Loretta Ford, former School of Nursing dean who transformed the profession, dies at 104

The career trajectory of a 'nursing icon'

Born in New York City in 1920 during the Spanish Flu pandemic, Ford began her nursing career at age 16 in New Jersey before enlisting in the US Army Air Force as a nurse during World War II. She matriculated to the University of Colorado (CU) College of Nursing after the war, where she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in public health.

Ford worked as a public health nurse for 10 years, then became director of nursing for the Boulder City County Health Department. In 1955, she was appointed an assistant professor at the CU College of Nursing. She received a doctorate in education from CU in 1961 and became a full professor in 1965.

Ford teamed with Silver to create the first pediatric nurse practitioner training program at the University of Colorado Medical Center in 1965. Their work created a new role that is widely accepted by patients and professionals in pediatrics, primary care, and specialty care.

"Dr. Ford was everything that one would expect from a trailblazer, thought leader, and compassionate NP," says Jon Fanning, the CEO of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). "She made everyone she interacted with feel special, and her words of wisdom were legendary. As we mourn the loss, we also celebrate the time we had with this nursing icon. She will be missed but never forgotten."

During Ford's tenure at Rochester, the School of Nursing expanded beyond bachelor's and master's degree programs to provide both doctoral and post-doctoral training. Ford retired in 1986 but continued to consult and lecture on the historical development of nursing nationally and at the school beyond the age of 100.

National honors recognize a nursing pioneer

Ford is the author of more than 100 publications and has served as a consultant and lecturer to multiple organizations and universities. Over the course of her career, she received many honorary doctorate degrees and numerous awards, including the Living Legend Award from the American Academy of Nursing and the Gustav O. Lienhard Award from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

Ford was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2020, USA Todaynamed her one of its "Women of the Century" in recognition of the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage. Hours before her 100th birthday, Ford was honored with the Surgeon General's Medallion, awarded by the US Surgeon General for exceptional achievements in the cause of public health and medicine.

"Dr. Ford was a pioneer who clearly elevated the role of nursing in academic medicine," says David Linehan, the CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. "She demonstrated that nurses are uniquely positioned to provide compassionate, comprehensive care that considers the entire patient, not just their symptoms. Today, we continue to champion her vision of medicine as a collaborative endeavor and celebrate her role in improving access to care for millions of Americans."