School of Nursing

Male Nurses in History

Camillus de Lellis, St.

Founded a religious order devoted to healing the sick called the Brothers Hospitallars; patron saint of nurses and hospitals; pioneered special nursing units to help wounded soldiers that included training all nurs

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Christman, Luther

Became the first male Dean of a US School of Nursing when he accepted the position at Vanderbilt University in 1967; helped establish the National Male Nurse Association in 1974 (in 1981, it became the American Assembly for Men in Nursing)

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Derham, James

The first black person to open a medical practice in the US; trained and worked as a nurse while enslaved

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Gonzalez, Hector Hugo

Attended SAC and the Robert B. Green Hospital SON; first Hispanic and male President of the of the ANA; first Mexican-American RN to earn a doctorate in the US; founding member of NAHN

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Hogan, Joe

Sued and won the right for men to attend a women’s only nursing program in Mississippi

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Lyon, Edward T.

First male nurse commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps

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  • “The evolution of the male Army Nurse Corps Officers,” from the US Army Medical Department Office of Medical History

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Tranbarger, Russell

Wrote the book Men in Nursing and was an advocate for men in nursing throughout his career; first recipient of Luther Christman Award from the ANA

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