Russ Branch, DNP, CRNA, ACNP-BC, CNE, CHSE is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Emory University Nurse Anesthesia Program. Dr. Branch has over 20 years of clinical experience as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with dual certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-BC). He earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in 2000, a Master of Science with a focus in Nurse Anesthesia from Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia in 2004, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in December 2020. Dr. Branch’s doctoral work focused on hypoxemia in obese patients during procedural sedation. His areas of clinical interests include airway management in anesthesia practice and clinical simulation.

• Branch, R., Cole, K., Gibbons, W., Clement, D. & Wands, L. (2025). Piloting an interdisciplinary simulation-based educational experience with nurse anesthesia, nurse midwifery, and prelicensure nursing students. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 100, 101690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns. 2025.101690. 
• Branch, R., & Cole, K. (2024). Advanced airway management skill decay: A review of the literature. AANA Journal; 92(3):167-172, PMID: 38758710.
• Cole, K., Branch, R., & Li, Y. (2023). Reducing nurse anesthesia student anxiety by aligning a university-based simulation program with best practices: A quality improvement project. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 85, 101469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2023.101469.
• Branch, R., Hoy, H., & Currin, K. (2022). Implementing preoxygenation in obese patients prior to esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures in a fast-paced ambulatory gastrointestinal endoscopy center: A quality improvement project”; AANA Journal 90(3), 197-205.
• Branch, R., & Amiri, A. (2020). Environmental surface hygiene in the OR: Strategies for reducing the transmission of health care-associated infections”; Approved for 1.8 CEUs; AORN Journal 112(4), 327-342. doi: 10.1002/aorn.13175.