PHOENIX, AZ – Ali J. Baghai, CRNA, was recognized by the Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AZANA) as “CRNA of the Year” for his outstanding record of professional service to the CRNA community. Ali is the former president of the AZANA (2015-16) and spearheaded the effort to pass first-in-nation statutory legal immunity for surgeons and physicians when working with CRNA’s, addressing a long-held concern for surgeons, and subsequently increasing access and decreasing costs associated with anesthesiology care. AzAS is very proud of Ali’s accomplishments and his contributions to the mission of AzAS and the greater anesthesia community.