Jose Riel S. Sanariz, DNAP-HCA, ASPMF, CRNA, CCRN, CNRN, LSSGB
Dr. Jose Riel S. Sanariz, DNAP, CRNA, serves as the Regional CRNA Director for Sound Anesthesia in Georgia, providing strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across multiple hospital campuses, including Piedmont Columbus Regional (Midtown and Northside). In this role, he oversees anesthesia workforce operations, quality initiatives, and professional development for CRNAs while partnering closely with physician leadership, hospital executives, and multidisciplinary teams to advance safe, efficient, and high-reliability anesthesia care.
In recognition of his exceptional leadership, operational impact, and commitment to excellence, Dr. Sanariz was honored as the 2024 Sound Anesthesia Chief CRNA of the Year. This award reflects his ability to drive meaningful improvements in patient safety, clinical quality, and team engagement while aligning frontline practice with organizational strategy.
Dr. Sanariz is widely recognized for his systems-based leadership approach, with a strong focus on patient safety, quality metrics, workforce optimization, and staff engagement. He has led and standardized numerous regional initiatives including antibiotic redosing compliance, intraoperative hypothermia prevention, narcotic stewardship, trauma and OB anesthesia coverage models, simulation-based emergency preparedness, and the adoption of error-prevention and high-reliability tools. His work consistently aligns clinical excellence with operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
A passionate mentor and educator, Dr. Sanariz is deeply involved in new graduate onboarding, structured orientation programs, and CRNA student education, partnering with multiple nurse anesthesia programs to build sustainable pipelines for future clinicians and leaders. He emphasizes mentorship, psychological safety, and professional growth as cornerstones of retention and long-term success.
Dr. Sanariz holds a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, with additional executive training from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Strategic Healthcare Leadership. He has completed an Acute Surgical Pain Management Fellowship and serves as adjunct faculty for nurse anesthesia education programs. Nationally, he is actively engaged in professional advocacy and leadership development through his service with the Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society (FANAS).
Known for his collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to people and purpose, Dr. Sanariz leads with the belief that exceptional patient outcomes begin with empowered, supported clinicians. His leadership philosophy aligns with Sound Anesthesia’s mission as “The Catalyst of Uncompromising Care.”