Valley Faculty & Staff
DR. TODD L. HICKS, DNP, MNA, CRNA
Clinical Sciences Lecturer
As a practicing CRNA with more than twelve years of clinical experience and ten years as a CRNA educator, Dr. Todd Hicks joins Valley as an expert Clinical Sciences Lecturer. Todd most recently served as Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a program with a long and proud history of preparing successful nurse anesthetists.
Dr. Hicks has practiced clinically in the Baptist Health System in Montgomery, AL, which includes a trauma center and referral OB hospital. Currently, Todd provides anesthesia services in an office-based setting, independently. Dr. Hicks is a sought after lecturer and has presented anesthesia review and continuing eduction content locally, regionally, and nationally.
Todd was awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2015 and a Masters of Nurse Anesthesia in 2008, both from UAB. Dr. Hicks has dual bachelors degrees in nursing (BSN, 2004) and education (BS Ed, 1999) from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Todd’s professional interests include USGRA, OB anesthesia, opioid free techniques, and all things pharmacology.
While Todd enjoys a successful career in anesthesia, at heart he is a musician and a professional girl dad. His interests span from improvisational music fan and baseball to practice fast-pitch softball catcher and Number 1 soccer, dance, and gymnastics fan.
Todd resides in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife, Jill, three daughters, and the world’s oldest living dachshunds.
DR. ULF BRONAS, PhD, FSVM, FAHA
Basic Sciences Lecturer
Dr. Bronas joins Valley as a Basic Science Lecturer. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing. He has taught advanced physiology, pathophysiology, and biophysiological measures to graduate student nurses for 15 years.
Dr. Bronas has developed integrative nursing practice and pharmacology courses, and taught advanced ECG interpretation. He is sought after speaker and regularly lectures in the medical school and during grand rounds. He has been a visiting and adjunct professor at the College of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, Vanderbilt University, and Michigan State University.
Dr. Bronas has been recognized for his teaching and mentoring of graduate nursing students and junior faculty members. Dr. Bronas has received the Berger Excellence in Teaching award and the Excellence in Teaching award from the Graduate Student Nurse Organization.
DR. MICHELE ARDIGO, DNP, CRNA
Vice President of Operations
Dr. Michele Ardigo joins Valley as VP of Operations with a focus on marketing, industry relations, student services, and operations.
Dr. Ardigo has practiced for 25 years as a certified registered nurse anesthetist and is a Valley Anesthesia alumnus. Her clinical experience has been a largely independent practice from a solo critical access hospital to Level 1 trauma facilities.
Dr. Ardigo has unique business experience as a co-founder of an urgent care facility in a rural resort community. She developed her business acumen to envision, design, and execute a quality healthcare delivery system.
Dr. Ardigo applied these business principles during her ten years as a nurse anesthesia faculty member and administrator. During her time in academia, she led many major quality improvement projects and developed new programs.
Dr. Ardigo is thrilled to join the Valley Anesthesia team. At Valley, she will have the unique privilege to indulge in her passion for continual creation and innovation.