Todd Christian named program director of new CAA program

Todd Christian named program director of new CAA program

Program will be the first in Tennessee, one of the few in the nation to offer this highly specialized training for much sought-after profession.

Kim Chaudoin | 10/27/2025

Lipscomb University's College of Pharmacy has appointed Todd Christian as the inaugural program director of its new Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) master's program, launching in 2026 as the first of its kind in Tennessee and one of only a few in the nation.

Christian brings to Lipscomb a multi-faceted background in clinical anesthesia, pharmacy, military healthcare and law enforcement, combining extensive operating room experience with a strong commitment to mentorship and service. A licensed Anesthesiologist Assistant in Indiana and Florida, he has practiced in a wide range of surgical settings including cardiac, pediatric and obstetric anesthesia. He most recently served as an anesthesiologist assistant with US Anesthesia Partners (USAP) in Fort Myers, Florida, and with Southern Indiana Anesthesia Consultants in New Albany, Indiana, providing anesthesia care for diverse procedures from open-heart operations to complex pediatric and obstetric cases.

"Todd brings a rare combination of clinical depth, teaching experience and community service that will be invaluable as we build this program," said Tom Campbell, dean of Lipscomb's College of Pharmacy. "His practical experience across a wide spectrum of anesthesia care, coupled with his dedication to mentorship, positions our students to graduate ready to meet the complex demands of modern perioperative medicine. We are confident his leadership will help us produce clinicians who possess the technical competence and are deeply committed to patient-centered care."

In academia, Christian has been a clinical preceptor for student anesthesiologist assistants from institutions including Emory University, the University of Indiana, Nova University, South University, Case Western Reserve University, and VCOM. He has presented on anesthesia topics and is active in professional organizations such as the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, Tennessee Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, Florida Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

"I'm particularly excited about building this program because it allows us to continue the legacy of the Anesthesiologist Assistant profession, which has a rich history dating back to 1969," said Christian. "Our focus will be to select the best candidates and provide them with a top-tier, rigorous education delivered by experienced anesthesiologists and Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants. What excites me most is preparing our students not only to be technically proficient but also to serve in meaningful and impactful ways, continuing the AA profession's longstanding role in delivering safe and effective anesthesia care."

"What truly makes our program distinctive is that it is part of Lipscomb University, an institution with over 130 years of history and a mission to provide an education that is both academically rigorous and grounded in faith," he continued. "By blending Lipscomb's commitment to purposeful education with its reputation for healthcare excellence, we are shaping graduates who are not only technically proficient but also deeply committed to serving others with compassion and integrity in the field of anesthesia."

A Nashville native, Christian holds a Bachelor of Science from Trevecca Nazarene University and a Master of Science in Anesthesia from the University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus. He completed U.S. Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and the Metro Nashville Police Department Police Academy Basic Training. He has participated in international service, providing anesthesia on a surgical mission to Blessings Hospital in Malawi, and volunteers as a science lab instructor for a refugee youth STEM program.

Lipscomb's CAA program will launch in 2026, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), and the Accreditation Review Committee for Anesthesiologist Assistants (ARC-AA). The program will address a critical national shortage of anesthesia professionals and meet Tennessee's growing healthcare workforce needs. Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants are vital members of the anesthesia care team, trained to support physician anesthesiologists in designing and implementing care plans. The job market for AAs is projected to grow 26.6% by 2032, with a median salary of $215,000, according to national data.

Students will complete a 27-month curriculum integrating classroom, laboratory and clinical training in pharmacology, airway management, perioperative assessment and anesthesia monitoring. A distinctive feature of Lipscomb's program is its home within the College of Pharmacy, providing students with a robust pharmacological foundation rarely offered elsewhere.

Applications open in January 2026, with the first cohort beginning in August 2026, coinciding with the effective date of Tennessee legislation authorizing anesthesiologist assistant practice statewide. For more information, contact CAAProgram[at] lipscomb.edu(CAAProgram[at]lipscomb[dot]edu).