OSANA Honored with Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award at AANA Mid-Year Assembly
Ohio CRNAs make their voices heard on Capitol Hill and bring home national recognition.
What a week it was. The Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists is proud to share that OSANA has been presented with the Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award at the AANA Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C. We are honored, humbled, and so deeply grateful for this recognition.
This award is presented annually by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology to one state association whose work in the state legislative or regulatory arena has meaningfully advanced the nurse anesthesiology profession. To be selected for this honor is a reflection not of any one person's effort, but of the collective dedication of an entire community of CRNAs across Ohio who refuse to sit on the sidelines when it comes to protecting our profession and our patients.
”OSANA’s legislative accomplishments reflect years of focused effort and exemplify the power of organized, strategic advocacy in advancing healthcare policy... Through strategy, sustained relationship-building, and the commitment of its members, OSANA has transformed its advocacy efforts in Ohio from reactive defense to proactive leadership. We are honored to be recognized by AANA for our achievements.” -President Kimberly Riviello, CRNA
A Heartfelt Thank You
A special thank you goes out to Chuck Tabbert and Kellie Deeter, who accepted the award on behalf of OSANA. Their tireless commitment, leadership, and willingness to show up, meeting after meeting, hearing after hearing, conversation after conversation, have helped position Ohio as a national leader in CRNA advocacy. We are incredibly fortunate to have advocates of their caliber championing our profession.
But this award belongs to every single one of you. To our members who have written letters, made phone calls, attended Lobby Day, hosted legislators in your hospitals, told your stories, and answered the call when our profession needed you. Thank you. You made this happen.
More Than Just an Award
The Mid-Year Assembly is so much more than ceremonies and recognition. It's a gathering of CRNAs from every corner of the country who come together with a shared purpose: to protect this profession we love and the patients we serve.
This year's #AANAMYA was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we show up together. Ohio's delegation spent the week:
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Networking with CRNA colleagues from across the nation
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Mentoring the next generation of nurse anesthesiology leaders
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Advocating on Capitol Hill for the issues that shape our profession's future
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Building relationships that will fuel our advocacy for years to come
A Message from AANA President Jeff Molter
Jeff Molter, AANA President
Advocacy Doesn't Stop at Mid-Year
If there's one message we want every member to take away from this week, it's this: the work continues at home. The relationships built, the stories told, and the issues raised on Capitol Hill all need to be reinforced in our state, our hospitals, our communities, and our daily practice.
Here's how to keep the momentum going:
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Stay connected with your legislators. Introduce yourself. Invite them to see CRNAs in action. Be a resource they can call when healthcare questions arise.
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Engage in grassroots advocacy. Sign up for OSANA action alerts and respond when we ask. The volume of voices matters.
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Speak up on the issues that matter. Whether it's scope of practice, reimbursement, or patient access to care, your voice — informed by your daily expertise — is irreplaceable.
Our Key Takeaways
"It was so energizing to be a part of MYA this year alongside over 1200 CRNAs, SRNAs, and RNs. It was even more meaningful to be led by Ohio's own Jeff Molter, AANA President. Ohio had a strong presence in legislative visits and advocated for issues such as increasing access to care, funding for nursing workforce and removing barriers for CRNA practice."
-Sarah Milligan, DNP, CRNA
"MYA 2026 was nothing short of inspiring. There’s something incredibly energizing about being in a room filled with so many intelligent, engaged CRNAs who are all passionate about advancing our profession. Every year, it reignites why I love what we do. Not just the clinical impact, but the opportunity to advocate, educate, and represent our role to those who may not fully understand it yet. Connecting with legislators, sharing our expertise, and telling the story of CRNAs is powerful."
-Jenna Jenkins DNP, CRNA
"As a member of the OSANA student board, I’ve loved learning about advocacy. At the Mid-Year Assembly, I saw this advocacy taken to the national level, which energizes me to continue to work hard for the future of my profession."
-Payton Romano
Just Getting Started
Let's keep going.
