California Society of Anesthesiologists

What California Society of Anesthesiologists does

The California Society of Anesthesiologists (CSA) is a California-based non-profit professional membership society founded in 1948 and incorporated in 1953, serving over 3,000 physician anesthesiologists across California as the recognized component society of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Headquartered in Sacramento with 22 employees, CSA delivers its mission through a diversified portfolio of member services: legislative and regulatory advocacy in Sacramento and Washington D.C. (including CSAPAC political contributions and a Legal Defense Fund), continuing medical education through four to five annual conferences held in California and Hawaii (offering up to 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits per event), a range of content products (the Vital Times annual journal, CSA Online First weekly blog, and the Vital Times podcast ranked #6 nationally), and practice management resources including the Zoom-based Oral Board Mock Exam Program and a member-only job board.

CSA's business model is primarily subscription-based, anchored by annual membership dues tiered by career stage (Active Members $719, Affiliate Members $298, AAE Members $200, with waived dues for residents, military, and retired members), supplemented by conference registration fees, exhibitor sponsorships, the Year-Round Partner Program ($25,000 annually for four exclusive corporate partners), and voluntary contributions to CSAPAC and the Legal Defense Fund. Distribution is conducted through the ASA Member Center partnership for membership enrollment, the MemberSuite-powered member portal, and direct conference registration, with marketing conducted across LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky, email newsletters, and earned media placements. The organization is governed by elected physician volunteer leadership (currently President Christina Menor, MD, MS, FASA) supported by a professional executive team led by Executive Director Megan MacNee, CAE, with affiliated entities including the CSA Foundation for Education (supporting STEM pipeline development through partnerships with 11 academic medical centers and Project Lead the Way) and the CSA Online First media property.

Name

California Society of Anesthesiologists

Legal name

California Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc.

Website

https://csahq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The California Society of Anesthesiologists is a Sacramento-based non-profit professional membership society founded in 1948 that serves over 3,000 physician anesthesiologists across California through advocacy, CME conferences, practice resources, and the Vital Times podcast, operating as a recognized component society of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Society Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAJAA

Medical & Health Sciences Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

SECONDARYBPAGACAB

Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Professional medical society
• Continuing medical education
• Physician advocacy services
• Anesthesiology membership
• Medical practice resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from physician anesthesiologists across various membership categories including Active Members ($719), Early Career Members (3 years for $598), Affiliate Members ($298), and others. Membership enrollment is managed through ASA Member Center.
2. Conference and Exhibitor Revenue: Revenue generated from CME conferences including registration fees and exhibitor sponsorships. CSA hosts multiple annual conferences in California and Hawaii with up to 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits per event. Exhibitor opportunities and Year-Round Partner Program ($25,000/year for four exclusive partners) provide additional revenue.
3. Political Action Committee Contributions: CSAPAC (formerly GASPAC) accepts voluntary political contributions from physician anesthesiologists with giving levels including Supporter ($300), Golden State Club ($500), Governor's Club ($1,000), and President's Club ($7,000+ for physician groups).
4. Legal Defense Fund Contributions: Members encouraged to contribute at least $195 annually to the Legal Defense Fund to support court challenges on issues affecting anesthesiologists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The California Society of Anesthesiologists is a non-profit professional membership society serving over 3,000 physician anesthesiologists in California. CSA sells annual membership subscriptions bundled with ASA, hosts four premier CME conferences annually (one in California and three in Hawaii offering up to 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits each), and provides physician advocacy, practice management resources, board exam preparation, and a member-only job board.

Product overview

The California Society of Anesthesiologists operates a professional society offering a unified portfolio of member services including content platforms (CSA Online First blog, Vital Times podcast, annual Vital Times publication), examination preparation (Oral Board Mock Exam Program), practice management resources, a member-only job board, and patient education materials (opioid safety videos, fentanyl resources). The organization delivers continuing medical education through three annual Hawaii Anesthesia Conferences and an Annual Anesthesia Conference with Board Meeting, offering AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and MOCA credits. Membership tiers include Early Career (joint CSA/ASA program launched 2023) and In-Training categories, with the CSA Foundation for Education supporting STEM outreach and research awards. The society advocates through CSAPAC political action committee and provides legal resources including a Legal Defense Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSA Foundation for Education: California nonprofit dedicated to the future of anesthesiology through support of science education in public high schools, resident physician training, and patient safety through research.
• CSAPAC
• CSA Online First
• Vital Times Podcast

Products and services

• CSA Annual Membership Subscription Annual membership in the California Society of Anesthesiologists bundled with ASA, available to Active Members ($719/year), Affiliate Members ($298/year), AAE Members ($200/year), Educational Members ($200/year), Retired Members (dues waived with requirements), Active Military ASA Members (dues waived), and Resident/Fellow Members (dues waived if active with ASA). Provides access to CME conferences, practice resources, advocacy, publications, and networking across 14 geographic districts.
• Early Career Membership Program Joint CSA/ASA membership program launched in 2023 offering 3 years of bundled membership at $598 ($299 CSA + $299 ASA) for U.S.-based anesthesiologists in their first three years of practice. Includes full ASA and CSA member benefits plus free education products and event registrations including ACE/SEE courses, annual meeting registration, and ADVANCE registration.
• CSA Hawaii Anesthesia Meetings Three annual CME conferences held at luxury Hawaiian resorts: Summer at Four Seasons Oahu, Winter at Grand Wailea/Westin Maui, and Fall at Fairmont Orchid/Grand Hyatt Kauai. Each conference offers up to 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and MOCA credits.
• CSA Annual Anesthesia Conference Annual CME conference combined with CSA board meetings, held at locations including Disneyland Resort Anaheim. Features abstract submissions, poster sessions, and educational programming for physician anesthesiologists.
• CSA Oral Board Mock Exam Program Zoom-based mock oral examination program for members preparing for ABA Applied (oral) board exams, including written and video knowledge banks to support board certification preparation.
• CSA Job Board Member-only job opportunity board featuring anesthesiologist positions throughout California ranging from full-time to locum roles, private practice to academic positions, with reach to 3,000+ CSA members.
• Practice Management Resources Comprehensive suite of practice management resources including AB 72 navigation guides, employment contract guidance, non-compete clause information, and practice evaluation tools for anesthesiologists and their practices.
• Vital Times Podcast Monthly podcast hosted by Dr. Ludwig Lin and Dr. Rita Agarwal featuring educational, inspirational, and engaging content on anesthesiology topics, ranked #6 on Million Podcasts' Best 40 Anesthesia Podcasts in the U.S. with a 5.0 Apple Podcasts rating.
• CSA Online First Weekly blog featuring insights from CSA members, edited by Dr. Ludwig Lin, covering clinical practices, patient safety, legislative updates, and member spotlights.
• Vital Times Annual Publication Annual publication recapping CSA events and featuring original articles by leaders in anesthesiology, including the 75th Anniversary edition and subsequent annual editions.
• Opioid Safety Patient Education 3-minute animated video educating patients about post-surgical pain management and safe opioid use, available in English and Spanish on YouTube and Vimeo with accompanying downloadable materials hosted on Dropbox.
• Fentanyl Resources Patient handout and poster materials differentiating medical fentanyl from street drugs, addressing the fentanyl crisis with educational resources for hospitals and clinics.
• CSAPAC (Political Action Committee) Bipartisan political action committee affiliated with CSA, accepting voluntary political contributions from physician anesthesiologists with giving levels including Supporter ($300), Golden State Club ($500), Governor's Club ($1,000), and President's Club ($7,000+ for physician groups). Renamed from GASPAC to CSAPAC in 2026.
• Legal Defense Fund Fund supporting court challenges on legal issues affecting anesthesiologists and patients; members are encouraged to contribute at least $195 annually.
• CSA Foundation for Education California nonprofit foundation dedicated to the future of anesthesiology through support of science education in public high schools (Project Lead the Way biomedical sciences curriculum with $5,000/year initial funding per school site), resident physician training, and patient safety through research. Accepts contributions at tiered levels ($25 residents/fellows, $250 individuals, $2,500 private groups/corporates).
• Year-Round Partner Program Annual partnership program limited to four exclusive CSA Partners at $25,000/year providing high-value visibility and access to California anesthesiology leaders across conferences, publications, and member engagement touchpoints.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 physician members representing the specialty's collective voice
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSA is the recognized component society of ASA. The two organizations work closely on advocacy at state, local, and national levels. Joint Early Career Membership Program launched in 2023 provides bundled discounted membership for anesthesiologists in their first three years of practice ($299 CSA + $299 ASA).
• MAXIMUS Federal Services, Inc.supportingTechnology or IntegrationMAXIMUS Federal Services manages the AB 72 Independent Dispute Resolution Process (IDRP) application for California, serving as the private-sector government contractor overseeing the arbitration platform for out-of-network billing disputes between payors and non-contracted providers.
• Project Lead the Way (PLTW)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing STEM-focused curriculum. CSA Foundation supports partnerships between California's 11 academic medical center anesthesiology departments and local public high schools to implement PLTW biomedical sciences curriculum, with $5,000/year initial funding per school site.
• California Medical AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey ally in statewide coalitions protecting MICRA and other priorities of the House of Medicine. CSA participates in partnership with CMA on legislative advocacy and regulatory matters affecting anesthesiologists.
• CA Department of Managed Health CaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSA works closely with the CA Department of Managed Health Care along with CMA and ASA to craft solutions preventing payors from using AB 72 inappropriately to cancel contracts and compromise access to care.
• CA Department of InsurancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSA collaborates with the CA Department of Insurance on implementation of AB 72 and regulatory processes affecting anesthesia billing and reimbursement.
• Southwest AirlinessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred airline carrier for CSA conferences. Provides discounted fares and bonus Rapid Rewards points for eligible travelers attending CSA Summer and Fall conferences to/from Hawaii.
• Alaska AirlinessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides 5% discount on eligible flights for CSA conference attendees traveling to Hawaii with discount codes provided for each conference.
• KP Public AffairssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPR firm handling media inquiries for CSA. Contact: Alison MacLeod at (916) 498-7730 or [email protected] for media and publications inquiries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Medical Association (CMA): Statewide all-physician society operating in the same California geography with parallel membership, advocacy, and CME offerings. CSA explicitly partners with CMA on legislative coalitions including MICRA defense, making it the closest comparably-structured peer.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA): National parent society of which CSA is a component. ASA operates the same professional membership, CME, and advocacy model at national scale, with bundled membership pricing that directly ties CSA's go-to-market.
• Texas Society of Anesthesiologists: State component society of ASA serving Texas anesthesiologists with the same member services, CME conferences, and advocacy structure. Direct functional and structural analog to CSA in a different geography.
• New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA): Another ASA component society providing the same professional membership, CME, and advocacy services in New York. Operates at similar scale and serves a comparably large anesthesiologist population.

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Association (AMA): The largest U.S. physician professional organization. While not specialty-specific, AMA offers overlapping CME, advocacy, and member benefits and sets broader policy that affects CSA's specialty-specific agenda.

Others

• American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA): Represents Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Strategic counter-party in scope-of-practice debates and adjacent in educational offerings; relevant to CSA primarily through policy engagement.
• American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAAA): Represents the anesthesiologist assistant profession, a related but distinct group from physician anesthesiologists. Adjacent peer because CSA's advocacy on scope-of-practice is partly defined against non-physician anesthesia providers.

Regional players

• California Dental Association (CDA): California-based healthcare professional society offering membership, CME, and advocacy to dentists. Operates the same component-society model as CSA in a different specialty within the same California geography.

Emerging players

• Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA): Subspecialty society focused on office-based and ambulatory anesthesia. Provides overlapping CME and member services to a more narrow clinical niche, partially overlapping with CSA's ambulatory anesthesia members.
• American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists (AOCA): Osteopathic specialty college offering CME, board certification, and advocacy for osteopathic anesthesiologists. Comparable in mission but serves a narrower DO-focused segment of the specialty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/csahq
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CSAHQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/csahq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csahq
• Instagraminstagram.com/csahq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Society of Anesthesiologists