Sarah Dowell, CRNA

Meet Sarah Dowell, CRNA

Your Anesthesia Provider — Keeping You Safe and Comfortable Through Every Procedure in Santa Fe

Surgery can be one of the most stressful experiences in a person's life — and knowing who will be managing your anesthesia matters. Sarah Dowell is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist providing anesthesia care at a CHRISTUS Health hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She completed her graduate training in nurse anesthesia at Texas Christian University, where she graduated with honors, and is nationally certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. As a CRNA, Sarah brings advanced clinical training in administering anesthesia and monitoring patients before, during, and after surgical and diagnostic procedures — helping ensure that your experience in the operating room is as safe and comfortable as possible.

Career at a Glance

• Nationally certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
• Graduate of Texas Christian University's nurse anesthesia program, graduating with honors
• Provides anesthesia care for adults across a range of surgical and diagnostic procedures
• Trained to deliver general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and sedation tailored to each patient's needs and medical history
• Practices at a CHRISTUS Health hospital in Santa Fe with 24/7 availability to support surgical teams and emergency care

Clinical Role

Sarah Dowell serves as a CRNA within the anesthesiology team at a CHRISTUS Health hospital in Santa Fe. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses with specialized graduate-level education in anesthesia. They are trained to provide the full scope of anesthesia care — from pre-operative assessment through intraoperative management and post-anesthesia recovery. In her role, Sarah works alongside surgeons, physicians, and other members of the care team to ensure that patients receive safe, individualized anesthesia for their procedures.

She provides anesthesia and related care for situations such as:

• Surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia
• Regional anesthesia, including spinal, epidural, and nerve block techniques
• Sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
• Pre-anesthesia evaluation and risk assessment
• Airway management during surgery
• Post-anesthesia monitoring and recovery support
• Pain management during and after procedures

What You Can Expect from Care with Sarah Dowell

Before your procedure, Sarah will meet with you to review your medical history, explain what to expect with anesthesia, and answer any questions. Her role is to make sure you feel informed and prepared — and to identify any factors that could affect your safety during the procedure. During surgery, she monitors your vital signs continuously and adjusts your anesthesia in real time. After the procedure, she helps ensure you wake up safely and manages any immediate discomfort as you recover.

You can expect:

• A pre-operative conversation to review your health history, medications, and any allergies
• A clear explanation of the type of anesthesia planned and why it's right for your procedure
• Continuous monitoring of your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and oxygen levels throughout surgery
• Responsive adjustments to your anesthesia to keep you safe and comfortable
• Attentive recovery care as you wake up and transition out of anesthesia

Anesthesia Safety and Clinical Approach

Sarah's training prepares her to manage the full spectrum of anesthesia care, including airway management, administration of anesthetic agents and medications, fluid and blood product management, and cardiovascular and respiratory support. She is trained to select the right anesthesia approach — general, regional, or sedation — based on the type of procedure, your overall health, and your individual risk factors. This includes the ability to perform and manage regional techniques such as epidural, spinal, and peripheral nerve blocks, which can reduce the need for general anesthesia and support faster post-operative recovery for appropriate patients.