AORN Expo 2025 Ends with a Call for “Lighting the Pathway”

It's a Wrap!

The Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2025 closed Tuesday as outgoing President Nakeisha Tolliver DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, CSSM passed the gavel to 2025-2026 President Darlene Murdock MSN, BBA, RN, CNOR, CSSM and a new Board of Directors.

AORN Congress

Before the rousing closing ceremony, members at the House of Delegates heard the national election results for new officers, board and nominating committee members:

• President-elect David Reinhart DNP, MBA, RN, CNOR, FAAN
• Treasurer Laura A. Gayton, MHCA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM
• Board Member Leigh Anne Bartlett MSN, RN, CNOR
• Board Member Hung-Fu “Charlie” Lin, MSN, APRN, NP-C, CRNFA, CNOR-PEDS, SNAMB, FAORN
• Board Member Daphny Peneza MSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, FAORN
• Board Member Nikki Washington MSN, MBA-HCM, RN, CNOR, CSSM
• Nominating Committee Member Erica Basora MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CNOR
• Nominating Committee Member Joanne D. Muyco DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNOR

Members overwhelmingly approved a motion, brought by Bill Duffy, to have all AORN position statements brought to the House of Delegates for discussion and vote for approval – unless the Board determines the position statement is an urgent one that needs approval between annual meetings in a special session of the members.   

In her final speech to the House of Delegates, President Tolliver said, “I am filled with deep gratitude as I reflect on what we’ve achieved together.”

Dr. Tolliver noted that one of the most significant milestones of her term included the search for and selection of new CEO and Executive Director David Wyatt, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, FAORN, FAAN to replace retiring CEO/Executive Director Linda Groah, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN.

Tolliver also praised task forces and committees which created a number of tool kits and resources for members in the past year. “One of the initiatives closest to my heart was addressing incivility and bullying in nursing,” she said. Others included new tools to:

• Guide nurses through the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) process
• Address implicit bias and social determinants of health to improve patient education and care
• Prevent surgical site infections
• Leverage the expertise of legacy nurses
• Explore chapter models that will increase member engagement

“To those of you who’ve ever felt you didn’t belong, been silenced, or  felt unheard, undervalued, or overlooked—I see you. I’ve been there,” Tolliver encouraged the crowd. “And I’m living proof that if you don’t have a seat at the table, you can create your own… Build your own table, carve out your space, and make it a place where you truly belong. Never stop. Your voice matters, and your contributions are vital to the future of our profession. Together we have risen.”

Executive Director Report

In his first address as AORN CEO and Executive Director, Dr. Wyatt introduced himself to the membership as a perioperative nurse and 25-plus-year AORN member.

Presenting the report of the association, he noted increasing attendance and engagement at the annual conference since the shutdowns of COVID-19, as well as the ongoing financial strength of subsidiaries AORN Syntegrity and the AORN Foundation.

Dr. Wyatt spotlighted the increasing use by facilities of eGuidelines Plus, AORN’s online library of the Guidelines for Perioperative Practice and hundreds of clinical resources.

He also assured members that AORN has not wavered from our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring meaningful engagement from all stakeholders.

Wyatt noted that the economic hardships confronting industry and facilities today are impacting AORN revenues. Acknowledging this as a “turnaround year,” Dr. Wyatt said, “Our focus this year continues the emphasis on demonstrating the value of AORN. We will be ensuring strong (and new) revenue streams, broadening our partnerships, assessing the voice of our members and customers, as well as investing in world class member and customer-facing technologies.”

“We have an exciting future ahead of us. Buckle up!”

New President Takes the Gavel

Incoming president Darlene Murdock called on nurses to lead change and drive innovation as she unveiled her presidential theme for 2025-2026: "Lighting the Pathway."

Murdock announced the goals of new task forces and committees in the coming year:

• The Clinical Nursing Practice Committee will create a Change Agent Toolkit
• A new Artificial Intelligence Task Force will create a position statement and publish a peer-reviewed paper aimed at leveraging AI's potential to improve OR efficiency, patient care and safety
• The Chapter Engagement Task Force will build on the foundation established the past year by exploring different chapter models and innovative ways for members to engage with AORN and each other.
• Introduce a new Barba Edwards Innovation Award to showcase and embrace innovative ideas and aspire to create change.

“Start planning now to join me and thousands of perioperative nurses and our vendor partners in New Orleans at the AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2026, taking place April 11 to April 14,” Murdock said. “It’s going to be a periop party like no other.”