Public Biography
Harriet H. Werley practiced as a nurse informatician before informatics was named and acknowledged as a field in nursing (Ozbolt, 2003). Dr. Werley is recognized as a pioneer of nursing informatics and it is in this spirit that we review and honor the highlights of her career.
Werley was born in 1914 in Bern County, Pennsylvania, where her childhood was influenced by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Werley’s father died at an early age, leaving the family to struggle financially. These challenges, however, did not prevent Werley from successfully graduating from high school and saving enough money to attend the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. In 1941, she received a diploma in nursing and joined the United States Army.
Werley was commissioned as an officer in the nursing corps and served in the Mediterranean Theater. In 1946 during a break in service, she completed a Bachelor in Nursing degree at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1948, she returned to military service. Under the Army’s sponsorship, she completed her Master’s degree in Nursing Administration in 1951 at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York.
A career guidance program for Army Nurse Corps officers was established in the Office of the Surgeon General in June 1952. Captain Harriet H. Werley was assigned as the first career guidance counselor (Feller & Cox, 2016).
Werley was born in 1914 in Bern County, Pennsylvania, where her childhood was influenced by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Werley’s father died at an early age, leaving the family to struggle financially. These challenges, however, did not prevent Werley from successfully graduating from high school and saving enough money to attend the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. In 1941, she received a diploma in nursing and joined the United States Army.
Werley was commissioned as an officer in the nursing corps and served in the Mediterranean Theater. In 1946 during a break in service, she completed a Bachelor in Nursing degree at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1948, she returned to military service. Under the Army’s sponsorship, she completed her Master’s degree in Nursing Administration in 1951 at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York.
A career guidance program for Army Nurse Corps officers was established in the Office of the Surgeon General in June 1952. Captain Harriet H. Werley was assigned as the first career guidance counselor (Feller & Cox, 2016).
Historic ACMI Biography
Harriet H. Werley practiced as a nurse informatician before informatics was named and acknowledged as a field in nursing (Ozbolt, 2003). Dr. Werley is recognized as a pioneer of nursing informatics and it is in this spirit that we review and honor the highlights of her career.
Werley was born in 1914 in Bern County, Pennsylvania, where her childhood was influenced by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Werley’s father died at an early age, leaving the family to struggle financially. These challenges, however, did not prevent Werley from successfully graduating from high school and saving enough money to attend the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. In 1941, she received a diploma in nursing and joined the United States Army.
Werley was commissioned as an officer in the nursing corps and served in the Mediterranean Theater. In 1946 during a break in service, she completed a Bachelor in Nursing degree at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1948, she returned to military service. Under the Army’s sponsorship, she completed her Master’s degree in Nursing Administration in 1951 at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York.
A career guidance program for Army Nurse Corps officers was established in the Office of the Surgeon General in June 1952. Captain Harriet H. Werley was assigned as the first career guidance counselor (Feller & Cox, 2016).
Werley was born in 1914 in Bern County, Pennsylvania, where her childhood was influenced by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Werley’s father died at an early age, leaving the family to struggle financially. These challenges, however, did not prevent Werley from successfully graduating from high school and saving enough money to attend the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. In 1941, she received a diploma in nursing and joined the United States Army.
Werley was commissioned as an officer in the nursing corps and served in the Mediterranean Theater. In 1946 during a break in service, she completed a Bachelor in Nursing degree at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1948, she returned to military service. Under the Army’s sponsorship, she completed her Master’s degree in Nursing Administration in 1951 at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York.
A career guidance program for Army Nurse Corps officers was established in the Office of the Surgeon General in June 1952. Captain Harriet H. Werley was assigned as the first career guidance counselor (Feller & Cox, 2016).
Affiliations
The American College of Medical Informatics
ACMI is a college of elected Fellows from the U.S. and abroad who have made significant and sustained contributions to the field of medical informatics. It is the central body for a community of scholars and practitioners who are committed to advancing the informatics field.
Year Elected
1991