Betty Lank: a kind and gentle anesthetist devoted to children

Many noted clinicians and educators led the development of nurse anesthesia as a profession during the first half of the 20th century. Betty E. Lank, CRNA, a nurse anesthetist at Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts, for 34 years, devoted her professional life to the delivery and advancement of pediatric anesthesia. She is credited with many contributions including the first use of cyclopropane for infant anesthesia, developing pediatric-sized anesthesia masks and ventilation bags, and instituting standards for specialized postanesthesia recovery areas. Lank recorded her anesthesia experiences in various nursing publications and shared her knowledge with colleagues at professional meetings. Her accomplishments make her a notable figure in the early history of pediatric anesthesia, and her dedication helped forge the foundation for anesthesia at Children's Hospital Boston.