Dr. Loretta C. Ford, Founder of the Nurse Practitioner role died at age 104 years

A great leader of nursing, Dr. Loretta C. Ford, passed away at home at the age of 104 years on Wednesday evening, January 22, 2025.  She is known for creating the NP role while working as a public health nurse in rural Colorado in the 1950-60’s. She is a nursing icon and legend who prevailed against opposition and resistance to see the role of the NP develop where today over 385,000 NPs have changed the nursing profession. Dr Ford, an amazing champion for all nursing, retired in 1980’s to Florida. We are grateful for her life’s work in helping nursing grow to meet our health care challenges. We will always be indebted to this amazing woman who was our Super Nurse and Champion. Please see her biography featured on this site.

Additional Tributes to Dr. Ford are listed below:

AANP:  Remembering Dr. Ford

University of Rochester and School of Nursing:  Dr. Ford Founding Dean at University of Rochester

BBC Radio: (Jean Aertker Interview January 29, 2025)

University of Colorado: University of Colorado Tribute

The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/01/25/loretta-ford-nurse-practitioners-dead-obituary/

Legacy:  https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/loretta-ford-1920-2025-pioneering-nurse-practitioner/