Living Legends
Living Legends
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About Living Legends

The Academy recognizes a small group of fellows as Living Legends in honor of their extraordinary contributions to the nursing profession, sustained over the course of their careers.

The following nurses are honored as Living Legends in recognition of the multiple contributions these individuals have made to our profession and our society and in recognition of the continuing impact of these contributions on the provision of health services in the United States and throughout the world.

Suzanne Bakken
PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FIAHSI
Alumni Professor of Nursing and Biomedical Informatics
Columbia University
Rita K. Chow
EdD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, CAPT. (Ret) USPHS
Senior Volunteer Fellow
National Council on Aging
Julie Fairman
PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor of Nursing Emerita
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Faye Gary
EdD, MS, RN, FAAN
Distinguished University Professor, Medical Mutual of Ohio Kent W. Clapp Chair and Professor of Nursing for Vulnerable and At-Risk Persons
Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Mathy Mezey
EdD, RN, FAAN
Professor Emerita, Senior Research Scientist, and Associate Director (and Founding Director) of the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing
New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing

Previous Living Legend Honorees

 

 

2023 Living Legends

Janice Brewington

Pamela F. Cipriano

Martha A. Q. Curley

Mary O'Neil Mundinger

Madeline A. Naegle

Adeline "Adey" Nyamathi

 

2022 Living Legends

Jane Barnsteiner

William L. Holzemer

Jeanette Ives Erickson

Norma Martinez Rogers

Joyce Newman Giger

Franklin A. Shaffer

 

2021 Living Legends

Betty Ferrell

Terry Fulmer

Susan Hassmiller

Marla Salmon

 

2020 Living Legends

Linda Harman Aiken

Bobbie Berkowitz

Kathleen "Kitty" Buckwalter

Beverly Malone

Marilyn Rantz

 

2019 Living Legends

Geraldine "Polly" Bednash

C. Alicia Georges

Pamela H. Mitchell

Linda Schwartz

Mary Wakefield

 

2018 Living Legends

Jacquelyn C. Campbell

Marilyn P. Chow

Joanne Disch

Ada K. Jacox

Beatrice J. Kalisch*

Sally L. Lusk

Ruth McCorkle*

2017 Living Legends

Linda R. Cronenwett

Elaine L. Larson

Carolyn A. Williams

Nancy Fugate Woods

Connie H. Yarbro

 

2016 Living Legends

Linda Burnes Bolton

Ann Wolbert Burgess

Collen Conway-Welch*

Joyce J. Fitzpatrick

Martha N. Hill

2015 Living Legends

Diane M. Billings

Marilyn J. Dodd

Fannie Jean Gatson-Johansson*

Marie E. Manthey

Afaf I. Meleis

2014 Living Legends

Kathleen Dracup

Barbara A. Durand

Bernardine Lacey*

Colleen Goode

2013 Living Legends

Clara Adams-Ender

Hattie Bessent*

Margaret Miles

Jean Watson

 

2012 Living Legends

Anne J. Davis

Mi Ja Kim

Nola J. Pender

Muriel A. Poulin*

2011 Living Legends

Patricia Benner

Suzanne Feetham

Ada Sue Hinshaw

Meridean L. Maas*

May L. Wykle

 

2010 Living Legends

Billye J. Brown

Donna K. Diers*

Norma M. Lang

Barbara L. Nichols

Betty Smith Williams

2009 Living Legends

Barbara M. Brodie*

Leah Curtin

Marjory Gordon*

Ruby Leila Wilson*

2008 Living Legends

Gene Cranston Anderson

Helen Grace

Margaret A. Newman*

Robert Piemonte*

Phyllis Stern*

2007 Living Legends

Marie J. Cowan*

Phyllis G. Ethridge*

Carrie B. Lenburg

Margaret L. McClure

Sister Callista Roy

Gloria R. Smith*

2006 Living Legends

Kathryn E. Barnard*

Sister Rosemary Donley

Marlene Kramer

Angela B. McBride

Ellen B. Rudy*

 2005 Living Legends

Joyce C. Clifford*

Jean E. Johnson*

Imogene M. King*

Joan E. Lynaugh

2004 Living Legends

Florence S. Downs*

Juanita Fleming*

Edith Patton Lewis*

Sally Ann Sample

Shirley A. Smoyak*

 

2003 Living Legends

Signe S. Cooper*

Ira P. Gunn*

Ramona T. Mercer*

2002 Living Legends

Lillian Sholtis Brunner*

Rhetaugh Graves Dumas*

Virginia K. Saba*

Gladys E. Sorensen*

2001 Living Legends

Susan Gortner*

Mary Starke Harper*

Lucie Kelly*

Ruth Lubic

Florence Wald*

2000 Living Legends

Geraldene Felton

Jeanne Benoliel*

Shirley Chater

Thelma Schorr

 1999 Living Legends

Grayce Sills*

Margretta Madden Styles*

Loretta Ford

Connie Holleran

 1998 Living Legends

Vernice Ferguson*

Claire Fagin*

Madeline Leininger*

1997 Living Legends 

Mabel Wandelt*

Mary Kelly Mullane*

Jo Eleanor Elliott*

Doris Schwartz*

Mary Woody*

Anne Zimmerman*

1996 Living Legends

Clifford Jordan*

Mary V. Neal*

Dorothy M. Smith*

1995 Living Legends

Luther Christman*

Rheba de Tornyay*

Virginia Ohlson*

Rozella Scholtfeldt*

1994 Living Legends

Faye Abdellah*

Myrtle Aydelotte*

Mary Elizabeth Carnegie*

Ildaura Murrillo-Rohde*

Hildegard Peplau*

Jessie Scott*

Harriet Werley*

 

*Deceased

Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate. If there is an error we apologize. We ask that you contact the Academy with any updates or revisions.

Living Legends Selection Process

Each year, the Academy has a call for Living Legend nominations. The 2024 nomination cycle has closed.

  • A Living Legend must be a Fellow in good standing and a member of the Academy for at least 15 years.
  • They must be sponsored by three (3) Regular or Emeritus Fellows in good standing.
  • A sponsor may only nominate ONE applicant as a Living Legend per year.
  • Academy Board Members, Living Legend Task Force members, and Honorary Fellows are not eligible to serve as sponsors.
  • The nominee must consent to be nominated.
  • Nominations should address the following:
    • Describe the extraordinary and sustained contribution of the nominee as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history;
    • Share examples of how the nominee or nominee's work will have a positive, enduring impact on improving health policy, promoting social justice, and/or advancing health equity through their body of work to champion nursing and health care.
  • Completed nomination form.
  • Three (3) support letters, one from each sponsor (co-signatory is not permitted), addressing the criteria for the Living Legend nominee, must be included from each of the three sponsors in good standing.
  • A condensed biosketch or CV (may not to exceed five pages) of the nominee should be uploaded via the online submission form.
  • A $475 nomination fee is required. (The Academy can only process the Living Legends Nomination fee payment from one sponsor. An invoice will be emailed to the sponsor indicated in the "Bill to" field on the submission form. Payments by check must be postmarked by the nomination due date.)

Please note, addendums, attachments, or additional materials are not permitted and will not be accepted or reviewed if submitted. Only the nomination form, three (3) support letters (not to exceed 3 pages per support letter), and a condensed biosketch or CV (not to exceed five pages).

Each nominee will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated sustained contribution of the nominee as an exemplar and changemaker in nursing history;
  • The positive, enduring impact of their previously described body of work on improving health policy, promoting social justice, and/or advancing health equity to champion nursing and health care.

Please note, Living Legend nominees who were not selected in prior years may be nominated again for consideration.

  • Selected honorees agree to provide a biographical statement (500 words) and high-resolution electronic photo for inclusion in the Living Legends ceremony and program.
  • Honorees will receive complimentary registration for the annual policy conference at which they are being recognized.
  • Honorees will be introduced at the Living Legends ceremony, tentatively scheduled for November 1, 2024.*
  • Honorees will be presented with a recognition gift from the Academy.
  • Honorees will no longer be required to pay annual dues and receive lifetime benefits of Fellowship.
  • They will be designated as "Living Legend" status.
  • Sponsors of selected honorees agree to participate in the Academy's policy conference and recognition events for the Living Legends, which may include an interview to highlight the honoree’s accomplishments.

*Policy Conference Format
The Academy will host an in-person conference in Washington, DC on October 31 - November 2, 2024 at the Marriott Marquis hotel.

Contact Claire Holland, Member Engagement Manager, at cholland@aannet.org