Background
Ford, Loretta C. was born on December 28, 1920 in New York City. Daughter of Joseph F. and Nellie A. (Williams) Pfingstel.
Dean educator consultant nurse
Ford, Loretta C. was born on December 28, 1920 in New York City. Daughter of Joseph F. and Nellie A. (Williams) Pfingstel.
Bachelor of science in nursing, University Colorado, Boulder, 1949. Master of Science, University Colorado, Boulder, 1951. Doctor of Education, University Colorado, Boulder, 1961.
Doctor of Science (honorary), Ohio State Medical College, Columbus, 1997. Doctor of Science (honorary), Simmons College, Boston, 1997. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Colorado, Boulder, 1997.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Maryland, College Park, 1990. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Rochester, New York, 2000. Doctor of Science (honorary), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, 2007.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Binghamton University, New York, 2001.
Along with pediatrician Henry Silver, Ford started the pediatric nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado in 1965. In 1972, Ford joined the University of Rochester as founding dean of the nursing school. She was a nurse at several military bases during World World War II before returning for bachelor"s and master"s degrees at the University of Colorado.
Ford worked as a public health nurse in rural Colorado in the 1940s and 1950s.
Her experiences in this position led to an interest in advanced medical training for nurses. In 1965, Ford and pediatrician Henry Silver created the pediatric nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado.
This was the first nurse practitioner program in the United States. In 1971, she was elected to the Institute of Medicine.
She became the founding dean of the nursing school at the University of Rochester in 1972.
Ford was named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 1999. She was honored with the Elizabeth Blackwell Award from Hobart and William Smith Colleges that same year. The award honors "a woman whose life exemplifies outstanding service to humanity." She was inducted into the National Women"s Hall of Fame in 2011.
Member advisory committee Commonwealth Fund Executive Nurse Fellowship PRogram. Board directors Threshold Alternate Youth Services, Easter Seal Society, American Red Cross, Monroe Community Hospital. Fellow: National League Nursing (Linda Richards award), American Academy Nursing (Living Legend award 1999).
Member: National Academy of Sciences Institute Medicine (Gustav O. Leinhard award 1990), American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association (Ruth B. Freeman award), American College Nurse Practitioners (Crystal Trailblazers award 2003), American College Health Association (Boynton award), Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Omega Alpha (honorary).
Married William J. Ford, May 2, 1947. 1 child Valerie.