,
,Chemistry and Physics
for Nurse Anesthesia
, David Shubert, PhD, is a dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Newman University, Wichita,
Kansas, where until recently he designed and cotaught the combined chemistry–physics for nurse
anesthesia course with Dr. Leyba. He was inducted into the national Achievement Rewards
for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation prior to joining Newman University in 1987.
Although his area of expertise lies in organometallic chemistry, Dr. Shubert has taught intro-
ductory, general, organic, analytical, and instrumental analytical chemistry, as well as bio-
chemistry, earth and space science, general physical science, and chemistry/physics for nurse
anesthesia. In 1995, Dr. Shubert was honored by his students and peers with the Teaching
Excellence Award. He has worked as a chemical consultant with several local industries, includ-
ing Vulcan Chemicals and BG Products. Working with colleagues from five independent col-
leges, and with financial support from the National Science Foundation, the Camille and Henry
Dreyfus Foundation, and the A. V. Davis Foundation, Dr. Shubert has offered numerous work-
shops that provided training and access to modern instrumentation to high school chemistry teach-
ers. Most recently, he was recognized by the Wichita Business Journal in 2014 as a Healthcare
Hero. His research interests have evolved from organometallic chemistry to chemical education.
John Leyba, PhD, is a professor of chemistry and head of the Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, Georgia. Previously, he was a faculty mem-
ber at Newman University for 12 years, where he served as the chair of the Division of Science and
Mathematics and where he cotaught the combined chemistry–physics for nurse anesthesia course
with Dr. Shubert. Dr. Leyba has extensive industrial experience in the Department of Energy
Complex. He was senior scientist, senior scientist A, and principal scientist with Westinghouse
Savannah River Company. In addition, he was the radiochemistry group leader for Rust Federal
Services Clemson Technical Center in Anderson, South Carolina. He was also a visiting assistant
professor in the Chemistry Department and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of
Environmental Engineering and Science at Clemson University. Dr. Leyba was also the Denver
Area director of operations for Canberra Industries. His research interests involve the rapid
chemical separation and detection of radioactive materials. Dr. Leyba has won several teaching
awards including the Newman University 2005 Teaching Excellence Award and two Outstanding
Didactic Instructor Awards from the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Sharon Niemann, DNAP, CRNA, is director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, Newman University,
Wichita, Kansas (since 2004). She has practiced as a certified registered nurse anesthetist since 1995
and has been employed as a cardiovascular nurse anesthetist with Anesthesia Consulting Service
(Wichita) since certifying. She is a retired captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, having served overseas
in spring 2001. Dr. Niemann serves on the Steering Committee, Mid-Continent Regional Center
for Health Care Simulation and is a member of numerous professional organizations including
the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the Kansas Association of Nurse
Anesthetists (KANA), where she has held numerous offices, including president and treasurer, and
currently is the program chair. She was also an item writer for the Council on Certification of
Nurse Anesthetists (2006–2009) and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Niemann
has presented widely for KANA and other state and local organizations on topics such as conscious
sedation, anesthesia for total joint replacement, and anesthesia for cardiovascular procedures. She
teaches a variety of courses in the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program and is principal
investigator and clinical advisor for multiple senior nurse anesthesia thesis projects. She received
her Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree at Texas Wesleyan University in 2016.
,Chemistry and Physics
for Nurse Anesthesia
, David Shubert, PhD, is a dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Newman University, Wichita,
Kansas, where until recently he designed and cotaught the combined chemistry–physics for nurse
anesthesia course with Dr. Leyba. He was inducted into the national Achievement Rewards
for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation prior to joining Newman University in 1987.
Although his area of expertise lies in organometallic chemistry, Dr. Shubert has taught intro-
ductory, general, organic, analytical, and instrumental analytical chemistry, as well as bio-
chemistry, earth and space science, general physical science, and chemistry/physics for nurse
anesthesia. In 1995, Dr. Shubert was honored by his students and peers with the Teaching
Excellence Award. He has worked as a chemical consultant with several local industries, includ-
ing Vulcan Chemicals and BG Products. Working with colleagues from five independent col-
leges, and with financial support from the National Science Foundation, the Camille and Henry
Dreyfus Foundation, and the A. V. Davis Foundation, Dr. Shubert has offered numerous work-
shops that provided training and access to modern instrumentation to high school chemistry teach-
ers. Most recently, he was recognized by the Wichita Business Journal in 2014 as a Healthcare
Hero. His research interests have evolved from organometallic chemistry to chemical education.
John Leyba, PhD, is a professor of chemistry and head of the Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, Georgia. Previously, he was a faculty mem-
ber at Newman University for 12 years, where he served as the chair of the Division of Science and
Mathematics and where he cotaught the combined chemistry–physics for nurse anesthesia course
with Dr. Shubert. Dr. Leyba has extensive industrial experience in the Department of Energy
Complex. He was senior scientist, senior scientist A, and principal scientist with Westinghouse
Savannah River Company. In addition, he was the radiochemistry group leader for Rust Federal
Services Clemson Technical Center in Anderson, South Carolina. He was also a visiting assistant
professor in the Chemistry Department and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of
Environmental Engineering and Science at Clemson University. Dr. Leyba was also the Denver
Area director of operations for Canberra Industries. His research interests involve the rapid
chemical separation and detection of radioactive materials. Dr. Leyba has won several teaching
awards including the Newman University 2005 Teaching Excellence Award and two Outstanding
Didactic Instructor Awards from the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Sharon Niemann, DNAP, CRNA, is director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, Newman University,
Wichita, Kansas (since 2004). She has practiced as a certified registered nurse anesthetist since 1995
and has been employed as a cardiovascular nurse anesthetist with Anesthesia Consulting Service
(Wichita) since certifying. She is a retired captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, having served overseas
in spring 2001. Dr. Niemann serves on the Steering Committee, Mid-Continent Regional Center
for Health Care Simulation and is a member of numerous professional organizations including
the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the Kansas Association of Nurse
Anesthetists (KANA), where she has held numerous offices, including president and treasurer, and
currently is the program chair. She was also an item writer for the Council on Certification of
Nurse Anesthetists (2006–2009) and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Niemann
has presented widely for KANA and other state and local organizations on topics such as conscious
sedation, anesthesia for total joint replacement, and anesthesia for cardiovascular procedures. She
teaches a variety of courses in the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program and is principal
investigator and clinical advisor for multiple senior nurse anesthesia thesis projects. She received
her Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree at Texas Wesleyan University in 2016.
