We finally got a chance to talk to Mike McKinnon, past president of the Arizona ANA, and he has a wealth of information to share about Anesthesiologist Assistants in the current healthcare environment. What kind of role do AAs play in overall healthcare costs, access to care, and the greater objectives of the ASA? What kinds of risks do they pose to CRNAs? We'll dive into these pressing issues, as well as some possible solutions moving forward.

This week, we speak with special guest Jenny Schmitt, President of the Oklahoma ANA, about the troubling state of the Oklahoma healthcare system. Amidst this struggle, the Oklahoma State Medical Association has launched a ruthless million-dollar anti-CRNA campaign aimed at frightening patients about receiving care from CRNAs. Jenny discusses how local CRNAs have fought to be heard, and why she believes CRNAs are the key to turning the tides in the future of Oklahoma healthcare.

Current AANA CEO Randall Moore, DNP, MBA, CRNA joins us live at the Mid-Year Assembly to discuss some thought-provoking hypotheticals. Who would advocate for CRNAs if the AANA didn't exist? How would the profession be different today without the organization? Find out on our first episode of the "What If" Series.

We're joined this week by Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs for the AANA, Ralph Kohl. Ralph has his finger on the pulse of all the current Congressional topics relevant to CRNAs, and he works each day to advocate for our goals as an organization.  He'll share with us why it's essential for CRNAs to get involved in advocating both locally and nationally, as well as some simple ways you can take part. If you're not familiar with the AANA Mid-Year Assembly, or if you're not quite sure of the importance of your state and federal PACs, this is the episode for you.

At the mid-year assembly we took the opportunity to extend an offer to all the candidates running for office in the upcoming AANA elections to join us for a few minutes on this podcast. Not all candidates took us up on the offer, but all were invited. On this episode, you'll get to hear the candidates that did participate outline their platforms and vision for the future of the AANA. ----more----  The candidates appear at the below times.   1:29 - President Elect Candidate - Bob Gauvin   5:18 - VP Candidate - Heather Rankin - Heather's Facebook Page   7:00 - VP Candidate - Henry Talley   9:50 - Treasurer - Maribeth Massie   13:25 - Region 5 - Julia Harris - Julia's Facebook Page   16:05 - Region 5 - Kristie Hoch - Kristie's Facebook Page and Twitter   18:13 - Region 4 - Mike Anderson - Mike's Facebook Page and Twitter  

This week, we'll continue the topic of how CRNAs can plan for a successful retirement. We'll talk about when you should take social security, how much money is safe to withdraw from your savings, and how taxes will affect you. We'll even take a look into a lesser-known way that high income earners like CRNAs can contribute to Roth IRA accounts and lower their tax burden in retirement.

If you're like many CRNAs, retirement is not too far off in the distance. And the first step in preparing for retirement is knowing what to expect. How can you maintain your current lifestyle when you walk away from a regular paycheck? What kind of expenses will you encounter? Jeremy will help get your wheels turning on this first part of the CRNA Retirement Ready series.

Special guests Carole Doyscher and Joe Rodriguez join us for a spirited debate discussing how the CRNA title may or may not have become a limitation to growth and understanding of the profession as a whole. However, what should CRNAs be called instead? What are the potential repercussions of this kind of change? The answer is not so simple.

We continue our historical series with a journey back into the very first years of nurse anesthesia where Agatha Hodgins began her career. Following a quite unexpected series of events, Agatha would ultimately become the foremost anesthesia expert and educator of her time, as well as the founder of the AANA.

Former AANA presidents Richard and Sandra Ouellette pay us a visit to share the story of how the National Commission On Nurse Anesthesia Education was brought about in a time of turmoil to rebuild CRNA educational programs from the bottom up.

Chris Bettin and Dan Lovinaria, two of the creative minds behind National CRNA Week, make a special appearance. Tune in to find out why more and more CRNAs and SRNAs are getting involved in promoting their profession, and why the importance of this event extends far beyond a single week.

Join us this week as we talk to Ashley Fedan about the world of opportunities that social media offers to the CRNA community, as well as some of the pitfalls. As an administrator of a Facebook forum of over 25,000 CNRAs and SRNAs, she'll give you a look behind the scenes.

Special guests Sandra Ouellette and Nancy Bruton Maree return to delve into the history of nurse anesthesia education as seen through their own personal experiences in the field. How have educational programs evolved over the last several decades, and what awaits us in the future?

Former AANA presidents Sandra Ouellette and Nancy Bruton Maree are back, and this week they'll begin a two-part series on the history of the AANA. To kick things off, this episode will focus on the problems with the Anesthesia Care Team Statement.

The California Association of Nurse Anesthetists former president Julia Harris joins the program to discuss the merits of opioid-free anesthesia.

Having a voice for CRNAs in the legislature is incredibly important. On this episode of the podcast, we'll speak with Patrick Ballantine, lobbyist for the NCANA, about what kinds of conversations are happening on the legislative level and how you can get involved in making sure CRNA interests are represented in government. ----more---- Patrick Ballantine served 10 years in North Carolina State Senate, winning all 5 general elections with over 65% of the popular vote.  He was first elected in 1994 and quickly rose through the ranks, being elected the Senate Republican Leader in 1998 and re-elected unanimously in 2000 and 2002.  Under his leadership, the number of Republican Senators in the 50 Member State Senate increased from 11 to 22. Ballantine also co-sponsored tort reform that would help provide quality affordable health care for all North Carolinians.  He sponsored regulatory reform and welfare-to-work legislation.  Ballantine called for a restructuring of state government which had become bloated, non-responsive, and inefficient.  He was a champion for small businesses and at the same time won environmental awards for his stewardship.  Further, Ballantine established and chaired a statewide committee of diabetes stakeholders to develop a national legislative model to protect and support children with diabetes in schools. Ballantine is an attorney licensed to practice in State Court, Federal Court, and the United States Supreme Court.  Ballantine graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Political Science, and he received his law degree from the University of Dayton, where he was bestowed the Order of Barristers.  

Past AANA presidents Sandra Ouellette and Nancy Bruton Maree join the program on this edition of the show to discuss how the CRNA profession has evolved to its current state. Sandra and Nancy will share stories of their experiences as presidents of the AANA. We'll also take a look at the future of the industry and some of the major issues facing CRNAs going forward. ----more---- Ms. Bruton-Maree graduated from N.C. Baptist Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, Guildford College (BS) & Wake Forest University (MS).  She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and Chaired the NCANA Program and Publications Committees, served on NCANA Education & Research, Bylaws, Finance, & Strategic Planning Committees.  Ms. Bruton-Maree served as NCANA Secretary, President-Elect, and twice President of the NCANA.  Additionally, she served as AANA member Continuing Education Committee, Editorial Advisory Committee, Journal Editorial Advisory Board, Practice Committee, educator and Chairperson of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, & Chairperson, Education Committee. She served as AANA Director, Region 2, AANA Vice-President, AANA President-Elect, & AANA President.  She also served as member, Vice-Chair & Chair of the N.C. Board of Nursing.  She served President of Anesthesia Review & Update from 2007 to 2017 and is retired as Program Director & Visiting Assistant Professor of Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia/UNCG.  Ms. Bruton-Maree was awarded the Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator award by the AANA in 2008, and the Agatha Hodgins Outstanding Accomplishment Award in 2018. Ms. Bruton-Maree is currently a Consulting Associate at the School of Nursing, Duke University.

We'll continue our conversation about what it's like to become a 1099 CRNA. We'll cover questions about taxes, should you incorporate, how you'll cover your own healthcare issues and much more. ----more---- For your reference, below is a graphic explaining the differences between SEP-IRAs and Solo 401(k)s:  

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Chief Executive Officer Randy Moore joins the show this week to discuss the latest healthcare developments and how they're impacting CRNAs. He'll also talk to us about how the AANA is responding to those dynamic changes and reveal what keeps him up at night. ----more---- Dr. Randall Moore became the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists on September 5, 2017.  Prior to that, Randy served as a senior hospital administrator with Passavant Area Hospital/Memorial Health System in Jacksonville, IL. In addition to Randy’s hospital leadership experience, he has served as AANA Treasurer and Region 3 Director. In addition to his service to the AANA, Randy has held various leadership positions within the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists - including region director, government relations chair, and president.   Randy is retired from the Army Reserve after 22 years of military service. He has served in both the Illinois Army National Guard and Army Reserve as an infantryman, combat medic and CRNA. In 2012, Randy deployed with a Forward Surgical Team in Afghanistan providing combat causality care.   Randy holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from The University of Alabama, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University, a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Bradley University, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Northern Illinois University.

Jeremy and Sharon will cover the details of what it looks like to become a freelance CRNA. What's it like to make that transition to getting a 1099 every year? Who is a good fit to transition from W2 to 1099? We'll answer those questions and more on part 1 of this conversation.  

We have special guest Dr. Jackie Rowles on the show to cover the results of a AANA cultural task force that she chaired. We will learn what current members, former members, and non-members all think of the AANA, as well as evaluate the health of the organization. Jackie will give us the key takeaways from this special report. ----more---- Dr. Jackie Rowles is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP-BC) with nationally and internationally recognized leadership and clinical expertise in the specialty of pain management, including medication management, diagnostic and therapeutic injections, and multi-modal approaches in the treatment of pain. She is the Nurse Anesthesia Program Director and an Associate Professor in the Leighton School of Nursing, as well as, a Clinical Instructor for the College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Currently serving in her third term as President of the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA), Dr. Rowles is a past president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), the Indiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists, served on the American Academy of Pain Management's (AAPM) Board of Directors for eight years with four years as Treasurer, and was a Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA) Board Member for three years serving one year as Treasurer.  Dr. Rowles is a member of the World Health Organization's Global Initiative for Essential and Emergency Surgical Care (WHO GIEESC), and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the G4 Alliance (a global organization for access to Surgical, Obstetrics, Trauma, and Anesthesia Care).  Dr. Rowles is the chair of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Task Force on Organizational Culture Assessment and serves as a member of the Ball State University College of Health Advisory Board.   Click here to donate to Our Hearts Your Hands.

For the launch of "Beyond The Mask" we'll get to learn about your hosts, Jeremy Stanley and Sharon Pearce. They'll preview some of the future topics the podcast will tackle and some of the great guests that will join the show over the coming months. They'll describe how the podcast will bridge the gap from clinical conversations inside the operating room to organizational, financial, and personal topics important to CRNAs "Beyond The Mask".