Newswise — Washington, D.C.— Ralph Kohl has been appointed to the position of Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), announced AANA Executive Director/CEO Wanda Wilson, PhD, CRNA. Kohl succeeds 16-year veteran Frank Purcell, BA, who departs the AANA to take over the head post at another leading healthcare professional organization. Kohl will direct a staff of six in carrying out the AANA’s Federal Government Affairs legislative, regulatory and reimbursement advocacy efforts. The AANA boasts the nation’s largest nursing political action committee (PAC), and one of the strongest healthcare PACs in the country.

“Ralph is a person of great skill and integrity who is a respected and effective advocate on Capitol Hill for CRNAs,” said Wilson. “He is also a gifted and experienced advocacy strategist who knows how to apply member grassroots action, direct lobbying and coalitions, and utilize his extensive contacts to turn AANA ideas and evidence into significant accomplishments for the nurse anesthesia profession.”

Over four years with the AANA, Kohl has served as the associate director of Federal Government Affairs, distinguishing himself as a key contributor to the AANA’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. During the past three years his focus has been on helping to advance military veterans’ access to quality healthcare through full practice authority for CRNAs and other advanced practice registered nurses working in Veterans Administration (VA) facilities. An experienced and sought-after public speaker, Kohl’s previous work included senior roles with healthcare professional associations at the federal and state levels, and as a staff member for the New York State Legislature in Albany, N.Y. Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Kohl earned his bachelor’s degree at Dowling College on Long Island. He and his family live in the city of Alexandria, Va.

About the American Association of Nurse AnesthetistsFounded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional organization representing more than 50,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists across the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses and anesthesia specialists, CRNAs administer approximately 43 million anesthetics to patients in the United States each year and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. In some states, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia professionals in nearly 100 percent of rural hospitals. For more information, visit www.aana.com and www.future-of-anesthesia-care-today.com and follow @aanawebupdates on Twitter.