Christine Velarde, MS, CRNA, received her BSN in 1986 from Seton Hall University, South Orange New Jersey. There, she became a member of the nursing organization Sigma Theta Tau. After graduating from Seton Hall, she began working at NYU Medical Center. She worked in the ICU and rotated through the MICU, CCU, CVCU, and SICU. After the birth of her son, she took a job at a bank in the business district of NYC. She worked at Bankers Trust and JP Morgan, which had a large occupational health department. In addition to patient teaching and referrals, she worked with the human resource division to certify that employees could return to work safely after an illness. In 1992, Christine graduated from Columbia University in New York with a master of science in anesthesia.

Currently Christine is a member of the endoscopy cohort and CUSP group within the endoscopy division. She is involved with creating anesthesia best practices for the new therapeutic procedures carried out in that department. She also gives educational lectures at the nursing product and procedure group for the nurses in the Endoscopy Department. She enjoys volunteering for medical missions with various surgical missions and has traveled with volunteer groups to Colombia, Peru, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Thailand, and Ghana. She has also collaborated with other volunteers to ensure a successful medical mission. Closer to home, Christine volunteers for CRNA-sponsored functions at the Ronald McDonald House and collects items for the homeless during the holidays. She enjoys baking and traveling with her family.