GNA Mourns the Passing of Nursing and Patient Champion Dr. Lucy Marion

April 14, 2023- It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Lucy Marion.  Dr. Marion devoted her life to the nursing profession, she was a relentless advocate and true champion for the advancement of our profession.  She was a loving and supportive mentor and friend to us all and she impacted the lives of so many.  Whether with a new student or seasoned practitioner, she always made time and put in the work for those who needed help.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, close friends and to all those struggling with this tremendous loss. 

Dr. Marion grew up in the south and middle Georgia towns of Macon, Eastman, and Scotland. After a fully engaged academic career at the University of South Carolina (USC) and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), she returned to Georgia to serve as Dean of the College of Nursing (CON) at Augusta University (AU), previously Medical College of Georgia, for 15.5 years. Upon her arrival in Georgia as Dean, she committed her energy, experiences, expertise, and caring nature into supporting society through nursing.

At Augusta University, Dr. Marion led the creations of Nurse Scientist Incubator for novice investigators, First in Georgia Doctorate of Nursing Practice and Clinical Nurse Leader Programs, a 3 year BSN program, and the first APRN nurse-managed clinic on campus. She actualized the existing nursing faculty practice plan and founded the safety-net Greater Augusta HealthCare Network to expand primary care for vulnerable people. She continued NIH-funded behavior change research to prevent diabetes among African American Church parishioners.

Dr. Marion served on the AU Health System Board and served on the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition (GNLC) steering committee, chairing the GNLC Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Task Force and the Data Advisory Committee. She served as chair of the Academic Advisory Committee on Nursing (AACON-state funded nursing education executives) and chaired the University System of Georgia Nursing Education TF that resulted in a 50% increase in RN graduates. Furthermore, Dr. Marion served as an advisor to the Georgia Health Care Workforce Board for the rural APRN Loan Repayment Program. She partnered with AU Medical Center nurse executives to advance patient care through innovative, evidence-based, inter professional, and collaborative nursing practices.

She was inducted into the Georgia Nurses Foundation’s Inaugural Georgia Nursing Hall of Fame® Cohort on February 2022. She continued to prioritize advocacy for access to quality, affordable health care for all Georgians, co-authoring the GNA Advancing Health Equity in Georgia: A Call for Health Policy Action in 2022. She will be greatly missed.