Reflections from our COO on AANA25

Our co-founder and chief operations officer, and AANA president-elect, Tracy Young, shares his reflections on the 2025 AANA Annual Congress:

Each year, the AANA Annual Congress seems to level up, but this year felt like it skipped several levels entirely. The quality of the meeting has improved tremendously, with a clear focus on the “feel” of the event. The branding was sharp—clever yet professional—and every element of the audiovisual experience was spot-on. From start to finish, it felt like a high-caliber, thoughtfully curated gathering that members can be proud to attend.

And what a gathering it was—this was the largest Annual Congress in AANA history, with more than 4,000 attendees.

The energy from CRNAs, RRNAs, and RNs was simply electric. Having nearly 200 RNs join us this year added an entirely new layer of excitement. Many were learning about the profession for the first time, getting their first real exposure to AANA's culture. Their enthusiasm was contagious, amplifying the energy in every hallway, session, and networking event.

This year also brought thoughtful and creative touches like live music before sessions and in the exhibit hall, a puppy-petting station for relaxation, and engaging new programming like the inaugural Hackathon—which was a success and will hopefully be something AANA can continue and grow. AANA also celebrated the second year of the RM8 Innovate Pitch Competition, which continues to showcase the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of many in our profession.

The social side of Congress was unforgettable. The AANA Party with a Purpose and Foundation events were massive hits. The Foundation party sold out in record time and delivering what was easily the most fun I’ve ever had at a Foundation event. And Party with a Purpose was a spectacle in the best possible way, drawing more than 2,600 AANA attendees to interconnected venues filled with multiple stages and live bands. From start to finish, it was a musical feast, headlined by Eric Paslay and LANCO, and the atmosphere was nothing short of awesome.

Simply put, it was a blast.

And then there was one of the weekend’s most unforgettable moments: incoming President Jeff Molter and the Board of Directors challenged CEO Bill Bruce to “put some skin in the game” by getting a CRNA-themed tattoo if we raised $42,000 for the CRNA-PAC by the end of the day—which is $1,000 for every year CRNA-PAC has been in existence. Not only did was the goal met...it was crushed, raising nearly $50,000.

True to his word, Bill headed to a local Nashville tattoo shop and got the ink. The tattoo may be permanent, but so is the passion and commitment behind it for Bill who is the first ever non-CRNA AANA CEO, a fun and memorable highlight to an already incredible event.

The business meeting was efficient, professional, and refreshingly drama-free. And it closed with gratitude and optimism, thanking outgoing President Jan Setnor for her outstanding leadership, and warmly welcoming incoming President Jeff Molter, who is sure to guide AANA forward with skill and vision.

And then there were the smiles. Walk anywhere, and you’d see them, smiles radiating pride, joy, and connection. You’d hear laughter, positive conversations, and a shared sense of purpose. The vibe was amazing: fun yet professional, energized yet grounded. Negativity seemed to have gone on vacation, leaving behind only the best parts of who we are as a profession.

As I left AANA Annual Congress, I was reminded, once again, why I’m proud to be part of the anesthesia community. AANA25 wasn’t just a meeting, it was a celebration of who AANA is, how it got here, and where it's headed next. I hope Boston next year is even bigger and better!

To learn more about Tracy and to see his other insights, subscribe to his Substack.