Lipscomb University to launch Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant program

Lipscomb University has announced its plans to begin offering a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant program in June 2026. The master’s degree program will be competitive to enter and admitted students will be able to finish the program in two years. Once they graduate from the program, students will be qualified to work alongside physician anesthesiologists on an Anesthesia Care Team.

According to an article on Lipscomb University’s website, Tom Campbell, who serves as the dean of Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy, explained what sets this program apart. He is quoted as saying, “A unique feature of our program will be its inclusion within a College of Pharmacy. Because the anesthesiology practice is heavily focused on the utilization of pharmacologic agents, this relationship will provide a robust educational opportunity for our students unlike any other in the nation as students will have a high degree of pharmacological training. As the only program of its kind in Tennessee and one of a select few nationwide, we are excited to provide a pathway for students to contribute meaningfully to the health care field.”

Certified Anesthesia Assistants provide patient care before and after procedures and during procedures, alongside certified anesthesiologists. Certified Anesthesia Assistants are currently authorized to work in 22 states, in Washington DC, and in Veterans and Defense facilities around the country. Legislation is currently pending in the Tennessee legislature that would allow for these individuals to practice in the state, as well. The legislation will go into effect in January 2026, and pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Accreditation Review Committee for Anesthesiology Assistants, Lipscomb will begin offering the program in June 2026.

The program, which will be able to be completed in two years of study, will teach students fundamentals of pharmacology, anesthesia monitoring, airway management, and perioperative assessments. Students will attend classroom lectures, laboratory work, and clinical experiences.

Candice McQueen, the president of Lipscomb University, was quoted as saying of the new program addition, “Lipscomb is dedicated to serving critical needs in our healthcare system particularly in Nashville and across the state of Tennessee by equipping our students, through innovative programming, with rigorous, relevant training. This new CAA program reflects our mission to educate the next generation of leaders in health care and to address significant workforce gaps here in Nashville and beyond.”

For more information about Lipscomb University, visit the school’s website.