American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Honored with 2025 Gold Circle Award for Membership Recruitment

Rosemont, Ill. – The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has been recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with a 2025 Gold Circle Award in the Membership Recruitment category. The ASAE Gold Circle Awards honor excellence, creativity, and achievement in association marketing, membership, and communications. This year’s program drew more than 150 submissions across 16 competitive categories. 

This award celebrates AANA’s 2024 launch of a new membership category for registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to better engage and inspire the next generation.

Representing more than 65,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, AANA is committed to advancing, supporting, and protecting nurse anesthesiology. CRNAs are anesthesia professionals who safely administer more than 58 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States. Education and training requirements to enter a nurse anesthesiology education program include at least one year of full-time work experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting. The average nurse anesthesiology resident enters a program with 4.5 years of critical care experience.   

“This award is a true testament to significant cross-functional communication, teamwork and collaboration across the enterprise, and we are so proud to be named a 2025 Gold Circle winner,” said Amy Sherwood, CAE, AANA Chief Membership Officer. “CRNAs fill a critical need in the American healthcare system, and that need will continue to grow in underserved areas and with an aging population,” added Sherwood. “The initial response from RNs and APRNs from diverse backgrounds and specialties has surpassed our initial expectations, with over 1,000 new members in year one, and we are just getting started.” 

This new member category offers aspiring CRNAs access to educational resources, mentorship, and professional connections — helping them navigate their path into nurse anesthesiology. By extending membership to RNs and APRNs, AANA is strengthening the pipeline of future CRNAs, ensuring that the nurse anesthesiology profession continues to attract and develop skilled, compassionate advocates who will shape the future of patient care. 

For more information on the 2025 winners, visit Gold Circle Awards.