Remembering and Celebrating the Life of Dr Loretta Ford

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) mourns the loss of Dr Loretta Ford, a pioneering nurse leader who advanced the profession and the delivery of health care by co-founding the first nurse practitioner model and training programme in the United States. Dr Ford passed away on January 22, 2025, at the age of 104.

ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano offered her deepest condolences to all who knew Dr Ford and paid tribute to her extraordinary legacy:

“She was a legendary icon in nursing, a heroine, a scholar, teacher, veteran, trailblazer, and innovator, as well as a transformational leader with numerous prestigious national awards for her pioneering work that changed the delivery of health care in America and eventually around the world. Her persistence in establishing the nurse practitioner role and the unification model of nursing have left an indelible mark on health systems, providing nurses with a holistic education that continues to benefit patients worldwide.”

Born in New York City in 1920, Ford began nursing at age 16 and served as a nurse in the US Army Air Force during World War II. After the war, she earned degrees in nursing and public health and worked as a public health nurse and director of nursing for the Boulder City County Health Department. In 1961, she was awarded a doctorate in education by the University of Colorado, where she became a full professor and co-founded the first nurse practitioner educational programme with paediatrician Dr Henry Silver. Despite initial resistance from the medical community, the nurse practitioner role transformed the delivery of care by allowing advanced practice nurses to provide effective, high-quality treatment as part of a collaborative team. Nurse practitioners are now a vital part of health care systems worldwide through evidence-based clinical and preventive practice that improves health access and contributes to positive patient outcomes.

In 1972, Dr Ford became the first dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing and the director of clinical nursing at Strong Memorial Hospital. In these roles, she developed the holistic “unification model” that combined nursing education, research, and clinical practice, an approach that is now widely used in health care. Though Dr Ford retired from practice in 1985, she continued to contribute to the field through publications and lectures on advanced nursing practice. In recognition of her remarkable contributions to nursing, health, and advancing women’s leadership, she was introduced into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the United States Surgeon General’s Medallion in 2020.

ICN President Dr Cipriano emphasized the lasting impact of Dr Ford's leadership:

“Dr Ford's light will continue to shine through the legacy of her work guiding and inspiring future generations of nurses. The nurse practitioner role she pioneered is more essential than ever as we strive to address the world’s health challenges and promote access to care for all.”