Celebrating the Exceptional Life & Legacy of Betty Horton

Today we’re honoring the life, leadership, and lasting influence of Betty Horton, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, a woman whose impact on nurse anesthesia education spans generations. With her passing on December 27, 2025, we wanted to revisit the conversation we had with her five years prior about the evolution of education and accreditation in nurse anesthesia, something that she cared about tremendously. This conversation captures Betty’s wisdom, humility, and unwavering commitment to lifting others rather than highlighting herself.

The show originally aired July 2, 2020, and we’ve asked Jackie Rowles, DNP, MBA, MA, CRNA, ANP-BC, NSPM-C, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, the founder and president of Our Hearts Your Hands Inc, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, DS (hon), Med, FAAN, vice president of Our Hearts Your Hands Inc., to share a few of their thoughts on her lasting legacy before we begin.

Listening ​now, ​her ​words ​carry ​even ​greater ​meaning. ​They ​reflect ​the ​wisdom, ​humility ​and ​steady ​leadership ​that ​defined ​her ​life's ​work. ​We ​invite ​you ​today ​to ​listen ​not ​only ​with ​your ​ears, ​​but ​with ​your ​heart. It’s an honor to share her voice once more.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🕊️ The life and legacy of Betty Horton in nurse anesthesia

📚 How accreditation standards transformed education and safety

🌍 Global impact through IFNA and the APAP program

🤝 Navigating political and professional challenges with integrity

🌱 Mentorship, service, and building pathways for future generations

 

Read the AANA’s obituary for Betty: https://www.aana.com/news/in-memoriam-betty-horton-phd-crna-faan-1936-2025/

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