Keesler nurses selected to prestigious programs Published March 28, 2012 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Two Keesler nurses have been selected for prestigious programs. Col. Dwayne Wilhite, perioperative nursing master clinician with the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, was named military perioperative nurse consultant to the Air Force surgeon general. First Lt. Bethany Casper, an 81st MSGS registered nurse, has been accepted to a three-year doctoral program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Wilhite explained as consultant he will advise the surgeon general and air staff on perioperative nurse issues. Perioperative nurses are responsible for all operating room patient care, from pre-, intra- and post-operative phases. A few of his duties involve providing inputs to deploying nurses, ensuring Air Force perioperative nurses adhere to national patient care standards and provide the very best patient care possible. The colonel has been a member of the Air Force since 1988. He returned to Keesler in September from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. "This is my second tour at the Keesler Hospital. I was an operating room nurse here as a captain from 1996-2000." Originally from Detroit, he now considers Biloxi home and his wife Diana will join him shortly. They have two children: son Dwayne II, 27, and daughter Dayna, 23. Casper has been an Air Force member for three years and Keesler is her first assignment. The Knoxville, Tenn., native earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. She said in late summer she had applied for the Air Force Institute of Technology psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner master's degree program. "During the interview, I was offered the doctorate program and said 'Yes!' I wasn't sure I was qualified so I applied for the master's program." She said that she felt wonderful when she learned of her selection. "It was very exciting news!" This has been the lieutenant's long-term goal. "After completing my bachelor's in nursing and getting initial nursing experience in different fields, I always wanted to further my education and become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I want to help Airmen who face some unique stresses and mental challenges that arise from being in the military. I am so excited to get the opportunity to provide advanced treatment to patients with psychological disorders and be able to give them the best chance at living normal lives." Casper credited two mentors for helping her towards this achievement: Juanita Mullins, an 81st MSGS perioperative nurse who completed the doctorate in nursing practice program at the University of South Alabama, and Maj. Stephanie Amador, a former 81st Medical Group nurse, currently in the USUHS program. "Both have been my inspiration." She departs Keesler for USUHS the end of April and starts school there May 19. Col. Teresa Ryan, interim 81st MDG chief nurse, said, "Both are significant accomplishments for Air Force nurses."