ALLENTOWN, PA (05/13/2026) From commencement to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Amanda Howard, SRNA, had a busy graduation day.
Just hours after graduating from Cedar Crest College on Saturday, May 9 with a doctorate in nurse anesthesia, Amanda sprang into action and used her training to help save a chef that collapsed during her post-graduation celebration dinner.
“It was very rewarding to be able to use my training in a way that could give someone more time with their family,” said Amanda during an interview with WPI TV 6.
While eating at a restaurant in Philadelphia Saturday night, a waitress rushed into the dining area asking if anyone there was a doctor. At first Amanda and her group thought the waitress was kidding but quickly realized she was not.
Upon entering the kitchen, Amanda found the line chef on the ground turning blue and without a pulse.
Amanda and her friend, who is also a nurse, remained calm and immediately started performing CPR.
After one round of CPR, about two minutes, the chef regained a pulse.
“Her immediate response and CPR were truly lifesaving, and we believe she played a crucial role in saving his life,” the restaurant’s owner told Action News.
Amanda’s heroic actions show the best qualities of a future CRNA: professionalism, courage, compassion, and acting quickly in a crisis.
“I’m truly grateful for the anesthesia faculty and the crisis recourse management simulations we just went over this past month [at Cedar Crest College]; the knowledge I gained from those experiences went into real life practice!” said Amanda.
Following the chef’s transport by EMS, Amanda returned to her post-graduation celebration, still partially covered by pasta sauce from the life-saving CPR she had just performed.
About Cedar Crest College
Cedar Crest College has been empowering women to smash glass ceilings and achieve their educational goals since 1867. Today, the College continues to open the doors to opportunities for its diverse student body, both in the undergraduate women’s college and in the co-ed School of Adult and Graduate Education. Located in Allentown, Pa., Cedar Crest is ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best College Rankings as #16 in Social Mobility and is among the top 100 colleges and universities in the region.
