Celebrating the life and legacy of Loretta Ford

There are so many things to say. We owe you so much. Have enjoyed your talks. So sharp. Enjoy your birthday and know we wish you well.

Thanks for all you have done to advance the profession of nursing- Wishing you a Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Dr. Ford!!! Thank you for paving the way for us. You have made all the difference!

Not an NP, but an innovator in nurse-led care. Thanks, Lee, for your vision and inspiration.

Thinking of you on your special day. I was honored to be with your from the days of Super Woman to your honorary doctorate at CU. Enjoy you birthday. Fondly, Juanita

Happy Birthday! As an NP for 22 years, I am amazed by your trail blazing! Thank you for all you have done for our wonderful profession!

Being a Nurse Practitioner means giving back to my community, caring for children and their families, and filling my soul by doing good and being my best self as a professional nurse. Being a Nurse Practitioner has given me the opportunity to challenge myself as a clinician, academic scholar, and leader. Being a Nurse Practitioner has taken me to the front line of healthcare and the leading edge of health care innovation. Loretta Ford has inspired my career by being a courageous leader and pioneer in this role, and by demonstrating joy in work that I aspire to every day.

Georgetown Class of 2010 FNP Being a Nurse Practitioner means I get to provide compassionate, high-quality care to patients during some of their most challenging moments, and also celebrate triumphs and successes. Thank you to Lee Ford for developing this amazing profession which has helped so, so many.

Being a Nurse Practitioner (NP) has been an amazing career choice and adventure for me. It has allowed me to meld all of the wonderful aspects of being a nurse with the added scope of advanced practice. Becoming a NP has allowed me incredible opportunities in my career. I am a clinician, educator, quality and process improvement specialist, program director, researcher and so much more! I feel I have made a huge impact on patients, families, students, other APPs and the community within my role as a NP. Loretta Ford has undoubtedly affected my life, career and all of the good things that have come from it. The impact she has made as the founder, leader and trailblazer for the NP role has led thousands of individuals to a career of health “care”. Loretta’s work in nursing has changed and improved the way care is provided. The role she created, has contributed to the quality of care patients receive throughout this country and many others. Without her forward thinking, determination and selfless acts to promote hope and progress, the NP role and healthcare would not be what it is today. For this, I cannot thank her enough.

My first experience with NPs was as an undergraduate student at CU University Hospital, watching one of the initial PNP student cohort assess a newborn in the NICU (I must admit that I was not particularly impressed, as a novice nurse who still thought nursing was doing things with your hands, rather than your senses and brain.) But 8 short years later after earning the MS degree with a NP focus at University of Utah I took a position as the first Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (we became gerontological NPs some years later.) Your vision bridged the life span in under a decade and set the focus of my lifetime professional work!

When I started the program my last name was Salvador. I rec'd my BSN in 1964 from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. Case Western University in Cleveland Ohio. I was working as a Public Health Nurse for the City and County of Denver when I was recruited for the PNP program at University of Colorado Nursing School in 1967. I was in the 4th group of nurses who participated in this program. Sue Stearly was alone as the first student so she was not part of a group. I finished the academic part of the program in 1967. At that time we had a 2 year practicum before we were designated as finished. I rec'd a certificate in 1969. Lee Ford has been a mentor and caring supporter of myself as well as all nurse practitioners. During our education and work experience, she and Dr. Henry Silver were always available. Their never ending faith and guidance in our ability to learn and provide sound expert guidance to our patients was invaluable to our success as well as the program as a whole. They have paved the way for what nurse practitioners have become today. This program was life changing for me both personally and professionally. It made me be more aware of who I was as a nurse and what skills we could offer to our patients. Personally I gained more self esteem and over these 50+ years I have been able to raise a family and help many parents and children be the best they can be! I have been retired for almost 2 years now and still hear from some of the families I have worked with over the years. I am grateful to be able to call Lee Ford a friend as well as a mentor and great educator.