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Living Legends
“Since its inception in 1973, the
American Academy of Nursing’s mission
has been to provide the nursing profession
with visionary leadership, facilitate
the contribution of nursing leaders,
advance scientific knowledge, and influence
the development of health care
policies and practices. The designation
of ’Living Legend’ is bestowed upon individuals
who have continued to make
contributions of great distinction to the
nursing profession, long after initial
induction into the Academy.”
So writes the Academy of Dr. Lillian
Brunner, HON ’85, an internationally
acclaimed nurse, honored as a “Living
Legend” in 2002.
“Lillian Sholtis Brunner is a nurse with a
lifetime of solid academic and clinical
contributions. Her internationally popular
textbook, Brunner’s Textbook of Medical
and Surgical Nursing, published in a
dozen languages, made her the best
selling author in Lippincott’s long history,”
said the Academy in announcing her
honor. Dr. Brunner’s writings have long
been considered influential works in
nursing, and the foundation for today’s
expanding field of acute care and critical
care nursing.
Under her aegis, the University of
Pennsylvania School of Nursing has
opened the Mathias J. Brunner
Instructional Technology Center one of the
most advanced teaching laboratories in
the nation, using state-of-the-art technology
and simulation mannequins to teach
students the latest advances in nursing
care. The Center is named after her late
husband, an engineer. In addition, Dr.
Norma Lang holds the Lillian S. Brunner
Medical Surgical Nursing professorship.
Dr. Brunner joins Dean Emeritus Claire
Fagin, PhD, FAAN, RN and Vernice
Ferguson, MS, FAAN, FRCN, RN, as the
most recent “Living Legends” from the
University of Pennsylvania School of
Nursing. Other “legends” include Clifford
Jordan, EdD, FAAN, RN, a Professor of
Nursing from 1972 to 1984, Jessie Scott,
DSC, MS, FAAN, RN, an emeritus member
of Penn’s Board of Overseers which she
first joined in 1979, a 1943 graduate of
the School of Education and a 1983 recipient
of an honorary degree from the
University, Connie Holleran, MSN, FAAN,
RN, an Emeritus Senior Fellow, and Penn
alumna, Shirley Chater, PhD, FAAN, RN.
Dr. Fagin is the Leadership Professor
Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of the
University of Pennsylvania School of
Nursing, and is a Consultant in
Organizational Leadership. She currently
serves as program director of the
Building Academic Geriatric Nursing
Capacity Program of The John A.
Hartford Foundation. Serving one year
from 1993 to 1994 as the Interim
President of the University of
Pennsylvania, Dr. Fagin was the first
woman to serve as Chief Executive
Officer of the University and the first
woman to head any Ivy League
University.
Vernice D. Ferguson held the Fagin
Family Chair in Cultural Diversity at
Penn Nursing from 1993 to 1997.
Before coming to Penn, Ms. Ferguson
pursued a tireless career of public service,
culminating in the position of
Assistant Chief Medical Director for
Nursing Programs and Director of
Nursing Service of the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs, which she held from
1980-1992. She has held leadership
positions in numerous nursing service
organizations, including the American
Academy of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau
International, and the International
Society of Nurses in Cancer Care. Her
honors and awards are numerous,
including eight honorary doctorate
degrees, the coveted R. Louise
McManus Medal for Distinguished
Service to Nursing, the National League
for Nursing’s Jean MacVicar Outstanding
Nurse Executive Award, and the
American Nurses Association’s prestigious
Mary Mahoney Award besides
being designated as a “Living Legend”
by the American Academy of Nursing.
She is currently a member of the School
of Nursing’s Board of Overseers.
From left: Dr. Lang, holder of the Brunner Chair, “Living Legends” Drs. Brunner and Fagin, and Dean
Meleis. Drs. Fagin, Lang, and Meleis are former and current deans of Penn’s School of Nursing.
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