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 younger providers—and how both ends of the spectrum can experience its effects.
Dr. Farina was recently part of an AANA webinar titled Respect Across the Lifespan: Tackling Ageism in Anesthesia, and her message today is clear: if you’re lucky, you’ll age too—so build a profession that welcomes wisdom, not just youth.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
👩⚕️ Ageism cuts both ways – Bias can affect both older and younger clinicians.
🧠 Beware of meta-stereotyping – Don’t internalize limiting beliefs about aging or learning.
🗣️ Language matters – Avoid infantilizing patients. Use names and respect.
🔄 Inclusion across generations – Collaboration and mentorship strengthen the CRNA community.
💪 Grace and adaptability – Aging brings change, but not irrelevance—keep learning and leading.
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