Anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) are highly skilled allied health professionals who develop and implement anesthesia care plans under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists.

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides anesthesia services along side other healthcare professionals such as dentists, surgeons, podiatrists, and anesthesiologists.  The AANA states that, "CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals in the United States, affording some 70 million rural Americans access to anesthesia." As CRNAs provide a significant portion of anesthesia care in rural areas of the U.S., Anesthesiologist Assistant's main area of practice will most likely be in inner cities and larger medical facilities where (Medical Doctor of Anesthesiologist's) MDA's are abundant. (Also learn about the entry level Anesthesia Technician profession HERE)

Anesthesiologist Assistants are integral members of the anesthesia care team.  All Anesthesiologist Assistants are required to have a premedical background, a baccalaureate degree and have earned a Masters Degree in Science. Anesthesiologist Assistants are trained to be experts in the delivery and maintenance of quality anesthesia care as well as advanced patient monitoring techniques. The goal of Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) education is to transform qualified student applicants into competent health care practitioners who contain the desire and motivation to practice in the anesthesia care team.