The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has a proud tradition of healthcare education and a mission to prepare individuals for leadership and service. For over a century, UMHB has advanced nursing education, emphasizing compassion, innovation, and meeting community needs. However, the decision to develop an Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) program does not align with these values. Instead, we urge UMHB to prioritize creating a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program, which better addresses critical healthcare challenges and upholds the University’s legacy of excellence.

AAs are fundamentally limited in their ability to address healthcare shortages. They cannot practice independently and must operate under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. This dependence increases healthcare costs and restricts their utility, particularly in rural and underserved areas where anesthesiologists are often unavailable. By contrast, CRNAs are highly qualified to practice autonomously, making them indispensable in rural communities, where they administer over 49 million anesthetics annually. Their autonomy, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility directly address the growing anesthesia provider shortage and the needs of underserved populations.

Experience matters. CRNAs undergo extensive education and training that far exceeds the preparation of AAs:

 • 4 years of undergraduate education

 • At least 1 year of intensive care unit (ICU) experience prior to applying (often 2+ years)

 • 3 years of rigorous anesthesia training in a graduate program

By the time they begin their education, student registered nurse anesthetists possess advanced critical thinking, clinical judgment, and nursing assessment skills honed through ICU practice. Upon completing their programs, CRNAs have accumulated an average of 9,000 hours of clinical training.

In stark contrast, AA programs are designed for students from a variety of unrelated backgrounds, many of whom lack prior clinical experience. AA training includes basic life support and foundational assessment skills that are taught during their two years of education, which limits their focus on anesthesia principles from the outset. The average AA student completes only about 2,000 hours of clinical training— a fraction of what CRNAs achieve. This significant disparity in preparation underscores why AAs are not equipped to provide the same level of care, independence, or expertise as CRNAs.

Developing a CRNA program would affirm UMHB’s commitment to addressing healthcare inequities while honoring its history of excellence in nursing education. By training CRNAs, UMHB would empower its graduates to meet the critical demand for anesthesia providers, improve healthcare access in underserved areas, and further its mission to prepare leaders who make a meaningful impact on society.

The decision to invest in an AA program is a step backward in addressing the healthcare crisis and hurts their reputation as a nursing legacy. We urge UMHB to reconsider and instead direct its resources toward developing a CRNA program. This decision not only addresses the shortage of qualified anesthesia providers but also aligns with UMHB’s mission of innovation, service, and leadership in healthcare education.

Sign this petition to advocate for a healthcare solution that truly meets the needs of our communities: the creation of a CRNA program at UMHB.