Nurses Step Forward on the Front Lines of U.S. History
As the United States marks 250 years of progress, innovation, and service this year, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) stands as a powerful example of how one institution has helped shape the health and well-being of generations of Americans.
Founded in 1889, UMSON emerged during a period of dramatic transformation in American health care. Hospitals were becoming centers of scientific medicine, and nursing was evolving from informal caregiving into a respected profession grounded in education, clinical expertise, and public service. At the center of the school’s founding was a remarkable woman whose influence connected Baltimore directly to the origins of modern nursing.
Louisa Parsons, UMSON’s first superintendent, trained under Florence Nightingale and brought Nightingale’s revolutionary vision of professional nursing education to Maryland. Parsons thought nurses should be highly educated, disciplined professionals capable of improving both individual patient outcomes and the health of entire communities. Her leadership helped establish UMSON as one of the nation’s oldest nursing schools and laid the foundation for generations of nurses who would serve on the front lines during America’s greatest challenges.
Over the next century and continuing today, UMSON graduates have answered the nation’s call in times of war, public health emergencies, and periods of profound social change. Nurses educated at the University of Maryland have cared for soldiers during military conflicts, supported communities through epidemics, and helped build the modern health care system Americans rely on. Their work reflects a broader truth about nursing in America: Nurses are often the first to respond, the last to leave, and the professionals who remain closest to patients and families during life’s most vulnerable moments.
Expanding Roles
As the nation grew, so did the role of nurses. UMSON became a leader in expanding opportunities for advanced nursing practice, helping prepare nurse practitioners, clinical leaders, educators, and researchers who would transform access to care. Today, as many communities face shortages of primary care providers, nurse practitioners have emerged as a critical solution. Through innovative educational programs and nationally recognized faculty, UMSON helps to prepare a workforce capable of delivering high-quality care in urban neighborhoods, rural communities, schools, clinics, and hospitals across the country.
The school’s impact extends far beyond the bedside. Faculty and alumni have advanced research that improves patient outcomes, informs health policy, strengthens public health systems, and helps address some of the nation’s most pressing health challenges. From improving maternal and infant health to advancing care for aging populations and addressing health disparities, UMSON consistently focuses on translating knowledge into meaningful action.
That commitment was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty, students, and alumni stepped forward to provide care, support vaccination efforts, educate communities, and help health systems respond to an unprecedented public health crisis. Their efforts reflected a tradition that has defined UMSON for more than 135 years: service to society through expertise, compassion, and leadership.
At the Forefront of Care
Today, UMSON continues to educate the next generation of health care leaders while remaining rooted in the values that inspired its founding. Its graduates care for patients in every corner of Maryland, throughout the nation, and around the globe. Its researchers are developing solutions to complex health challenges. Its faculty are helping shape the future of nursing education and health care delivery.
As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, UMSON’s story also is one about the nation itself — a story of innovation, resilience, service, and an unwavering commitment to improving lives.
Since 1889, School of Nursing students and graduates have cared for America in its moments of greatest need. And as the country looks toward the future, they continue to lead the way toward a healthier, stronger, and more equitable nation.