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2025 Fall Conference Speakers                                     

Tonia Bales, CRNA

Tonia has been in continuous clinical anesthesia practice sine 1991 after graduating from University Hospital School of Anesthesia in Cincinnati Ohio.  She started her career in San Bernadino, California and has practiced in Murfreesboro Tennessee, Dayton Ohio and now resides and practices outside of Atlanta.  As the ex-wife of the infamous and disgraced CRNA John Meehan, Tonia’s contributions were instrumental in the international success of The LA Times Hit Podcast Dirty John.  Tonia’s harrowing experience was portrayed in the Netflix series of the same name and the companion documentary, Dirty John, The Dirty Truth.  She has also been featured on Dateline NBC, Inside Evil with Chris Cuomo, and the podcasts Crime Analyst, Murderish, Real Crime Profile, and her own podcast on Audible: The First Wife: John Meehan’s Reign of Terror.

Lee Ranalli, DNP, CRNA

Lee Ranalli graduated from the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia in 2010 and returned to his home state of Arizona. After serving for several years as Chief CRNA, he pursued his passion for teaching and transitioned into nurse anesthesia education. He is the author of numerous published articles and the co-author of the Obstetric Anesthesia chapter in the textbook Nurse Anesthesia. Lee is a former President of the Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and currently serves on its Education Committee.

Stephen D. Smith, MA, CRNA, FAANA

Steve is the chief operating officer and co-owner of Georgia Anesthesia LLC, an all CRNA office-based practice in the greater Atlanta area where they provide anesthesia for over 30 practices. He is currently serving on the AANA Dental Advisory Panel and the Emory Nurse Anesthesia Advisory Board.

Steve is a Past President of the GANA. In 2012, he was awarded the GANA Rosalie McDonald Award for excellence in nurse anesthesia. From 2008 until 2018 he served as the Federal Political Director for the GANA.  In 2017, he became a member of the CRNA-PAC 1983 Society.  In 2019 he was awarded the AANA Daniel D. Vigness Federal Political Director Award.  He is also an AANA Gertrude Fife and Triple Crown member and in 2023, became a Fellow of the AANA.