Fire and burn safety pioneer Ernest Grant ’93 MSN, ’15 Ph.D. was named a “Living Legend” of nursing.
The excellence of UNC Greensboro’s School of Nursing was on display when the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) recognized four alumni and a faculty member. In one of the standout moments of the Oct. 9 Health Policy Conference, Ernest J. Grant ’93 MSN, ’15 Ph.D., was named one of the academy’s “Living Legends.”
UNCG Nursing Dean Debra J. Barksdale emceed the “Living Legends” ceremony. Barksdale, who is also president of AAN, said “I am always honored to recognize the Academy’s Living Legends, but this year was especially meaningful because I had the opportunity to honor a true giant in our profession, Ernest Grant, Ph.D., RN, a two-time alumnus of UNCG. His work and legacy have made an enduring contribution to nursing and healthcare.”
Grant, a member of the UNCG Board of Trustees, is a pioneer in North Carolina healthcare and fire safety. After becoming one of the first African American men to graduate from Buncombe Technical Community College’s license nursing practitioner program, he began work in North Carolina Memorial Hospital’s burn center. His experiences there inspired him to continue his education to learn more about preventing the traumatic, life-altering injuries he saw each day.
His advocacy spanned meetings with state legislators as a lobbyist, the National Burn Awareness Campaign he helped develop, and the “Learn Not to Burn” program he piloted. If you were to check your water heater today, you will probably see safety messages to prevent scalding. Those labels are a result of Grant’s push to make them state law.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, Grant personally took care of many victims in New York City, for which he was named the 2002 Nurse of the Year by President George W. Bush.
The North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Education Council awarded him the B.T. Fowler Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
He was also the 36th president of the American Nurses Association, representing over 3 million nurses across the United States. His influence was extremely impactful during the COVID-19 pandemic; during this time, he was the national face and voice of the nursing profession. In 2022, Modern Healthcare named him one of the Top 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives.
Here at UNCG, he established the Ernest J. Grant Endowed Scholarship in Nursing to support aspiring nurses who hope to follow in his footsteps.
Four More Nursing Alumni, Faculty Honored by AAN
The next day at the conference, three alumni and one faculty member were inducted into the American Academy of Nursing Fellows:
Forgive Avorgbedor, Ph.D., RN is an associate professor at UNCG School of Nursing. Avorgbedor advances research in cardiometabolic health of reproductive women, pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and women with recent pregnancy complications. She explores the impact of biological, physical, environmental, and social factors on women’s reproductive health and infant health.
Jacquelyn McMillian-Bohler ’95, Ph.D., RN, is a faculty member and associate dean for Academic Innovation and Evaluation at Duke University School of Nursing. McMillian-Bohler has published extensively on faculty development and professional growth opportunities for nursing educators. She is also a member of the Midwives in Focus International team and has precepted nursing students around the world. She is a nationally recognized leader and consultant in competency-based education and was selected by the School of Nursing for this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bridgett Sellars ’95, ’09 MSN, Ph.D., RN supports nursing education at UNCG as a member of the School of Nursing Advisory Board. In 2021, she is the founder and CEO of Dr. Sellars Educate, an organization that partners with nursing programs and healthcare organizations to support continuing professional development and certification. She also developed the Certified Nurse Educator Success Framework and launched NC’s first Competency-Based Education nursing degree program.
LaDonna Thomas ’09 MSN, DNP, RN, ANP-BC is the inaugural chief nurse practitioner for the Durham VA Health Care System. There, she implemented Full Practice Authority, allowing more than 100 nursing practitioners to practice to the full extent of their education and training without physician supervision. Nurses across NC twice elected her to the State Board of Nursing, where she served as chair in 2024. She also received the VA Secretary’s Award for Nursing Excellence and was named one of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Martin W. Kane, University Communications
