Early on in this discussion someone mentioned the miltiary. I can only discuss the USAF where I served over 20 years on active duty. The USAF has both CRNAS and MD/DO anesthesiologists. (I will use the term "MDA" to mean both because I think using "DOA" is tacky. (this is a joke.)) In the few large facilities of the USAF, there was a supervisor/supervised relationship between the MDAs and CRNAs. However, most of the USAF hospitals had only CRNAs, who functioned independently. (During the Gulf War the Air Transportable Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had six CRNAs and no MDAs.) In some of the smaller facilities in the USAF where there was one MDA, he was "one of the gang/" did his own cases, took call in rotation with the CRNAs and did not act as supervisor on each and every case. The CRNAs on call were expected to do their cases and not bother the MDA unless there was some concern they had that they wished to consult about. Considering past behavior, I doubt the USAF will commission AAs as officers due to their inability to practice INDEPENDENTLY. However, it may hire them as civilian contractors for the bigger facilities and that is something that you may want to look into.
