Message from the President

october 2026

Fellow PSA Members: 

This month we highlight the Z-PAC Day of Contributing, an Advocacy Focus, and a preview of the PSA at the ASA Annual Meeting.

Z-PAC Day of Contributing Update

Last week, Z-PAC, along with the PSA, held a Day of Contributing (DoC). I’m pleased to report that on that day, Z-PAC saw its largest number of single-day donations! Z-PAC received 36 donations on that day alone, totaling over $5,500. When we announced the DoC in early September, there were only 64 contributors for 2026. After the DoC, Z-PAC now (as of September 28th) has 122 contributors for the year. Thank you to all of those who contributed, and a special thanks to those who signed up for recurring monthly donations!

We made great progress, but there’s still time to donate if you haven’t yet done so. There is much work to do, and it will continue for the rest of this legislative session and for the years to come. Your Z-PAC donations are used to support pro-anesthesiology legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. To make a one-time donation or to start a new recurring donation, you can do that here.

Advocacy Focus – HB 2335

HB 2335 would formally establish independent CRNA practice in Pennsylvania law impacting patient safety. When meeting with either state representatives or senators, we encourage you to use these talking points:

• The Pennsylvania Society of Anesthesiologists (PSA) opposes Representative Lisa Borowski’s CRNA independent practice legislation. PSA believes removing physician involvement from anesthesia care is not in the best interest of Pennsylvania patients.

• Our opposition is about patient safety, not opposition to CRNAs. CRNAs are valued and important members of the anesthesia care team. PSA supports collaborative, team-based anesthesia care, but does not support eliminating physician oversight and involvement. 

• Anesthesia is the practice of medicine. Patients can deteriorate rapidly during surgery, and anesthesiologists have extensive medical education and residency training to diagnose and manage complex and unexpected complications. 

• Different training should mean different responsibilities. CRNAs and anesthesiologists both contribute significantly to patient care, but their education and training are not interchangeable. Pennsylvania law currently recognizes that distinction. Act 60 of 2021.

• The current anesthesia care team model works. Pennsylvania should strengthen collaboration among anesthesiologists, CRNAs, surgeons, hospitals and other providers rather than dismantling physician-led anesthesia care. 

• Claims regarding access should be carefully examined. PSA does not believe that simply granting independent practice authority improves access in rural or underserved areas. In fact, studies show that this is not the case (a second study linked here).

• Patients are becoming more medically complex. An aging population and increasing rates of cardiac disease, obesity, diabetes and other conditions make physician expertise in perioperative medicine increasingly important. 

• PSA respectfully asks legislators to oppose Representative Borowski’s proposal and preserve a physician-led, team-based approach to anesthesia care in Pennsylvania.

We encourage each one of you to be a resource for your local state representative and senator. You can find your legislators here: Find My Legislator. The grassroots battle is won by those who show up. Schedule an in-person meeting or phone call with their offices to introduce yourself as an anesthesiologist and to discuss issues such as HB 2335. Please keep the PSA informed if you meet with any representatives or senators and how those discussions unfold. If you need more information or help with securing a meeting, let us know and we will help.

PSA at Anesthesiology 2026 Preview

Later this month, PSA members will gather at the ASA Annual Meeting in San Diego to participate in Governance activities for the ASA. The PSA will hold a membership luncheon for all PSA members in attendance on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the Marriott Marquis Torrey Pines Room (North Tower) from 12pm – 1:30pm. While there will not be a formal program, we hope that you will stop by to have lunch and to talk to PSA leadership about what PSA is working on and our goals for the year to come.

PSA Member Spotlight

We want to recognize you! Are you working on a project you’d like to highlight? Is your group doing something unique to advance patient care or improve operational efficiency? Are you working with an anesthesiology resident that deserves a shout out? If so, reach out to us and you may be highlighted in an upcoming PSA President’s Message.

As always, please send any feedback or concerns that we may be able to help with. We are here working for you!

Adam Childers, MD, FASA, FCPP

Save the Date: PSA Annual Business Meeting

April 3, 2027 | Hershey

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Key Advocacy Links:

Donate to Z-PAC here

You can find your legislators here: Find My Legislator

Participate in our Advocacy Advisor here