Laura A. Gayton, MHCA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM

Candidate for Treasurer (One to be Elected)

Read Candidate Q&A

Laura A. Gayton, MHCA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, is the Nurse Manager and Supervisor at St. Louis University, Wright City, Missouri. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, and a Master of Health Care Administration from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa.

Gayton has been a perioperative nurse for 40 years and a member of AORN for 28 years. She is a member of

• AORN of St. Louis (2022-present)
• e-Chapter (2016-present)
• the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2016-present)

She has been a member of

• AORN of Northwest Suburban Chicago (2017-2022)

Gayton has attended Congress nine times in the past 10 years, each time as a delegate.

Gayton has received

• a Quality Improvement Award from Barnes Jewish Hospital for Surgical Site Infection and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol development (2016)
• an AORN Award for Volunteer Leadership (2020)
• The Alliance (Organ Donation and Transplantation) Board of Directors Award of Appreciation (2020)

Highlights of Gayton’s service to AORN include that she is

• a member of AORN Board of Directors (2023-present)
• a member of the AORN of St. Louis Board of Directors (2024-present)

She has been

• a member of the Nominating Committee (2019-2021)
• chair of the Nominating Committee (2020-2021)
• a member of the Patient Engagement Task Force (2015-2016)
• a member of the AORN Awards Committee (2015-2016)
• chair of the AORN Awards Committee (2018-2019, 2021-2022)
• chair of the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2016-2019)
• past-chair of the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2020)
• a member of the AORN Foundation Student Scholar Mentor Program (2017-2019)

In other leadership roles, Gayton has been

• a member of the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM) Exam Committee (2015)
• a member of the CCI Study Guide Writer Committee (2016)
• a member of the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Board of Directors, Loyola University, Chicago (2019-2021)
• a member of The Alliance (Advancing Organ and Transplantation) Board of Directors (2019-2022)
• chair of the Sisters of St Mary’s Health System Super Users Committee for EPIC (2022-2023)

In her community, Gayton is

• a member of the Missouri Disabled Water Ski Association (2018-present)
• chair of the Forest Lake Betterment Committee (2021-present)

She has been

• a volunteer for the Pancreatic Cancer PurpleStride St. Louis Registration Committee (2016-2017)
• a volunteer for Head for the Cure (2016-2017)
• a volunteer for the Greater Chicago Food Depository (2018-2020)

Election Statement

As a current member of the Board of Directors I have represented you the members and contributed my voice in the Boardroom regarding our organization’s finances, growth, and sustainability for the future. While we have done a remarkable job as an organization through some turbulent times, we must remain diligent regarding our financial health. As AORN Treasurer I will continue to be your voice and will be transparent about how we are allocating resources while sustaining growth. As we transition to a new CEO, it will be important to retain tenured Board members with experience in our association.

I have served AORN as a member for 28 years and been active in multiple roles within chapters. As a Director, I have the financial strength, budget and business acumen to serve as Treasurer of AORN and its subsidiaries having served on other boards of directors. My work experiences are budget forecasting, future new builds and renovations and establishing budgets for new services and service lines. These involvements position me well to serve you in the role of Treasurer.

I am detail oriented, I ask questions, and I collaborate. I will continue to prioritize keeping our members in the forefront and preserve our resources. My focus is on the visions for the future of our organization as my true north. In partnership with the AORN CFO, I will be diligent in upholding the fiduciary responsibilities of the office of Treasurer. I humbly seek your vote.