Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Faculty members are the backbone of every nurse anesthesia program, yet their own wellness is often overlooked. Over the next month, we’re shining the spotlight on wellness, and the first of three episodes features two special nurse anesthesia educator guests. Today, hosts Louisa Martin, PhD, CRNA and Erin Martin, APRN, CRNA, DNP sit down with Leigh Taylor, DNP, MS, CRNA and Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, two leaders of the AANA We...

This Thanksgiving, Beyond the Mask celebrates gratitude, giving, and the CRNAs who make a difference every day.

Joining us for this special episode is John Yauger, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, the new CEO of the AANA Foundation, to discuss how the Foundation is shaping the future of nurse anesthesia through research, scholarships, and community support. It’s an opportunity to shine a light on one of the cornerstones of our profession and refl...

Ageism might not be the first ‘ism’ that comes to mind in healthcare, but it’s one that affects every provider eventually. Today’s guest, Cynthia Farina, DNP, CRNA, RN, CNE, is an educator who has devoted much of her life to advocating for wellness, inclusion, and professional longevity. She joins Kevin and Charity to break down the subtle ways age bias shows up in anesthesia—from assumptions about “slowing down” to underestimating...

Private equity is reshaping healthcare—but at what cost?

In this eye-opening episode of Beyond the Mask, Sharon and Jeremy welcome back Daniel King, DNP, MNA, CRNA, CPPS, CNE and Jennifer Banek, MSN, MHA, CRNA for a candid conversation about how private equity ownership affects anesthesia and beyond. They explain how investor-driven models prioritize profit over patient care, share real-world stories of unsafe conditions and staff ...

In this episode of Airway Exchange, the team explores the transition from clinician to educator and the role mentorship plays in the process. Becky Motykiewicz, DNAP, CRNA joins Nickie Damico, Erin Martin, and Greg Collins to discuss what drew her to teaching, how mentorship shaped her journey, and the emotional realities that come with stepping into academia.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

👩‍🏫 Mentorship matter...

What does it take to deliver anesthesia in a hospital with no ventilator, scarce medication, and power that cuts out mid-surgery?

Today we’re joined by Dr. Mark Newton, pediatric anesthesiologist and longtime medical missionary, Mary Mungai, one of Kenya’s first licensed nurse anesthetists and a leader in anesthesia education across East Africa; and Jackie Rowles, IFNA President and founder of Our Hearts Your Hands will take ​you ​...

This week we’re shining a light on the critical role that CRNAs play in rural healthcare, especially in honor of National Rural Health Month (November). Hosts Kevin and Olivia are joined by two dedicated CRNAs, Pete Hext and Hayden Hayes, who share their personal experiences and the unique challenges they face while providing anesthesia care in rural Texas.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🌾 CRNAs provide over 80% o...

What happens when a CRNA’s professional expertise meets a parent’s fight for their child’s life?

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Sharon and her daughter Danielle—who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age five—sit down with Devin Holt, CRNA, advocate, and father to a young daughter living with type 1 diabetes.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

💉 A Parent’s Fight: Devin shares his daughter’s rare and earl...

In this episode of Airway Exchange, we explore the state of the nurse anesthesia educator workforce with a special focus on faculty stabilization. We’re spending time with Terrica Durbin, DNP, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, who is the Director of the School of Nursing at Western Carolina University and ​a ​Fellow ​in ​the ​AANA. A passionate advocate for rural health and the workforce in nurse anesthesia education, Terrica discusses the challen...

What happens when a CRNA challenges one of the most controversial questions in anesthesia: Who really leads anesthesia care? That’s the title of the new book by Yana Krmic, MSN, CRNA, APRN, who returns to the show to discuss a topic that cuts to the heart of one of the most important and often misunderstood questions in our profession. Today, she walks us through her journey as an immigrant, the research behind the book, and the dy...

What does it really take to make it through CRNA school, and what happens after the boards are over? Today, Kevin reconnects with former classmates Madison Martin and Nicole Strickland to reflect on their long journeys to becoming CRNAs. Every path to an anesthesia career is unique, and the joy is often found in the process of growth and learning. This episode will give you a candid, first-hand look at the challenges and opportunit...

The admissions process for nurse anesthesia programs has changed dramatically, from paper applications to video interviews to the challenges of artificial intelligence. But what hasn’t changed is the enormous responsibility faculty feel as the gatekeepers of the profession.

In this episode of Airway Exchange, hosts Nickie Damico, Erin Martin, and Louisa Martin discuss how admissions committees are adapting to a new era of technolog...

As the new AANA leadership team begins to settle in, we had a chance to sit down with the current AANA President, Jeff Molter, MBA, MSN, CRNA, to hear about his journey to this prestigious position and what keeps him grounded during all the travel and meetings. Plus, we’ll get updates on the biggest issues affecting the CRNA profession and hear what goals this new Board of Directors will have for the upcoming year.

Here’s some of w...

Landing your first job as a CRNA can feel overwhelming but knowing what to expect and how to approach the job market can ease a lot of the uncertainty. Today, Kevin and Olivia sit down with Jay Cobden, a 2023 graduate of Rhode Island College and trauma CRNA at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, to hear about what he learned from navigating the process. After attending the AANA Annual Congress, Jay realized he ha...

What does it take to lead through one of the most defining battles in CRNA history?

In this Courage to Lead conversation, Larry Hornsby, CRNA, BSN reflects on his presidency during a pivotal and tumultuous era for the AANA at the turn of the century. Facing national policy shifts, physician supervision debates, and an all-out fight with the ASA, Larry shares the behind-the-scenes stories of late-night strategy sessions, fax campaig...

Artificial Intelligence is moving at a rapid pace and it’s already having a big impact in the classroom. Today, we’re going to explore how AI is reshaping nurse anesthesia education. From tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly to advanced simulation and custom-built chatbots, we’ll discuss how educators are using AI to improve lectures, assessment design, and even accreditation work.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🤖 AI...

In 2017, Dr. Randy Moore made the leap from the OR and into bigger and bigger leadership roles that challenged him to think beyond patient care. At that time, he thought he was done with clinical practice for good. But, as he explains on today’s show, that assumption was very wrong. Join us to hear about this unique journey, from practicing CRNA to AANA CEO to Chief Anesthetist Officer at NorthStar Anesthesia CEO and then back to p...

Today we’re diving into one of the most fundamental tools you’ll encounter in clinical practice: the ventilator. Mechanical ventilation can seem intimidating at first, but understanding how it works is essential for keeping your patients safe and for making adjustments in real time.

We’ve invited Richard Wilson, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA of Ursuline College to the show to help us understand the fundamentals of mechanical ventilation. He sh...