Born to Serve: Jamaican Shirley Nathan-Pulliam dedicates life to nursing field in USA

After recurring complications from rheumatic fever, Nathan-Pulliam was hospitalized for three months at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). During her treatment, she recalled that the nurses there took such good care of her that she promised herself that when she got older, she would become a nurse.

After overcoming her illness, and prior to migrating to England, Nathan-Pulliam gained valuable work experience, from her relatives who were in the medical profession in Montego Bay. “I did a physician’s assistant programme that taught me a lot about healthcare,” she said in an interview with Old Harbour News.

The aspiring nurse who made regular visits to her aunt Clara Christian in Old Harbour during her teenage years, then left Jamaica, and received her professional training and certification in England.

“There were 13 of us that left on that programme. Initially adapting to a new country and culture was hard for us. But gradually we made friends, and it became easier for us. Lucky for us, there were older ladies in the group that were supportive of us especially with the preparation of our meals,” Nathan-Pulliam recalled about a journey that would have a defining impact on her life forever.

A Trelawny native, Nathan-Pulliam worked in psychiatry for three years and during that time, she got married. From this union she migrated to the United States, and had to once again adjust herself to a different medical system.

“I had to do everything over and I went back to school. At the time they were not inclusive to blacks in Maryland, and it was difficult, but I got through it,” she said.

Nathan-Pulliam holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Baltimore City Community College, a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Maryland, and a Masters in Administrative Science from The Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business School.

During her nursing career, she worked for many years as a quality assurance coordinator, head nurse, and team leader at hospitals in Baltimore. She also ventured into different business opportunities and currently owns and operates two health care companies. 

While completing her studies at The John Hopkins University, Nathan-Pulliam began her political journey, rising to the rank of senator in the state of Maryland. Senator Nathan-Pulliam served two terms in the Maryland State Senate representing District 44.

She also previously represented District 10 as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994-2014 and holds the unbeatable distinction as the first Caribbean-born person and first African Caribbean American Registered Nurse elected to the Maryland General Assembly.

“When I was around nine or ten my neighbours said I was one of the most political little girls they had ever met. My father always hired and fired the political leaders at the dining room table, so I learnt a lot from him,” Nathan-Pulliam said.

During her political career, she was a leading advocate for improved health care and health disparities reduction in Maryland and nationwide. Senator Nathan-Pulliam has sponsored hundreds of bills, including legislation creating the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities within the Department of Health.

At 81 years old, she currently serves on several committees, including the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee, the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, and the Women Legislators of Maryland.

Among her numerous awards and honors she was named a visionary pioneer by the University of Maryland school of nursing and had a scholarship endowment named after her.  The Shirley Nathan-Pulliam Health Equity Lecture Series was created by the University of Maryland School of Public Health Center for Health Equity and the Maryland Department of Health.

Additionally, Senator Nathan-Pulliam has been named one of Maryland's Top 100 Woman by The Daily Record three times, which led to her induction into the Circle of Excellence.

“My mentor also encouraged me to become active in politics. He saw where I had the propensity to be successful, while making changes to the legislature that would benefit the minority,” Nathan-Pulliam said.

She is also a founder and co-founder of many organizations including Community College of Baltimore City Nurses Alumni, Maryland Black Congress on Health, Law, and Economics, the Jamaican Association of Maryland, and the Caribbean American Intercultural Organization, (CAIO), of which she is a lifetime member.

Senator Nathan-Pulliam was recently inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and in February 2020, she was honored by Planned Parenthood for her extensive and unparalled work across the board in Health, Health Disparities, and Equity.

“I recently retired from the Senate in December 2019 because of a medical issue. My term would not have ended until another three years, but it was too risky to continue after surgery. However, I will continue to serve and advocate for changes that will benefit the community,” Nathan-Pulliam said.