PhD, RN, FAAN , Doctoral (Alumni)
Consultant, Nursing and Health Policy and Director of the Leadership for Change Program at the International Council of Nursing
Geneva, Switzerland
Dr. Ferguson was recently appointed by Secretary Tommy Thompson to serve until 2006 on the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health. In 2001, she was appointed by the Department of Defense, United States, to participate as an expert on global health issues for the National Security Forum. Dr. Ferguson is a member of the Red Cross's International Task Force for Nursing Issues. She also serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Virginia Health Information, Inc. Moreover, she is a frequent consultant to the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Her expertise also extends to the Pan American Health Organization as a Consultant to the Chief Nurse Scientists of the World Health Organizations. In 2000, she contributed to WHO49.1 Resolution on "Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery." She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Nursing and Midwifery Development. In 1996-97, Dr. Ferguson was a White House Fellow and worked with the Honorable Secretary Donna E. Shalala at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
She is a Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academics of Practice. Dr. Ferguson speaks nationally and internationally on a variety of topics ranging from adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases prevention, to leadership development and health policy strategies, including coalition-building and effective techniques for policy development and evaluation. She has been the keynote speaker on leadership issues for the Army Nurse Corps in Europe, the U.S. Navy in San Diego, Nurses for the Veterans Administration, and the Public Health Nurse Corps. Dr. Ferguson is co-editor of the Child Health Policy Column for the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Editor for Pediatric Nursing's Research to Health Policy Column, and a member of the Editorial Board for the Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews Journal. She continues to serve as the National League of Nursing's Consultant to the National Student Nurses Association's Board of Directors. Dr. Ferguson also served on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Task Force for examining nursing's workforce issues as related to racial, ethnic, and gender diversity. Dr. Ferguson has had numerous gubernatorial appointments in Virginia.
Dr. Ferguson's outstanding career in public service demonstrates the multitude of influential policy and decision-making roles that a nurse can assume that have a direct impact on the health of children and their families at local, state, national, and international levels. Her career has been dedicated to addressing the mental and physical needs of vulnerable populations.