SAN DIEGO, CA — Aya Healthcare Founder and CEO Alan Braynin Passes Away, Company Confirms
The healthcare industry is mourning the loss of one of its most transformative leaders, Alan Braynin, the founder and CEO of Aya Healthcare, who has passed away, the company confirmed in a statement released Monday. His sudden death marks a significant moment for the company he built from the ground up, and a moment of reflection for an industry he helped to revolutionize.
Braynin, known for his bold vision and entrepreneurial spirit, was a trailblazer in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Under his leadership, Aya Healthcare grew into the largest healthcare staffing company in the United States, connecting thousands of clinicians with hospitals and healthcare systems in need. His forward-thinking strategies and people-centered approach helped reshape how hospitals navigated staffing shortages, especially during the most challenging moments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and CEO, Alan Braynin,” Aya Healthcare shared in a statement Monday morning. “Alan’s passion, leadership, and vision built a company that changed the lives of countless healthcare professionals and improved patient care across the nation. He was more than a CEO—he was a friend, mentor, and a source of inspiration to everyone at Aya.”
Alan Braynin founded Aya Healthcare in 2001 with a mission to simplify and humanize the travel nursing industry. His entrepreneurial journey began with a deep desire to improve healthcare delivery and empower clinicians to pursue flexible, meaningful work across the country. What started as a small operation grew into a market leader that has repeatedly earned recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies and one of the best places to work in healthcare.
Colleagues and industry peers describe Braynin as an innovator, humanitarian, and relentless optimist, someone who always believed in the potential of people and the power of technology to bring lasting change to a fragmented healthcare system. During his tenure, Aya was known not just for its rapid expansion, but for its commitment to quality, transparency, and ethical standards.
Beyond his business accomplishments, Braynin was known for his generosity, philanthropic work, and his commitment to giving back. He was an advocate for mental health resources for healthcare professionals and supported numerous causes related to education, community development, and equity in healthcare access.
Braynin’s passing has triggered an outpouring of condolences from industry leaders, former colleagues, and the vast community of healthcare professionals who credit Aya with providing life-changing career opportunities. Many have taken to social media to share personal stories of how his work touched their lives.
As Aya Healthcare enters a period of transition, the company has stated that its leadership team will continue to honor Braynin’s legacy by upholding the values and vision he instilled. Plans for a public memorial or celebration of his life will be announced at a later time.
Alan Braynin leaves behind not only a thriving company but a movement—one built on the belief that when caregivers are empowered and supported, the ripple effect reaches every patient, every hospital, and every community.
He is survived by his family, friends, and a professional legacy that will endure for generations.
Rest in peace, Alan Braynin. Your impact on healthcare, your leadership, and your humanity will never be forgotten.