Loretta (Lee) Ford—an internationally renowned nurse leader who transformed the nursing profession, was named a member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and served as the founding dean of theUniversity of RochesterSchool of Nursing—died at the age of 104.

Ford changed the delivery of health care by cofounding the nurse practitioner (NP) model at the University of Colorado in 1965 with Henry Silver, a pediatrician. Today, there are more than 385,000 nurse practitioners in the United States.

“Lee Ford was a remarkable leader who transformed the face of health care through her fierce advocacy and bold vision,” says Lisa Kitko, dean of the School of Nursing. “As an architect of the Unification Model of Nursing, her impact on our school and nursing profession runs deep, and her commitment to excellence continues to guide us.”

At a time when doctors did not generally welcome input from nurses, Ford met considerable resistance from the medical community. Yet she persistently worked to equalize the perceived hierarchy between the practice of medicine and nursing, advocating for nurses as educators, researchers, and advanced practice providers as well as bedside caregivers.

Recruited in 1972 to be the first dean of the newly independent University of Rochester School of Nursing and the director of clinical nursing at Strong Memorial Hospital, Ford bridged the two roles to create theunification model of nursing. Now common practice at academic medical centers, it combines education, research, and clinical practice to create a holistic approach to nursing education and clinical practice.

“The academic nursing community has lost one of its leading lights with the passing of Dr. Loretta Ford,” says Deborah Trautman, the president and chief executive officer of theAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing. “We will always be grateful to Dr. Ford for her leadership, compassion, and vision, which has helped to propel the nursing profession forward.”

Over the course of her career, Ford succeeded in establishing the nurse practitioner as an integral part of medical teams, bringing greater respect to the profession.

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 anurse 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 theAmerican 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.

“I always thought the world of Lee, and I greatly admired her contributions to the field of nursing, her innovative approach to health care, her engagement with her colleagues and students, and her commitment to the University of Rochester,” says President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “She epitomized the spirit of Meliora through her vision in establishing the nurse practitioner as a profession, work that helped transform the delivery of health care. Through her leadership as our founding dean of the School of Nursing, and in so many other ways, she has left an indelibly positive impact on our University and the world.”

A tribute to Loretta Ford

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 theUniversity 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.

A version of this story appears in the spring 2025 issue ofRochester Review, the magazine of theUniversity of Rochester.