Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

What really matters when you move from being a student to stepping into your role as a CRNA? In this special crossover episode recorded at the AANA Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C., Levi Davis interviews Airway Exchange hosts Nickie Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA and Greg Collins, DNP, CRNA about advocacy, their role as educators, and the transition from resident to practicing CRNA.
Mid-Year Assembly brings together CRNAs, residents, and nursing students to discuss important topics in the field of nurse anesthesia. It serves as a platform for networking, advocacy, and education, creating an atmosphere unlike any other.  
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🏛️ Advocacy shapes your future career
🤝 Networking builds long-term opportunities
🎓 The transition to CRNA is a mindset shift
⚠️ Confidence and vigilance must balance
🧠 Culture matters in your first job
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/
Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/ 
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

The future of nurse anesthesiology leadership is on the ballot.
In this special election edition of Beyond the Mask, you’ll hear directly from every candidate running in the AANA Board of Directors, including candidates for Director, Treasurer, Vice President, and President-Elect.
Each candidate shares their background, leadership experience, priorities, and vision for the future of the CRNA profession.
🗳️ Voting runs May 12 through May 26 at noon Central Time. Login and cast your vote here.
Here are the candidates we’ll hear from:
Director Candidates:
Matt Oxford, DNP, MSN, BSEd, CRNA - Georgia
Myra Branch, DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA - Virginia
Bijal Chaturvedi, DNP, CRNA, FNP, FAANA - Illinois
Jeffrey Darna, PhD, DNP, CRNA, ACNP-BC, FAANA - California
Dee Berry, DNAP, MS, CRNA - MIchigan
Laura Wiggins, DNP, MSN, CRNA, Lt. Col. (Ret), USAF  - Pennsylvania
Howie Goodwin, DNAP, MSN, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA - Virginia
Treasurer Candidate:
Debra Diaz, DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA - Florida
Daniel King, DNP, CRNA, CPPS, CNE, FNAP  - Illinois
Joseph Rodriguez, DNAP,  CRNA - Arizona
Vice President Candidate:
Suzie Newell, DNP, CRNA, FAANA - Ohio
Randy Cornelius, DNP, MSN, CRNA - Iowa
Erin Foley, DNAP, MSNA, CRNA, APRN, FAANA - Maine
President-Elect Candidate:
Erik Rauch, DNP, MBA, CRNA, NSPM-C - Florida
Jennifer Banek, MSN, MHA, CRNA – Illinois
 
Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/
Cast your vote here: https://www.aana.com/membership/elections-and-governance/governance/election-center/candidates/ 
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

In this episode, we sit down with mentorship program participants Jon Casto, SRNA and Abigail Poss, SRNA, to find out what surprised them, what inspired them, and what they wish every future CRNA knew before attending AANA Mid-Year Assembly
Stepping into a national conference for the first time can feel overwhelming but it can also be the moment everything clicks. You’ll hear real experiences from residents navigating their first major professional event, how mentorship accelerates growth, and why getting involved sooner rather than later can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🤝 Mentorship accelerates career growth
🌎 Networking builds lifelong connections
🏛️ Advocacy starts earlier than you think
📚 Students can lead from day one
🚀 Early involvement shapes future leaders
 
Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram
Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
Earn MAC Dev Credit: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

Airway management hasn’t changed much in decades but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. As more procedures move into outpatient settings and deep sedation becomes more common, the need for better oxygen delivery and reliable monitoring has never been more important.
That’s where the Aeris Airways device comes in. It’s a simple but powerful innovation designed to enhance standard airway tools, and we’re diving into it with Cody Birch, CRNA and Airways Innovations Co-Founder, and Diana Lugo Imus, DNAP, CRNA.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🫁 Improved oxygen delivery at the glottis
📊 Accurate end-tidal CO2 monitoring matters
⚠️ Traditional setups can be inconsistent
🛠️ Simpler workflow reduces stress in the OR
🔍 Better data leads to better decisions
 
Learn more: https://airwayinnovations.com/
To request samples: https://airwayinnovations.com/contact
 
Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Earn MAC Dev Credit: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

The perioperative environment is increasingly shaped by factors that extend beyond traditional pharmacology, requiring anesthesia providers to stay alert to emerging and often underrecognized influences on patient care. One such factor is the growing use of kratom, a plant-derived substance that patients frequently perceive as harmless due to its “natural” origins. However, as highlighted in today’s show, this assumption can lead to critical gaps in disclosure, leaving clinicians unaware of a substance that may significantly alter anesthetic management and patient outcomes.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🌿 Kratom acts as both a stimulant and opioid-like substance
⚠️ “Natural” does not mean safe or predictable
🧪 Potency and composition vary widely between products
😴 Patients may present with opioid tolerance or sedation
😵 Withdrawal can mimic pain, agitation, or delirium
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Earn MAC Dev Credit: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Most SRNAs are focused on boards, clinicals, and landing their first job, but there’s another side of the profession that can shape your salary, autonomy, and long-term career more than you realize.
In this episode of Grade 1 View, AANA President Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, breaks down why advocacy is essential for everyone anesthesia professional. From student loan caps and full practice authority to Medicare reimbursement and access to care, Jeff helps us connect the dots between policy decisions and your future as a CRNA.
You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Mid-Year Assembly, what actually happens on Capitol Hill, and how students can start getting involved earlier than ever before.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🏛️ Advocacy directly impacts CRNA autonomy, pay, and job opportunities
🧠 Starting advocacy early gives you a long-term advantage
🤝 Relationships with legislators are built over time—not one meeting
⚖️ CRNAs play a critical role in expanding patient access to care
📊 Mid-Year Assembly prepares providers to speak directly with lawmakers
 
Learn more about Mid-Year Assembly: https://www.aana.com/premier-event/mid-year-assembly/
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/
Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/ 
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

Aesthetic treatments like Botox and dermal fillers are more common than ever, but they may be creating hidden risks in the operating room. While these procedures are often viewed as routine cosmetic enhancements, they can alter facial anatomy, mask muscle responses, and complicate airway management in ways many providers don’t expect.
 
Krystin Jones, a third-year student in Duke University’s Anesthesia Program, joins the show today to discuss how these growing trends are impacting anesthesia care and what CRNAs need to watch for. Awareness, better questioning, and preparation are critical to keeping patients safe when aesthetics meet anesthesia, and today’s conversation will better equip CRNAs for this new challenge.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
💉 Aesthetic procedures can alter airway assessment
⚠️ Botox may interfere with neuromuscular monitoring
🧠 Appearances can be misleading in anesthesia
❓ Patients often don’t disclose cosmetic procedures
🛠️ Better pre-op questions improve patient safety
 
Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

For CRNA students, everything can come down to one moment: the board exam. But is it fair to measure years of training, clinical experience, and growth with a single high-stakes test? In this episode, Joshua Olson DNP, CRNA, CRNA educator, and co-creator of the Ollivate app, joins Erin and Louisa to discuss board prep and the use of artificial intelligence in CRNA education.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🧠 Real learning happens through struggle and repetition
🤖 AI can enhance learning but not replace it
📚 Evidence-based strategies improve long-term retention
⚖️ Balance between performance, pressure, and growth matters
 
Check out the Ollivate App: https://ollivate.com/
Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram
Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246