Founders
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is indebted to the great nurses who built and pioneered the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) role around the world, including Loretta C. Ford, EdD, RN, PNP, NP-C, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP.
Dr. Ford is an internationally renowned nursing leader who transformed the nursing profession and made health care more accessible for all. After developing the first nurse practitioner (NP) program in the U.S. alongside Dr. Henry Silver, MD, in 1965, she has remained both an inspiration and an innovative force within the nursing community. Dr. Ford’s courage to effect change, determination to improve the quality and delivery of patient care, perseverance in the face of opposition and dedication to the NP role continues to guide NPs nationwide.
About Dr. Loretta Ford
For more than half a century, Dr. Ford was an active champion for the NP community. At the University of Colorado in 1965, Dr. Ford collaborated with Dr. Silver to start the nation’s first NP program. This pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) program expanded the role of public health nurses to focus on illness prevention and health promotion, combining clinical care and research to teach nurses to factor in the social, psychological, environmental and economic conditions of patients when developing care plans. She became the founding dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing in 1972 and continued to positively influence graduate-level nursing education through the development of the unification model of nursing — combining practice, education and research.
Dr. Ford was an inaugural member of the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), the author of more than 100 publications and served as a consultant and lecturer to multiple organizations and universities. She held several honorary doctorate degrees and received numerous awards, including the Living Legend Award from the American Academy of Nursing and the Gustav O. Lienhard Award from the National Academy of Medicine. She was also inducted into both the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.
Dr. Ford passed away on Jan. 22, 2025, at her home in Florida. She was 104 years old. Her legacy in co-founding the NP role in 1965 has left an indelible mark on the world, improving health care delivery and accessibility for patients globally. Ford’s legacy extends beyond her professional achievements; she will be remembered as an innovator, friend and mentor to many in the nursing community. Her words continue to inspire future generations of NPs.
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Learn more about Dr. Ford.
- 1920: Born Dec. 28 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
- 1936: Began her nursing career at Middlesex General Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
- 1941: Earned her nursing diploma and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving three years during World War II.
- 1949: Attended the University of Colorado (CU) on the GI Bill and earned a Bachelor of Science degree.
- 1951: Earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from CU.
- 1961: Earned a Doctor of Education from CU and joined the CU faculty.
- 1965: Created, with Dr. Henry Silver, the nation's first NP program at CU.
- 1972: Named the first dean of the newly independent University of Rochester School of Nursing, where she would develop the unification model of nursing — linking clinical practice, education and research.
- 2011: Named a “Living Legend” by the American Academy of Nursing and inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
- 2020: Honored by USA Today as one of its “Women of the Century” in recognition of the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage, and awarded the Surgeon General’s Medallion hours before her 100th birthday.
- 2023: Honored on Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery.