Celebrating the Heart of Healthcare: National Nurses Week at Morehouse School of Medicine
As we celebrate National Nurses Week, Morehouse School of Medicine proudly joins the nation in honoring the relentless dedication, wisdom and compassion of nurses; the true heart of healthcare. This year holds special significance as MSM launches its groundbreaking Division of Graduate Education in Nursing. This visionary initiative seeks to address some of the nation’s most urgent health disparities by preparing a new generation of nurse midwives, women’s health nurse practitioners and family nurse practitioners to lead with purpose and care in underserved communities.
Nurses are not just clinicians; they are the moral compass and connective tissue of our healthcare system. At MSM, we recognize that advancing healthcare access optimization requires more than clinical excellence; it requires deep cultural humility, fierce advocacy and a commitment to health justice. Our programs are rooted in community engagement and built upon the belief that nursing must reflect the communities it serves. With training grounded in person-centered, culturally competent care, our graduates are uniquely equipped to transform outcomes in neighborhoods too often overlooked.
At the core of our curriculum lies “The Morehouse Model,” inspired by the enduring legacy of pioneering nurse leader Dr. Mary Langley. This model embodies a powerful call to action to develop nurses who not only heal but lead, who not only serve but mobilize, who close the health equity gap for people of color through education, empathy and unwavering accountability to the communities they represent.
Guiding this mission is Dr. Renee McLeod-Sordjan, the inaugural Dean of Graduate Education in Nursing. With over 38 years of clinical leadership, board certifications in family, palliative and acute care, and recognition as a certified healthcare clinical ethicist, Dr. McLeod-Sordjan brings both gravitas and grace to her role. Her leadership is instrumental in impacting health justice and ensuring comprehensive care for underserved communities, aligning with MSM's focus on interprofessional education excellence.
Dr. McLeod’s national vision for nursing reimagines care that is ethically grounded and socially responsive, especially in maternal and family health. Under her leadership, MSM is redefining what it means to be a nurse: as a healer, a health justice advocate, a transformative advocate and a change agent.
MSM's commitment to maternal and child health is further exemplified through its Maternal Child Health (MCH) Division, which focuses on improving the lives of underserved women and children. The division provides an academic environment that supports a multi-perspective approach and addresses the needs of minority and underserved patients. By integrating this focus into the nursing curriculum, MSM ensures that its graduates are well-equipped to deliver high-quality, equitable care.
Morehouse School of Medicine is committed to nurturing nurse leaders who will shape the future of healthcare across the nation. From Atlanta to Appalachia, from rural clinics to urban birthing centers, our graduates will carry forward the MSM mission; to lead in the creation and advancement of health equity; through every heartbeat, every bedside and every community they touch.
Happy Nurses Week!