Your 2025 AANA Board of Directors is in Nashville, for our Annual Congress. This gathering is a powerful reminder of the strength, unity, and shared purpose that define our professional AANA community. We have over 4,000 in attendance!
At the close of Congress on Wednesday, the leadership will officially transition to the 2026 AANA Board of Directors. We are confident our incoming leaders are well-prepared to meet the ongoing challenges of our profession—and to navigate new ones that will arise.
The past year has brought both challenges and achievements. From advancing advocacy efforts and enhancing educational opportunities, to fostering innovation and promoting patient safety, we have accomplished so much together. Those achievements are all due to the unrelenting efforts of our AANA staff, our volunteers, and our members.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our outgoing committee chairs, members and those who selflessly served on our task forces, and panels. Your contributions have made a lasting impact on our organization and profession. We thank you sincerely for your service.
In closing, we offer heartfelt thanks to the entire AANA community for your commitment to excellence in anesthesia care and for all that you do for your patients, colleagues, and communities. Serving as your Board of Directors has been an honor and the experience of a lifetime.
Sincerely,
The 2025 AANA Board of Directors
Questions for the AANA Board of Directors
If you have general questions for the Board of Directors, please reach out to them at: Board-of-Directors@aana.com
To avoid multiple responses, the AANA Vice President will triage these inquiries and reply on behalf of the Board.
In This Issue
Wisconsin Recognizes Autonomy of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Including CRNAs, with New State Law
Senate Appropriations Committee Report Recognizes CRNA Reimbursement Issue
CY 2026 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule Summary
AANA Honors Outstanding CRNAs, Others at 2025 Annual Congress
Kudos to PR Award Winners
AANA’s First Ever Staff Excellence Award Given to Jana Conover
Congratulations to AANA Foundation Award Winners
AANA Honorary Membership Awarded to Jeremy Stanley
Six AANA CRNAs Chosen for the American Academy of Nursing 2025 Class of New Fellows
Advocacy Updates
Wisconsin Recognizes Autonomy of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Including CRNAs, with New State Law
Wisconsin recently enacted legislation that allows more autonomy for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists.
On August 8, Wisconsin Assembly Bill 257, the APRN Modernization Act, was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers. The law provides for an APRN, including a CRNA, to “practice independently in his or her recognized role … outside of a collaborative relationship with a physician or dentist” following completion of educational hours and hours of practice with a physician or dentist set forth in the law.
The APRN Modernization Act includes APRN licensure, education and certification requirements, previously addressed in rules, now in statute for the first time. The APRN Modernization Act also explicitly authorizes health care providers who hold a doctorate degree to use the title “doctor” together with the “words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree.” As of 2025, all nurse anesthesiology program graduates earn a doctoral degree. Read more.
Senate Appropriations Committee Report Recognizes CRNA Reimbursement Issue
On July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bipartisan Labor-HHS Appropriations legislation report with the following language included with unanimous support:
“Reimbursements for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists [CRNAs].—The Committee is aware of recent efforts to reduce reimbursement for CRNA provided anesthesia, in conflict with section 2706(a) of the Public Health Service Act. The Committee directs the Departments of Health and Human Services and Labor to take appropriate action to address this issue and protect access to anesthesia services for rural and underserved communities.”
Thank you, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and the Senate Appropriations Committee for your recognition of CRNAs.
CY 2026 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule Summary
On July 14, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule. The PFS is significant because it includes payment updates for CRNAs and other clinicians billing Medicare Part B and influences private payer fee schedules.
The CY 2026 Medicare PFS proposed rule contains several major policy proposals that could impact CRNA practice and reimbursement. AANA has prepared a high-level summary of the major, relevant policy proposals contained in the CY 2026 PFS proposed rule. AANA continues to analyze this proposed rule and will submit comments ahead of the September 12, 2025, comment submission deadline.
Significant News
AANA Honors Outstanding CRNAs, Others at 2025 Annual Congress
The AANA honored outstanding CRNAs and others who have made important contributions to the nurse anesthesiology profession with awards presented at the 2025 Annual Congress in Nashville.
Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment: Sharon Pearce, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN. This award was established in 1975 to recognize individuals whose foremost dedication to excellence has furthered the art and science of nurse anesthesiology.
Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award: Laura Bonanno, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN. Established in 1980, this award is presented to a CRNA who has made a significant contribution to the education of nurse anesthesiology residents.
Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award: Mayme P. Bailey, CRNA. This award recognizes the accomplishments of CRNAs involved in direct patient care, who have made an important contribution to the advancement of nurse anesthesiology practice.
Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy: Shannon Allen, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA. Established in 2000 this award recognizes the accomplishments of CRNAs or non-CRNAs who participate in overcoming legislative, legal, and regulatory challenges to nurse anesthesiology practice rights.
Clinical Instructor of the Year Award: C. David O’Con, DNAP, CRNA. Established in 1991, this award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the teaching of nurse anesthesiology residents in the clinical area.
Didactic Instructor of the Year Award: Lee Ranalli, DNP, CRNA. Established in 1991, this award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the education of nurse anesthesiology residents in the classroom.
Program Director of the Year Award: Michelle Canale, DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA . Established in 1991, this award is presented to a CRNA who has made a significant contribution to the educational process of nurse anesthesiology residents.
Kudos to PR Award Winners
Every year, the AANA Communications Committee honors and officially recognizes state associations, individuals, or other entities in three different categories for outstanding public relations efforts that contribute significantly to the positive image of the nurse anesthesia profession.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Public Relations Recognition Awards:
Best Promotional Effort for National CRNA Week: California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.
Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization, or Company not Affiliated with a State Association: Anna Jobe.
Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year: West Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
AANA’s First Ever Staff Excellence Award Given to Jana Conover
The AANA presented its inaugural Staff Excellence Award to Jana Conover during its 2025 Annual Congress, Aug. 9-13, in Nashville. The Staff Excellence Award is designed to recognize the excellent staff of AANA who have diligently served its members and moved the profession of nurse anesthesiology forward. This award confers honorary membership to the recipient at the end of their employment with AANA provided they remain in good standing until that time.
Congratulations to AANA Foundation Award Winners
During the 2025 Congress, the AANA Foundation recognized three CRNAs for their outstanding service in the areas of research, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Learn more about the Foundation awards and current and past winners .
AANA Honorary Membership Awarded to Jeremy Stanley
The AANA presented Jeremy Stanley, EA, CFP, AIF, with an Honorary Membership during its 2025 Annual Congress, Aug. 9-13, in Nashville. AANA Honorary Membership recognizes and pays tribute to an individual’s commitment to the profession of nurse anesthesiology and the AANA.
Significant News
Six AANA CRNAs Chosen for the American Academy of Nursing 2025 Class of New Fellows
Six AANA members have been selected to join the 2025 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing. They and their cohort of more than 200 distinguished nurse leaders are recognized for their substantial and sustained impact on health and healthcare. The following CRNAs will be inducted at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, October 16 – 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. Read more about the 2025 CRNA inductees here:
Bimpe “Bebe” Adenusi, PhD, APRN, CRNA, CNE, FAANA, FNAP, of Thomas Jefferson University
Veronica Amos, PhD, CRNA, PHCNS-BC, FAANA, of the University of Maryland School of Nursing
Sarah Giron, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, of the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia
Tony Umadhay, PhD, CRNA, APRN, FAANA, of the Barry University School of Nursing
Young “John” Yauger, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Foundation
John C. Welch, DNP, MS, CRNA, of the Ohio State University College of Nursing
The following is an FEC required legal notification for CRNA-PAC. Gifts to political action committees are not tax deductible. Contributions to CRNA-PAC are for political purposes. All contributions to CRNA-PAC are voluntary. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal. The guidelines are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the guidelines suggest and the association will not favor or disadvantage you by reason of the amount contributed or the decision not to contribute. Federal law requires CRNA-PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. Each contributor must be a US Citizen.
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