Loretta C. Ford Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame

The National Women’s Hall of Fame recently inducted Loretta C. Ford, RN, EdD, PNP, FAAN, FAANP, along with 10 other American women who have made valuable and enduring contributions to our nation. These women were formally inducted on September 30 and October 1, 2011, in Seneca Falls, New York, the birthplace of the American Women’s Rights Movement.

The National Women’s Hall of Fame is the nation’s oldest membership organization recognizing the achievements of great American women. Inductees are selected every 2 years based on their lasting contributions to society through the arts, athletics, business, education, government, humanities, philanthropy, and science. From a group of over 200 completed nominations, a national panel of judges conducted a rigorous scoring process and selected 11 women for induction.

The National Women’s Hall of Fame 2011 inductees are:

Loretta C. Ford (1920-). An internationally renowned nursing leader, Dr Loretta C. Ford has devoted her career to practice, education, research, consultation, and the delivery of health services. Ford is best known for cofounding the nurse practitioner model through her studies on the nurse’s expanded scope of practice in public health nursing. In 1972, Ford became the founding dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing, where she implemented the unification model. Ford is the author of more than 100 publications and has served as a consultant and lecturer to multiple organizations and universities.

St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955). A missionary who dedicated her life and fortune to aid Native Americans and African Americans, St. Katharine Drexel is only the second recognized American-born saint.

Dorothy Harrison Eustis (1886- 1946). A philanthropist, Dorothy Harrison Eustis combined her love of animals and her passion for helping others to cofound the nation’s first dog guide school, The Seeing Eye.

Abby Kelley Foster (1811-1887). A major figure in the national antislavery and women’s rights movements, Abby Kelley Foster is remembered for her roles as a lecturer, fundraiser, recruiter, and organizer. In 1850, Foster helped develop plans for the National Women’s Rights Convention in Massachusetts, and later, in 1868, she was among the organizers of the founding convention of the New England Woman Suffrage Association.

Helen Murray Free (1923-). A pioneering chemist, Helen Murray Free, BA, MA, conducted research that revolutionized diagnostic testing in the laboratory and at home. Free is the codeveloper of Clinistix, the first dip-and- read diagnostic test strips for monitoring glucose in urine. Along with her husband, Alfred Free, she also developed additional strips for testing levels of key indicators for other diseases. Today, dip-and-read strips make testing for diabetes, pregnancy, and other conditions available in underdeveloped regions of the United States and in foreign countries. Free is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Nat ional Medal of Technology and In novation and the American Chemical Society’s 66th National Historic Chem ical Landmark designation (2010).

Billie Holiday (1915-1959). Considered by many to be one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time, Billie Holiday forever changed the genres of jazz and pop with her unique style.

Coretta Scott King (1927-2006). One of the most celebrated champions of human and civil rights, Coretta Scott King, BA in partnership with her husband, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, ignited democracy movements worldwide.

Lilly Ledbetter (1938-). For over a decade, Lilly Ledbetter has fought to achieve equal pay for men and women; her efforts proved successful when President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law in 2009.

Barbara Mikulski (1936-). The first female Democratic United States senator elected in her own right, Barbara Mikulski, BA, MSW, has been a political trailblazer for more than 30 years.

Donna Shalala (1941-). A groundbreaking educator and politician, Donna Shalala, PhD, has more than 25 years of experience as an accomplished scholar, teacher, and administrator. Shalala is recognized as the longest serving United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993-2001) and is the current president of the University of Miami.

Kathrine Switzer (1947-). As the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon (1967), Kathrine Switzer broke the gender barrier and paved the way for women in running.

“From an early suffragist to a civil rights pioneer; from a university president to trailblazers in health and science; each of these women have demonstrated fortitude, perseverance, intelligence, and hope. Their experiences provide both an example for each of us to emulate and a challenge for each of us to embrace. What began in Seneca Falls came full circle this October, when this phenomenal group of inductees convened in the birthplace of women’s rights,” said Christine Moulton, Executive Director of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

The National Women’s Hall of Fame, founded in 1969, has inducted 236 women since its inception. This year’s inductees join a notable group that includes Susan B. Anthony, Dorothy Height, Maya Lin, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Rosa Parks.

“We congratulate this year’s in ductees and are excited to welcome them to Seneca Falls,” said Beverly P. Ryder, the Hall’s President, from Los Angeles.

The National Women’s Hall of Fame recently launched its new website, www.greatwomen.org. The site allows visitors to read about this year’s inductees, view a complete list of all Hall inductees, and make plans to visit.