2025-2026 National Officers, Board, and Nominating Committee Election Results; Presidential Theme from Darlene Murdock

2025-2026 AORN National election

results for new officers, board and nominating committee members: 

• President-elect David Reinhardt 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

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.”