A woman of conviction: Inge Corless

Massachusetts General Hospital's Institute of Health Professions

Inge Corless, PhD, is the ultimate teacher, nurse, and mentor. Having first met Dr. Corless during my graduate program to become an Adult Nurse Practitioner in 1996 at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, I have been fortunate to have been mentored by her for the last 11 years. She encouraged me to enter the new Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program, which I will complete in August. An expert in palliative/ hospice care as well as HIV/AIDS, she has influenced hundreds of nurses to be compassionate and excellent caregivers.

Leading through example, Dr. Corless is a world renowned researcher. Her work in South Africa on adherence in HIV/AIDS treatment and care has given a voice to many who have not been heard. One of the many traits that makes Dr. Corless an excellent teacher is her ability to motivate her students to work toward and to achieve their academic and professional goals in a safe and supportive environment. She is sought after as an advisor, project/thesis mentor, and teacher; in her gentle and nurturing manner she enables her students to fulfill their potential and exceed their own expectations. Although Dr. Corless has served as the national president of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, is an international expert in hospice/palliative care, and has produced hundreds of publications, she is a teacher at heart and her priority is her students. Because of Dr. Corless, I am a compassionate nurse, carrying her legacy to advocate for patients worldwide.

-Nominated by Sheila Davis