Why I’m Fired Up for the MANA Spring Conference (and Why You Should Be Too)
Join Joshua Olson, DNP, CRNA, as he shares why the SOLD OUT MANA Spring Conference
is more than just CE credits-
highlighting CRNA education, innovation, networking, and the future of the profession.
If you’ve been around me long enough, you know this already: I’m a total conference nerd. See photos for some proof. 😄
Give me a packed schedule, great speakers, new ideas, and a room full of CRNAs, and I’m all in. But as much as I love the content (and there’s a lot of it this year), the real reason I keep coming back to conferences like MANA Spring… is the people.
Our profession is filled with some of the most driven, thoughtful, and innovative individuals you’ll ever meet. There’s just something energizing about being in the same space: sharing ideas, debating the future, and learning from each other in real time.
And this year, I’m especially excited because I get to be part of two sessions that I think really capture where we are, and where we’re headed.
The Current State of CRNA Education
Saturday at 10:30 AM
I’ll be joining a panel of program directors for what I expect will be a candid and forward-looking discussion on CRNA education.
We’ll be diving into:
What we’re seeing in today’s CRNA students
How education is evolving
The direction of our profession
The ongoing conversation around AAs and workforce dynamics
This isn’t just a “sit and listen” session, we’re hoping to create real dialogue around the challenges and opportunities shaping the next generation of CRNAs and even take questions from the audience.
First-Ever DNP Pitch Party
(And yes—there are cash prizes 💰)
I also have the privilege of moderating something brand new for MANA: the DNP Pitch Party.
This is one of the sessions I’m most excited about.
Students will be pitching their DNP projects in a fast-paced, engaging format, and the best part? They’re competing for real cash prizes. It’s innovation, education, and a little bit of Shark Tank energy—all in one room.
It’s a chance to:
Spotlight the incredible work our students are doing
Celebrate innovation in our profession
And maybe even spark ideas that go beyond a single project
More Than Just CE Credits
Many of us come for the CE credits.
But we leave with something else:
New perspectives
New relationships
And often, a renewed sense of why we love this profession
That conversation in the hallway.
That idea you didn’t expect.
That person you meet who ends up becoming a collaborator, mentor, or friend.
That’s the real value.
If you’re heading to the MANA Spring Conference, I’d love to connect; whether it’s at one of these sessions or just in between events.
And if you’re on the fence about attending future conferences, I’ll say this:
You can read the content later.
You can watch recordings.
But you can’t replicate being in the room.
