summarily reject the objections of these alumni they risk further alienation of an alumni base that won’t give them any money. However, if they accept these objections as valid then they risk exposing their malfeasance even further. Hmmmm, what to do, what to do. Wait, here’s an idea! And it’s a plan already in your play book. It really is diabolical. It allows you to accuse, condemn, and pronounce summary judgment upon anyone who dares to disagree with you or expose your malevolent behavior. Here’s what you do: Attack their moral and professional integrity. I mean, they are of no use to you anyway, right? Identify these errant alumni and punish them for not towing the line. Send a letter or email to their employer stating you have “anonymous feedback” that suggests they are unsafe practitioners and that they are endangering the safety of patients. And never speak to or notify the practitioner directly. Only speak to their employer that way you never have to talk to one of “your children”. Then wavier and waffle: “Well, we can’t disclose the evidence. It’s anonymous”. “Well, not really. I mean, we can identify a student who probably said this”. “Well, no, I mean, yes, it’s anonymous”. “We might know someone, somewhere who said this”. “No, wait, it really is anonymous and someone really said this”. OK, who said this and what did they say?” Silence. Maintain your silence. And don’t forget plausible deniability. Maintain these. Just cast aspersions and accuse. All you really need to do is to cast doubt about their character. Try and get others to view these detractors with a jaundiced eye. That’s all you need, right? Because, remember, everyone assumes you are operating under the “reflecting Christ” banner. Come to think of it – so does Benny Hinn. Man, that’s working out pretty well for him. Think of the fundraising possibilities if you paired up with him! You could just thumb your nose at all the alumni! Here’s one you might not have thought of – oh wait, what am I saying? Surely you HAVE thought of this one. It’s a variation of the first idea. Suggest they are incompetent and unsafe because you have “anonymous feedback” suggesting they are using drugs. Best keep these plans under wraps though. What do you think might happen when all the clinical coordinators and all the anesthesia providers at each of these sites find out that you have no compunction about using these sorts of tactics? Do you think they want to risk educating your students when you are willing to stoop to this sort of behavior? Why would anyone want that liability? And for goodness sake don’t let the board find out. If the board ever finds out what you’re up to. Wow! That could be bad maybe, huh? Hey, why don’t you try out some of these tactics on them? Better yet, get someone else to do your dirty work. Remember, plausible deniability!

This description of behavior sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? I mean, in the world we live in you might expect to hear something crazy like this on the news. But if you were to tell someone that this sort of behavior is occurring among the administration of a school which professes to “reflect Christ” – it’s sounds like confabulation. Even to the author of this blog. It is more than just a little bit interesting to read emails from folks who have similar stories and experiences. While there’s some level of comfort in commiserating with others who share similar tales of nepotism, insolence, arrogance, and malfeasance, the alumni needs to be about the business of making themselves heard and thereby making things change. If they want your money then they damn well better be listening to what you have to say. You have already spoken through your refusal to give. Right now an audible voice is needed. A few things need to happen. One, the modus operandi of the administration must be exposed. Two, for those who care about the school, including this author, a clear path should be forged away from this misguided, malfeasant, and meretricious leadership. One that will lead back toward excellence, fairness, and inclusion. One that leads toward admiration and a higher ranking among other anesthesia programs rather than the current attitude – “we like to stand alone”. Three, constructive and well-received alumni involvement is imperative in order to preserve the long-term purposes, goals, and direction of the school. In order to engage a greater percentage of the alumni they must see, in a very real way, that things are changing for the better. The new motto of the school should be, We’re Cleaning House. A massive enema and scope has revealed (sorry, I just couldn’t resist that analogy) many deficiencies. The road to health, even for schools, can sometimes be messy.

The Emperor Has No Clothes!

The Emperor's New Clothes "is a fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about an emperor who unwittingly hires two swindlers to create a new suit of clothes for him". "The story has given rise to its common reference as a metaphor in numerous situations. Most commonly, the statement "the emperor has no clothes" is used to refer to a situation in which (at least in the opinion of those using the phrase) the majority of people are unwilling to state an obvious truth, out of fear of appearing stupid, unenlightened, sacrilegious, or unpatriotic, or perhaps out of "political correctness". In such cases it is often implied that the motive and rationale for not seeing the obvious truth has become so ingrained that the majority do not even realize that they are perpetuating a falsehood".

That is precisely the point relative to this blog and to MTSA. This is not to be mistaken for anything other than what it really is - forcing others to see what they cannot or will not see. For far too long no one has had the gumption or the willingness to yell at the Emperor and say, "You have no clothes on! You're naked!" That happens sometimes in government, in corporations, in organizations, and yes, even in anesthesia schools. No one likes or wants to state what is true because sometimes the plain truth hurts. Surely those who profess to be "reflecting Christ in anesthesia education" couldn't/wouldn't be doing something untoward. I mean, they just wouldn't, right? They have the best interests of the school and the students at heart, right? But remember that saying about smoke and fire - remember? The hunch, in starting this blog, was that there must be plenty of folks (alumni) who have endured abuse, mistreatment, and/or some form of insult from those at the helm of MTSA. That hunch was as accurate as the fact that the sun is going rise in the morning. Malfeasant behavior of this nature rarely occurs in isolation. Already, emails are pouring in! Absolutely amazing! To prove my point, I'll share some remarks (all from alumni) in a moment.

First, allow me to share a submission from someone who was a member of the interview committee in years past. This person had "great concern" about the interview process and wrote the following letter to the school:

"I have great concern over the tabulation of our voting scores for potential candidates. I know for certain that scores are being manipulated. The way I know that numbers were manipulated is because the scores were read back for -applicant- and they were all in the teens. I know for a fact that my score was not in the teens. I also know that one other person's score was not in the teens. I noted that you made the comment that you thought something was "fishy." Indeed, something is “fishy”. Next year some system of checks should be in place to prevent this from happening. Firstly, what has happened is just plain wrong. Secondly, this could prove legally catastrophic for the school if candidates can prove that the interview process is flawed. There needs to be some way of proving, should this matter ever arise, that it is not possible for this to happen. I see this as a liability for the school. One simple method would be to count the votes immediately after every candidate in plain site of each committee member. Finally, I consider it a waste of each person’s time to have their vote taken away by the manipulation of scores. It is disheartening, infuriating, and dishonest. I hope you understand my hesitancy to identify myself. I write this anonymously for a variety of reasons".

How is this possible? Admission to the school is being manipulated? Of course "rational" thought mandates that you should attack the person sending this letter. Damage control mode - Attack the whistleblower! Discredit them by whatever means possible. Make it seem as if THEY are behaving in a malevolent fashion. That sort of behavior belongs on Capital Hill (if anywhere) not within an entity claiming that they are "reflecting Christ"! (At this juncture, please read the title of this blog again).

Here are some comments about this blog so far. Again, all from alumni -- some claiming to have been didactic and clinical instructors and committee members. All anonymous just like the school likes to do (we'll talk more about the malevolent use of anonymity at a later date).

"I have never seen a 2 blog entry be so spot on in my life".

"Nepotism. It is unbelievable that this is allowed to continue. It totally takes individual perception and critical thinking out of play. Add in friends and church members and you get the mess that is now MTSA. Favoritism at its best".

"The level of success in teaching RN's to become COMPETENT CRNA's is dropping . . . fast". (I hear this all the time from a variety of sources).

"Wonder why the alum's are not giving? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? The way we were treated in school and now you want more money??! The school uses fear and intimidation on a daily basis".

"It is this alum's feelings that there are many problems facing MTSA today. It seems with the growth that the school has undertaken these problems have been magnified".

"Bring in some nationally ranked credentialed CRNA talent. You don't see a university with all the professors graduates of that institution".

"You have alienated your alum. And their families".

"The "we own you" part that the Dean likes to throw out when angry, does not cut it with me and is why I will not support the school while this is allowed. They want to build a top school but refuse to come out of the dark ages".

"Thank you for this blog".

"Thanks for stepping up".

"Your blog is, IMHO, very accurate".

"As a former member of the admissions committee, I have seen this [nepotism] first-hand . . . especially for friends of the family and SDA church members".

"Some of the students now are so unprepared coming out I've had to personally instruct them on basic anesthesia".

Speaking out on disparate discipline: "This is also corrupt! Once again, I have been in on this too"!

"Complete, and I mean complete, lack of objectivity".

"The school is full of greed and is rapidly flooding the anesthesia market in Nashville".

Wow, I am truly overwhelmed by the influx of comments. So much, so soon. Where is Nelda Faye Ackerman when you need her? Expect a blog about her soon.

Maybe 69th is Too High!

Of those anesthesia programs ranked in the top 10 in the nation there is a common denominator. The commonality among most of these schools is that they are affiliated with a college or university. This affiliation is an asset to these programs and not just for obvious reasons. Being a stand-alone institution decreases the levels and layers of scrutiny; scrutiny to which these top-schools are subjected. I believe it helps to foster nepotism and allows one to run a school as a Mom & Pop store might be run (Mom, Dad, & daughter all work at MTSA). Allegedly this nepotism rose to such a level that it allowed the schools accreditation to be suspended by the Council of Accreditation just last year. Reaching for a higher rung on the academic ladder might jeopardize this nepotistic stranglehold in which the school is held.

The uniqueness of MTSA seems to easily allow the hiring of friends and church members thus further buffering any indiscretions or wrongdoing that may be found out about. Running a school in this fashion allows favoritism to be shown through the changing of grades and through the changing of interview scores. It might allow the changing of a student’s grade from a B to an A and it easily allows changing the scores of an applicant from an 8 to an 18. Being a stand-alone school might allow you to focus on who you want to be there (qualified or not) rather than who is most qualified. Being a stand-alone school could make it easier for you to impose the dogma and doctrine of your church upon students even though the school has no affiliation with nor does it receive financial support from any organized religion. Which begs a question: If you had the choice, who would you rather have put you to sleep - a mediocre anesthesia provider who is a great Christian or a top-notch anesthesia provider who is an atheist? Some say there’s been an increase in those failing their board exams. Is that true? Word on the street also says that some new graduates were so incompetent that they were fired from there first job. Is that also true? Maybe 69th is too high!

MTSA also likes to tout the grades of the students, hours spent doing cases, and the amount of cases done by students. Great! As if to say, “Even though we’re 69th we have something to be proud of”. These ARE laudable results. But what are you doing that will help to elevate the school to a higher ranking? Why wouldn’t a school strive to be among the top ten? MTSA likes to talk about the fact they’ve been around for 50 years. Fifty years and you can’t make it into the top 20 or even the top 50? When then?

And let’s talk about the building fund. Let’s talk about the grandiose plan to build a multi-million dollar school – oh, but wait. Some of the bigger contributors wouldn't sign on to that project and one reason for that is because of the paltry number of contributing alumni. Tisk tisk! Perhaps if you spent more time concentrating on the quality of the program and less time making sure that everything is SDA-certified then those alumni you refer to as non-SDA would not disdain you so much and pony up with some cash. Not many alumni like the school well enough to contribute. Instead of a new building you had to settle for a new addition and some remodeling - the cost of which has to be paid for by a few who are cajoled into giving. Again, 50 years and you can’t seem to get more than just a few of the folks whose earnings are among the top 10% in the nation to give you a nickel. That’s very telling! Very telling indeed. At least priorities are in order - Mom, Pop, & daughter are still firmly entrenched. Sad really, very sad.

First Things First

The content of this blog will likely take many twists and turns. It's all about MTSA - where it's come from, where it's going, why it's future may be in peril because of a misguided, malfeasant, and meretricious leadership. We will explore many angles, thoughts, and ideas. Hopefully, among other things, some fallacies regarding MTSA will come to light. And there are many. Let's deal with one right off the bat. You might have heard someone say that MTSA is one of the best programs in the country. We will deal with this more thoroughly at some point but for a cursory first look lets turn to US News and World Report's Rankings for Nurse Anesthesia Programs in 2007. Do we find MTSA among the top 20? Nope. Top 30? Nope. How about the top 40? Nope. OK, surely it must be in the top 50! Nope. Top 60 then? No again. The programs are ranked “based solely on the peer assessment data from academics involved in that particular field”. “To gather the peer opinion data, [they] asked deans, program directors, and senior faculty to judge the academic quality of programs in their field on a scale of 1 ("marginal") to 5 ("outstanding")”. Out of just over 100 schools listed, MTSA ranks 69th with a score of 2.6. So . . . one of the best in the country? The numbers suggest this is not the case. There are reasons why this score isn't higher. Again, first things first - or should I say 69th things first. More later.