ON DEMAND 2024 Midwest Conference - Bridging Gaps, Building Health: Advancing Equity Through Linguistic Literacy in Healthcare

Maiko Yamashita is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), currently serving as the Program Director of Rush University’s Nurse Anesthesia Program and as an Assistant Professor at Rush University College of Nursing. She completed her undergraduate nursing degree at the University of Cincinnati before gaining extensive experience in level-one trauma nursing, specializing in the emergency room and surgical trauma intensive care unit. Dr. Yamashita furthered her education by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia from Rush University. With over 17 years of experience in direct patient care, she has held various leadership roles, including Program Director, co-founder of the Rush CRNA, editorial panelist for the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists and as the CRNA representative for the Programming Committee of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing. Dr. Yamashita is also actively involved as a Board member of the national mentorship program, Diversity CRNA. Driven by her commitment to collaboration and strategic planning, Dr. Yamashita focuses on implementing sustainable changes within her leadership roles. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she is dedicated to promoting health and educational equity, demonstrated through her involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committees and initiatives at both the college and hospital levels. Furthermore, she advocates for environmentally conscious anesthesia delivery practices and participates in global health anesthesia services.

Sergio Cruz graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Elmhurst College in 2015. Following graduation, he spent six years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he garnered extensive experience in critical care. His tenure at the hospital included three years in the Surgical and Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and another three years in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU). Currently, Sergio is a member of the Class of 2025 in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program at Rush University's College of Nursing.

Kimberly Zielinski started her career in healthcare as a nursing assistant, where she quickly found her calling to nursing. After obtaining her ADN in 2018, she gained experience working in the ICU, while completing her BSN through Purdue University. During Kimberly’s five years in critical care, she has worked throughout the Chicagoland area, primarily working in Medical and Trauma ICUs. Kimberly is a student in the 2025 DNP class in the Nurse Anesthesia program at Rush University.