UMSON’s Gourley Inducted as Inaugural Fellow of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON)’s Bridgitte Gourley, DNP ’08, FNP-BC, FACU, associate professor; director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty; and co-director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Center for Interprofessional Education, has been inducted as an inaugural fellow of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU).

The ACU is a multidisciplinary organization that strives to establish a robust and diverse workforce to help transform communities to achieve health equity for all. Its mission is to lead advocacy, clinical, operational, and equity excellence to develop and support clinicians and the health care workforce caring for America’s underserved communities.

“What I really love about ACU is its enduring focus on health care equity and justice for patients who have been marginalized and its support of the team of professionals that make the care happen every day in communities of need,” Gourley said. “As clinicians we can sometimes forget that it’s not just about what happens in the exam room; there are so many people who help make that visit possible.”

The ACU Fellowship was established  to honor individuals who specialize in community-based care for underserved populations. It recognizes those who demonstrate dedication to addressing barriers to health care access, a deep understanding of systemic inequities, and active engagement with the ACU’s mission and community.

Gourley’s dedication to caring for underserved populations began over two decades ago when she became a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholar. The NHSC, part of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, supports training for primary health care providers through scholarships and loan repayment programs. NHSC Scholars receive support for tuition, fees, and stipends to cover educational and living expenses in exchange for a commitment to providing primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Gourley fulfilled her service obligation in her role as an FNP clinical faculty member on UMSON’s Governor’s Wellmobile in partnership with Choptank Community Health System and continued her work with underserved populations through various UMSON professional service agreements through 2013.

Since 2013, Gourley has provided care at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC)/Luminis Health Community Clinics, serving uninsured and underserved patients, including at Arundel Lodge, a psychiatric rehabilitation program serving individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Gourley provides primary care as part of an interprofessional team of psychiatric providers, counselors, and nurses in a Behavioral Health Home Model. 

In addition to her work with AAMC Community Clinics, Gourley has been conducting physical exams and developmental screenings with nurse practitioner students through a grant-funded initiative at Head Start centers statewide.

ACU was founded by several NHSC Scholar alumni to provide resources, support, and advocacy for the underserved and the clinicians and staff in health centers. ACU Fellows are selected based on their commitment to caring for marginalized populations, their insight into the social and systemic factors that disrupt health care access, and their active contributions to ACU’s initiatives. 

Gourley joined UMSON in 2000 as a clinical instructor after earning a Master of Science in Nursing with an FNP specialization from the Johns Hopkins University. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Community Health from Johns Hopkins. In 2006, she became a member of the first class of the newly launched DNP program at UMSON, and upon completion of her doctoral degree in 2008, she was promoted to assistant professor. A year later, she began serving as the FNP specialty director.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.