OSANA Wellness

Peer Assistance

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OSANA offers resources to anyone who may have a dependency issue, or knows of someone who does.  You are not alone - we can help.  Reach out to one of our Peer Assistance Advisors today.

Jack Stem
513-833-4584
Jack was a CRNA for 14 years in Ohio when his OUD began secondary to treatment for chronic pain resulting from spondylolisthesis. He came very close to death twice. Once from a planned suicide which was unknowingly interrupted before he could begin his plan. The second time from an accidental overdose, which led to his first time in treatment. After 5 years of attempting to achieve and maintain recovery, he was discovered diverting. At that time he voluntarily surrendered his license and began his current recovery of nearly 30 years (March 28). He became Ohio's Peer Advisor in 2005 and has worked to assist CRNAs and RRNAs to understand the risks involved for anesthesia providers by lecturing to Ohio's anesthesia programs as well as numerous other programs in other states. Jack was a member of the AANA's Peer Assistance Advisor Panel from 2017 - 2024 and continues to work with the AANA, Parkdale Treatment facility in Indiana, and at the Ohio Community Health Recovery Center in Cincinnati.
Jack was a CRNA for 14 years in Ohio when his OUD began secondary to treatment for chronic pain resulting from spondylolisthesis. 
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Melinda Rakesmith
419-410-5760
Melinda has been a CRNA for 25 years!
She has been in recovery for 10 years and regularly attends AA meetings.
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Joe Melchi
614-390-1470
Joe retired from the Navy in 2023 after 23 years of service, the last seven as a CRNA. 
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Tom Minges
513-310-3794
I am currently a staff CRNA at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati Ohio.
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Rosemarie Okal
440-487-0366
I have been a CRNA over 30 years working in various practice settings from Private Practice, ACT, Solo, Locums and currently at a community hospital in Medina, OH employed by the Cleveland Clinic.
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Want to learn more about wellness?

Become a wellness ambassador through AANA’s CRNA Wellness Ambassador Micro-credential, an educational program covering key topics, including:

  • Substance Use Disorders and Stigma Reduction
  • Suicide Awareness and Prevention
  • Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills
  • The Pillars of Health and Wellness
  • Second Victim Phenomenon and Support Strategies

You earn 7.5 Class A credits and it costs only $200.

BECOME A WELLNESS AMBASSADOR
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Wellness Apps
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Breathe 2 Relax: Guided breathing video and audio tutorials
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Calm: Guided meditations, help to manage stress, sleep better
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Mood gym: Web-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Virtual Hope Box: Improves users’ ability to cope with unpleasant thoughts and emotions
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Stay Alive​: Customized safety plan, breathing and grounding exercise tutorials​, online discussion forum​, links to other suicide prevention resources​
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What Wellness Projects are our Students up to?
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Utilizing a Podcast to Address Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist Burnout
Scot Brush and Maryclare Schardt, UC NAP Graduates 2024
Chair: Rachel Smith Steinert, Committee: Molly Chaney and Meghan McDonald
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Mary Clare and Scot utilized responses from CRNAs and SRNAs to the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Human Health Services (MBI-HSS) to create a two-part educational podcast on burnout and mental health in the anesthesia profession.  Additionally, they were joined by two currently practicing CRNAs - Katie Dean and Jessica Storey - where they discussed the survey results, what burnout looks like, and how it affects provider well-being.  Links and QR codes to the episodes for both Apple Podcasts and Spotify can be found on the poster.
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