Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Matthew Peterson has joined the anesthesia team at Winona Health. “I knew when I decided to become a CRNA that I wanted to work at Winona Health. I wanted to be somewhere smaller that felt more personal with stronger ties to a community,” says Matthew. My dad, now retired, was a CRNA and had the opportunity to care for patients with the team at Winona Health. He had great things to say about the atmosphere here and expertise of the surgical team.” Matthew also noted that his mom is a retired nurse practitioner, so he always has had an interest in healthcare. “One of the things I enjoy about being a CRNA is that it allows me to use a high degree of critical thinking while interacting with people of all ages and providing a broad scope of care,” notes Matthew. “I want my patients to know that I’ll treat them and their family just as I’d want someone to care for me or my family.” Matthew earned his degree as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist through the Franciscan Healthcare School of Anesthesia, Mayo Clinic in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Viterbo University in La Crosse. Prior to becoming a CRNA, Peterson cared for people as a Critical Care Certified Nurse (CCRN) in the Intensive Care Unit at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and is certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Matthew and his wife, Jessica, who is also a CRNA at Winona Health, have been part of the Winona community for about six years, and they recently welcomed their first child. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and the many festivals and events, like the Big Muddy Brew ’n Que, Winona has to offer. To learn more about providers and serviced at Winona Health, visit winonahealth.org.