If you missed the viral video mentioned in this episode you can watch (or rewatch) it HERE ~credit @CAALifestyle

In this Season 4 premiere I share how going viral in May 2024 changed my life. I give you all the juicy details and my final take away is something you won't expect. I FINALLY learned a big lesson, once and for all.

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Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

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Join me for my first LIVE podcast interview featuring our 2024 AAAA President, Danny Mesaros. This episode was recorded in April 2024 in front of an intimate audience at the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA) conference in Orlando, FL. During this candid conversation Danny discusses the demands of his presidency and what he envisions for the future of our profession.  He also addresses the haters. A must-listen for any aspiring or practicing CAA!

Season 4 of Awakened Anesthetist Podcast is launching on Friday, September 13th, and I’m thrilled to share the episodes I’ve been working on this summer. This season, we’ll dive into what it means to be a healthy and thriving Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, and for those of you curious about the profession, I’ll be giving you an insider’s look each month. Of course, I’ll continue the fan-favorite PROCESS episodes, expanding our vision of what’s possible for CAAs. I’m excited to see what we can build together this season. Talk soon!

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

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for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

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Season 4 is launching on Friday, September 13th, and I’m thrilled to share the episodes I’ve been working on this summer. This season, we’ll dive into what it means to be a healthy and thriving Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, and for those of you curious about the profession, I’ll be giving you an insider’s look each month. Of course, I’ll continue the fan-favorite PROCESS episodes, expanding our vision of what’s possible for CAAs. I’m excited to see what we can build together this season. Talk soon!

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

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Hello from my summer break! I am in the midst of a mindfulness teacher training through Dharma Moon and Tibet House and was challenged by my 1:1 teacher to lead a group practice on the pod. Unfortunately, I realized (after edits) that I forgot to tell you what to do with your eyes! For this practice you want to keep your eyes open, and softly gazing down. If you have never tried a mindfulness practice with eyes open (like me up until 4 weeks ago), I want to validate that it can be uncomfortable but also worth the effort. The goal is to narrow the gap between your meditating life and your regular life with eyes open. 

I hope you enjoy this episode and find it helpful to learn about mindfulness from a fellow practicing CAA. Mindfulness has saved me in so many ways and has brought so many good things into my life. I can't wait to share more!

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In the Season 3 finale of Awakened Anesthetist Podcast wander with me through the buzzing AAAA 2024 conference halls and catch my takeaways after I return home. You'll get to eavesdrop on spontaneous chats with CAAs from all points along the journey. From the student who shares the resilience needed to thrive in the OR, to a practicing CAA's insight into work-life balance and financials. We're throwing out the rules of propriety and candidly discussing salaries, transcripts and schedules, because transparency is a cornerstone of this podcast and my work as a CAA. 

Awakened Anesthetist will return Fall 2024 with all new episodes, new CAA voices and new ways to use your CAA career to build a life you love. 

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter-
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As a CAA I know you have faced many make or break moments. But, how did you make it through? When I reflect on my near 2 decades as a CAA and all the challenges I have overcome, I can see a framework develop as my "pre-game" ritual if you will. Of course your hard thing  is not always about professional challenges- weddings, babies, coming out journeys, first days, last days, and everything in between. CAAs are uniquely pursuing their best lived lives and that generally means we are leaning into discomfort and out of the status quo. As I near my next big thing (speaking at the AAAA 2024) I am reflecting on the routines and mindset shifts that have supported me through all the BIG moments of my adulthood. In my 4-part framework I discuss my unique mindset around preparation, the finesse of practice, my "trust and letting go" phase, and the power of my confidence boosting ritual. While this framework doesn't guarantee the exact outcome I desire it always allows me to do my best and I hope it does the same for you! 

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Kelsey Koehler, CAA bravely shares the darker moments of her life, including a personal struggle with alcohol that led to 2 DUIs a week apart.  Her story is a beacon for CAAs, illuminating the stark reality of substance misuse in our community. Her proactive approach to recovery and commitment to transparency with the Missouri state medical board and her own support circle exemplify the profound strength it takes to rebuild a life.

In our candid discussion, we move beyond Kelsey's individual story to address mental health in healthcare, unraveling the critical need for empathy and connection among CAA colleagues. This episode stands as an invitation to the medical community, especially our fellow CAAs, to embrace vulnerability, foster a culture of openness, and extend a hand to those silently battling personal demons. Kelsey's story will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever faced—or could face—the daunting intersection of personal hardship and professional responsibility. Join us as we lay bare the struggles that unite us and the strength we can find in each other.

Connect with Kelsey @[email protected]
IG @kelseyjo333

Need support?
Find AA meeting near you (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Find NA meeting near you (Narcotics Anonymous)

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter-
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

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Happy CAA Week 2024 to all my fellow CAAs, AA students and those who hope to be one soon! As a special gift to this community I am answering your most frequently asked questions- spoiler* they are always about the AA admissions process! This is not my area of expertise, so I asked my latest PROCESS guest, Sarah Whitfield, to stick around after her episode and record this BONUS episode. We dive deep into the AA school admissions process and give you the insider knowledge you won't find anywhere else. Sarah has been a practicing Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant since 2018. She currently sits on the AA admissions committee for South University (Savannah campus) where she helps hand select each incoming student. She shares her expertise about the AA school admissions process and so much more on her new website AspiringCAA.com. I highly recommend her website if you are interested in learning more about the CAA profession. Now go do something nice for yourself this week!

Download the answers to ALL your most FAQ. HERE

CAA Week 2024 Done Well @awakenedanesthetist

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Sarah Whitfield is a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant, full time faculty instructor, blogger, wife, mother and entrepreneur. Sarah's story from her initial veterinary ambitions to her leadership in the anesthesiologist assistant field, illustrates that the road to career satisfaction isn't always a straight line. In this episode we explore the nuances of Sarah's life between clinical practice, teaching, and guiding future CAAs with her mentorship platform, Aspiring CAA.

Sarah's journey is a beacon of inspiration, a reminder that our professional lives can be as dynamic and fulfilling as we dare to make them. 

Resources mentioned: 

• Bill Ding PROCESS Season 2 episode #31
• AspiringCAA.com
• Connect with Sarah via Linkedin

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter-
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

In this first PROCESS interview of 2024, I sit down with the extraordinary Mark Leonard, whose career leap from the UK's Anesthesia Associate to an American Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant is nothing short of inspirational. Mark candidly shares his insider knowledge on his significant roles within the CAA profession, from his hands-on clinical work to spearheading simulation program development and teaching regional anesthesia to CAAs. This episode isn't just Mark's personal story; it's a treasure trove of insights for anyone in the anesthesia field or anyone contemplating a big life change. 

Mark encourages all CAAs to find their unique path to support and strengthen our rapidly growing community, remembering that sharing knowledge is just as important as acquiring it. This conversation is a testament to that belief. So, tune in for an enlightening exploration of the paths that shape our professional lives and the communal bonds that fortify them.

What did they say? KEY:

• ODP (Operating Department Practitioner- UK)
• AA (Anesthesia Associates- current name for CAAs in UK)
• CAA (Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant- USA)
• ANAESTHETISTS (UK- Anesthesia Doctor)
• ACT (Anesthesia Care Team)
• LAST (Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity)
• TAP (Transversus Abdominis Plane block)
• GA (General Anesthesia)
• NCCAA (National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants)
• NOVA/NSU (Nova Southeastern University- AA Program)

Resources Mentioned:

• @anesthesiaanonymous TikTok
• CAALifestyle YouTube
• AnesthesiaSal YouTube
• AnesthesiaOneSource.com
• Ultrasoundexperts.org
• 8 blocks every CAA should know- interscalene, supraclavicular, femoral, adductor canal, popliteal sciatic, TAP, rectus, erector spine plane (ESP)

Connect with Mark @ [email protected]
Mark Leonard FB
@ezmuzic on IG

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter-
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com or on IG @awakenedanesthetist