Just one glance at Dr. Susan Stone’s history at Frontier Nursing University is all it takes to understand why she is a member of FNU’s first Alumni Hall of Fame inductees. Her more than three-decade journey at Frontier started in 1991 when she graduated as a nurse-midwife from FNU’s first distance learning class.
She served as Dean from 2000-2014 and as President from 2001-2024, holding both positions simultaneously from 2001-2014. Today, as FNU President Emerita and FNU’s Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing, she promotes midwifery and nursing both nationally and internationally.
“Dr. Stone is a dedicated advocate for access; access to education for nurses who want to become advanced practice nurses, and access to quality healthcare for all,” said FNU graduate, Board member, and fellow FNU Alumni Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Kerri Schuiling. “Over her tenure these last two decades, she has been nationally recognized for exponentially increasing the number of 2025 FNU Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees nurse-midwives and other advanced practice professionals practicing in areas of highest need.”
Dr. Stone came to Frontier in 1991 after 10 years of working as a maternity nurse in a small rural hospital in Upstate New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Master’s in Nursing Administration from SUNY College of Technology. She served as an obstetrical supervisor at Little Falls Hospital in Little Falls, N.Y., and as the program director of the Prenatal Care Assistance Program at Bassett Health Care in Cooperstown, N.Y. After completing her Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery at Frontier, she practiced as a full-scope nurse-midwife at Bassett Healthcare for nearly a decade. She later earned a Doctor of Nursing Science from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
While practicing as a certified nursemidwife at Bassett HealthCare, Dr. Stone continued her affiliation with Frontier, serving as course faculty; regional clinical coordinator; assistant clinical director; and program director of the Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program. She
was appointed as the Nurse-Midwifery Program Director in 1996. She relocated to Kentucky in 1998 to devote her full effort to the education of advanced practice nurses and midwives at Frontier. In 2001, Dr. Stone became president of Frontier, serving as both the president and dean before relinquishing the dean duties in 2014 to focus solely on her role as president.
During Dr. Stone’s tenure as President, Frontier Nursing University transformed from a small school offering one certificate program in nurse-midwifery to one of the largest and most successful graduate schools of nursing in the United States. Under her leadership, five new advanced practice nursing programs were added, the certificate granting programs transitioned to degree granting, and the curriculum transitioned to an award-winning community-based distance-education model. This innovation allowed students to pursue their advanced degrees at Frontier while remaining in communities where they lived and worked. With students from all over the country able to attend, enrollment rose rapidly from 200 students to more than 2,700 today.
“Susan Stone has left a legacy of growth and transformation at Frontier,” said former FNU Dean of Nursing and fellow Alumni Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Joan Slager. “She has demonstrated vision and leadership that have resulted in the exponential expansion of our programs while remaining staunchly true to our mission.”
Dr. Stone’s influence extends far beyond Frontier. She is a past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) from 2019-2020, where her agenda included increasing the midwifery workforce through educational quality and capacity strategies, midwifery advocacy focusing on the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis, and growing diversity in the healthcare workforce. She was inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Medicine Class of 2018 as one of only two nurses in her class. She is a Fellow at both ACNM and the American Academy of Nursing. She was the recipient of ACNM’s Kitty Ernst Award in 1999, which recognizes “innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery practice and women’s health care.” Other honors include the 2011 American Public Health Association’s prestigious Felicia Stewart Advocacy Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy on behalf of reproductive health and rights.
Dr. Stone’s accomplishments and reputation as a leader and advocate have made her a frequently invited speaker at national conferences. Among her many engagements, she has presented at such prestigious events as Beyond Flexner (2018, Atlanta); the American College of Nurse-Midwives annual meeting (2017, Chicago, Ill.); the International Midwifery Conference in Education in Research (2012, Nottingham, England); and the International Confederation of Midwives 28th Triennial Congress (2008, Glasgow, Scotland).
“Dr. Stone is the epitome of a leader,” said FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders. “Her vision for the purpose and growth of the university is exceeded only by the passion and expertise with which she brought that vision to life. We are forever indebted to Dr. Stone for her service and to relentless commitment to the mission and values of Frontier Nursing University.”
There is little doubt of the importance of Dr. Stone’s legacy at Frontier, but none of her accomplishments matter to her more than the Stone Family Scholarship. This fund was established to commemorate the enduring love and support of her late husband, Larry Stone. Dr. Stone’s ongoing donations to the fund are a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, her children, grandchildren, and extended family.
“Being a member of the first class of inductees into the Frontier Nursing University Alumni Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” Dr. Stone said. “Graduating as part of the first class in Frontier’s distance learning program was a life-changing opportunity. It not only allowed me to achieve my dream of practicing as a nurse-midwife but also opened the door to a deeply fulfilling career—one focused on educating Frontier students and helping expand access to highquality health care across communities near and far. To be recognized for that work is truly humbling and profoundly meaningful.”
