AANA Town Hall Highlights Advocacy, Strategic Priorities, and Member Engagement

AANA President Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, connected with members during a virtual Town Hall on Oct. 14, 2026, answering pre-submitted and live questions on topics ranging from advocacy and the Association’s new strategic plan to artificial intelligence, education, clinical practice, and member engagement. AANA Education Committee Chair Reed Halterman, DNP, CRNA, served as the moderator, and AANA CEO Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE, also served on the panel. 

Throughout the discussion, Young emphasized his vision of AANA as a professional home for all CRNAs, regardless of their practice setting or career path. He encouraged members to embrace a “big tent” approach that brings the profession together around shared priorities, including patient safety, access to quality anesthesia care, full practice authority, and advancing nurse anesthesiology. “I really think that’s where we can start advancing some of our initiatives,” he said. “We point the arrows outward instead of pointing the arrows inward and really focus on our strategic plan and getting the things done that need to be done.”  

Advancing AANA’s Strategic Priorities 

Young discussed AANA’s new strategic plan, which was developed with input from nearly 5,800 members and focuses on three pillars: Develop and Own the Evidence, Define Standards of Excellence, and Dominate Policy.  “When I think about the biggest difference in the strategic plan now versus in the past it would be one word, it would be focus.” He explained that the plan is designed to sharpen the Association and produce measurable results in research, education, advocacy, member engagement, and organizational effectiveness. Membership Year 2027 will focus largely on building the infrastructure and systems needed to support long-term progress. 

Strengthening Advocacy and Member Engagement 

Advocacy was a major theme of the Town Hall, with questions addressing federal and state legislative priorities, reimbursement, full practice authority, and grassroots participation. Young and AANA CEO Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE, highlighted the record response to AANA’s recent grassroots campaign urging senators to support removing the federal CRNA supervision requirement. Members generated 18,901 responses, demonstrating the profession’s collective advocacy strength ahead of an upcoming meeting with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

Young encouraged members to become more involved in their state associations, support political action committees, respond to advocacy alerts, and build personal relationships with elected officials. He emphasized that sustained engagement is essential to strengthening the profession’s influence at both the state and national levels. 

Addressing AANA’s relationship with the ASA 

Young addressed several member questions about the Association’s relationship with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), including professional advocacy, research, reimbursement, and opportunities for collaboration. 

Young emphasized the importance of proactively elevating the visibility of CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists rather than focusing solely on responding to messaging from other organizations. He outlined AANA’s efforts to expand its presence across traditional and social media, healthcare publications and industry conferences while developing a broader network of CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist thought leaders who can communicate the profession’s expertise, safety, and value. 

Responding to concerns about ASA’s partnership with Epic to develop anesthesia data infrastructure, Young reinforced the importance of generating and maintaining independent, up-to-date research that demonstrates the quality, safety, and value of CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist care. He noted that strengthening the profession’s evidence base is a central component of AANA’s strategic priorities. 

Young also acknowledged longstanding differences between AANA and ASA regarding physician-led anesthesia care models, professional autonomy, and reimbursement. He reaffirmed AANA’s commitment to protecting full practice authority and advocating for equitable reimbursement while emphasizing that professional autonomy carries corresponding responsibilities and accountability. 

Despite these differences, Young expressed a willingness to collaborate with ASA on shared priorities, provided such efforts do not require AANA to compromise its core principles or its commitment to supporting CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists in practicing to the full extent of their education and training. 

Addressing anesthesiologist assistant legislation and education pathways 

AANA President Tracy Young also addressed questions about anesthesiologist assistant (AA) legislation and the potential impact of AA education pathways on recruitment into the nurse anesthesia profession. 

Young clarified that AANA has not adopted a formal national policy supporting CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist supervision of AAs. While such language has been introduced in some state legislative discussions, he noted that federal Medicare regulations currently require anesthesiologist supervision of AAs. Any future consideration of this issue would require careful evaluation of patient access, scope of practice, reimbursement, workforce implications, and economic feasibility. 

Young also shared his personal concerns about registered nurses pursuing AA programs rather than nurse anesthesia education, particularly when those pathways do not require critical care experience. He emphasized the importance of attracting highly qualified nurses to the CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist profession and maintaining rigorous educational and clinical preparation standards.

Addressing Artificial Intelligence and Clinical Practice 

Responding to questions about artificial intelligence, Young discussed AANA’s efforts to ensure that AI platforms provide accurate, authoritative information about CRNA education, scope of practice, and clinical care. He noted the Association’s engagement with federal agencies on AI policy and highlighted Anesthesia Answers, AANA’s patient education website, as an important source of authoritative information developed by CRNAs. 

The discussion also addressed nurse anesthesia education and admission standards, mentorship opportunities for aspiring CRNAs, clinical autonomy, professional accountability, and collaboration with other anesthesia professionals. Young reaffirmed AANA’s commitment to supporting CRNAs in practicing to the full extent of their education and training while maintaining high standards of patient care. 

Building a Stronger Professional Community 

Young also emphasized the importance of demonstrating AANA’s value to members throughout their careers, from aspiring nurse anesthetists and residents to experienced practitioners. He highlighted the growth of AANA’s RN membership category, which had exceeded 3,000 members as of August, along with educational resources, networking, and mentorship opportunities. 

Looking ahead, Young encouraged newer CRNAs to approach the profession with gratitude, humility, and a commitment to service, recognizing the generations of nurse anesthetists whose advocacy helped shape the profession. 

The Town Hall concluded with Young reaffirming his commitment to open communication, transparency, and member engagement. He announced plans to hold Town Halls quarterly throughout his presidency, providing additional opportunities for members to ask questions, share perspectives, and connect directly with AANA leadership. Save the date for the next Town Hall on Dec. 8, 2026. Registration information will be shared closer to the event.