Nelson J. Aquino, MS, DNP(c), CRNA

Nelson Aquino works as a senior certified registered nurse anesthetist in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, and a clinical instructor for Northeastern University's Nurse Anesthesia Program.

Aquino co-founded the Gender-Affirming Surgical Perioperative Program (GASPP), the first of its kind in a pediatric academic hospital. The GASPP anesthesia specialty team developed gender-affirming protocols and procedures to advance transgender anesthesia management in the perioperative environment. Additionally, Aquino is a published author and speaker in the care of gender-diverse youth, and his current research focuses on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways for Gender-Affirming Chest Reconstruction Surgery and transgender perioperative outcomes.

In 2010, Seton Hall University's College of Nursing recognized him as the first recipient of its Humanitarian Award for his work in underserved countries. This accolade is now named, “The Nelson Aquino Humanitarian Award.” He is also a faculty member for Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School conference, "Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room," where he teaches pediatric dentists and dental trainees in an airway workshop. During his career, he has educated numerous pediatric dental residents in oral sedation and dental anesthesia at Franciscans Children's Hospital, which is affiliated with Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine.