Community Connect
Local UAB Student Excels in UAB’s Prestigious Nurse Anesthesia Program, Kellen Fondren
By Sheila Duncan
“Balancing books and bedtime stories Kellen Fondren a dedicated nursing student, loving wife, and proud mom, proves that determination and heart can handle it all.”
Kellen Fondren is a graduate from Bibb County High School in 2016 and then graduated from UAB with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2019. She immediately started her nursing journey in the medical intensive care unit at UAB hospital and worked there from 2019-2024 before starting the Doctoral of Nursing Practice Program in Nurse Anesthesia at UAB last May. Kellen is married to her high school sweetheart, Will Fondren, and they have a 19-month-old daughter, Ellison.
I asked Kellen what inspired you to pursue a career in nurse anesthesia, and nd Kellen said, “I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse from a young age. When I was in high school, I started researching advanced nursing careers. I stumbled across the profession of CRNAs, looked deeper into it, and immediately fell in love with it and knew that I wanted to follow this pathway. There is a lot of autonomy within the role, a large skill set, flexibility, and a variety of settings to work in, which are some of the reasons I chose to pursue it.”
Kellen is a UAB alumni and worked at UAB hospital. I have been in the UAB system for many years and know how amazing it is. It’s a great place to learn with so many amazing resources and faculty that truly care about their students. Kellen shares how UAB has prepared How has her for her future role as a CRNA by saying, “UAB has great faculty and staff that are there for us to ensure that we are successful. They’re all excellent CRNAs and are educating us with their clinical expertise and personal experiences. The CRNA program is a 3-year program. I am currently wrapping up my first year, so I have 2 full years or 6 semesters remaining. The program is set up so that we get most of our foundational knowledge before starting clinicals, so I think that helps prepare students to be successful when starting in the operating room. UAB has many anesthesia machines and top of the line mannequins and equipment to help simulate realistic experiences for us to practice skills in a safe setting and receive feedback from the faculty on how to improve those skills. I will start clinical rotations this summer and be able to apply the knowledge and skills I have been learning thus far and start administering anesthesia.” says Kellen.
For Kellen, the most challenging aspect of the program has been managing the volume of the workload while trying to balance a healthy personal life. I asked Kellen, how she balances academic work, clinicals, and her personal life and Kellen shared, “It is difficult trying to maintain a balanced life while spending 40+ hours a week doing schoolwork and not feel guilty about spending that time apart from my family. However, I am fortunate to have a great support system of friends and family who encourage me and help with babysitting, and that helps tremendously. I do spend a lot of late nights and early mornings studying. I know that the sleepless nights are just a short-term sacrifice for a long-term goal. “When asked where she sees herself five years after graduation Kellen said she is honestly not sure where she sees herself five years after graduation. She starts clinical rotations to various facilities and specialties in July and hopefully that will help give her some guidance on what area of anesthesia she would like to work in.
Kellen’s advice for someone considering the nurse anesthesia pathway at UAB is that if you are interested in becoming a CRNA, it is a highly competitive program to get into. However, the outcome will be so rewarding. She would recommend researching the program requirements and try to check those boxes. It is a lengthy application process, so mapping out a plan for how and when to complete each requirement is important. Kellen also recommend doing community service, strive for a high GPA, work in a high acuity intensive care unit, and find a CRNA to shadow so you can see what they do for work on a day-to-day basis to be a well-rounded applicant. “CRNA is a prestigious, well-respected career. Having surgery or any kind of procedure can be one of the scariest experiences patients go through. I want to be able to make a difference and help patients by keeping them calm, comfortable, and safe throughout the whole experience. Being able to have a small impact in someone’s life and helping them in their time of need is very meaningful to me. I am proud to be a student registered nurse anesthetist and excited for my future career.” Says Kellen
Nurse anesthesia students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing are part of one of the top programs in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranks UAB’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia Pathway No. 8 among public universities.
Students in this program complete a challenging doctoral-level curriculum in science and nursing, followed by 20 months of hands-on clinical training. They learn to give all types of anesthesia and graduate as skilled professionals and future leaders in healthcare.
This program is the highest ranked in Alabama and recently moved up to No. 19 nationally climbing 10 spots from last year. It’s also one of only seven U.S. programs fully accredited by the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists and ranks No. 6 in the world.
UAB is also working to increase diversity in the field. Through the LEAP program, it partners with other top schools to support students from underrepresented backgrounds.
To help students succeed, UAB offers strong academic and wellness support. A new program called WellPro Path helps students prepare before classes begin, offering help with academics, wellness, and peer mentoring.
With national and international recognition and a focus on student success, UAB’s Nurse Anesthesia Pathway stands out.
We’re proud that one of Bibb County’s own, Kellen Fondren, is currently enrolled in this outstanding program.
“Exploring your community allows you to uncover its hidden gems and forge meaningful connections with your neighbors.” Thank you, Brandon Stabler, for taking the time to answer our questions so that we may get to know you and your family on a more personal level.
