Death of Dr. Thelma Williams, Community Nursing for the Underserved

Dr. Thelma Williams, emeritus assistant professor of nursing, died September 8 at the age of 64. Dr. Williams, who joined the nursing faculty in 1966 as an instructor and became an assistant professor in 1972, was regarded by the School as a model of community health nursing who worked to promote health care for minorities and underserved populations.

Dr. Williams received her basic nursing education at Harlem Hospital in New York and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in nursing from St. John's University in Brooklyn, a master's of science degree in nursing from Penn, and a doctorate in Urban Education from Temple. She practiced community health nursing in a variety of settings including the New York Department of Health and the Community Nursing Service of Philadelphia.

At Penn Nursing Dr. Williams is remembered as an innovative teacher and expert clinician. A hallmark of her career was the establishment of a public health clinical experience for undergraduate nursing students in conjunction with the United States Public Health Services Indian Medical Center in Tuba City, Arizona. In 1995, Dr. Williams was recognized at the 1995 Black Health Care Conference by the School of Nursing for her community efforts in promoting health care for African American and Native Americans.

There are no known survivors.

Almanac

Volume 43 Number 6
October 1, 1996

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