Marilyn Harris is the Treasurer of the IHCNO and serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. She sponsors the annual IHCNO Marilyn D. Harris Research Grant to advance research around the world. The award supported the careers of nurse researchers for the past five years
She is a very active author, editor, mentor, and leader in numerous organizations and foundations. Recently she was recognized by the Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania on her Platinum Jubilee: Celebrating Seven Decades as a Nurse. In addition, she received the 2024 Philanthropy Day Planned Giving Legacy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Marilyn was nominated by the staff of the Abington Health Foundation (AHF) and the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia. Marilyn and her husband established the M. D. Harris Scholarship Fund in 1999 with the AHF to provide partial support for home care and hospice nurses who were pursuing higher education. In recent years, the fund supports several Jefferson College of Nursing senior students for an international Capstone project.
Marilyn began her nursing career 70 years ago, in 1954, as a student nurse at Abington Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Sixty-four years of her career were devoted to home care and hospice as a staff nurse, supervisor, and executive director for 22 years before she retired in 1999. Marilyn continues to promote and support nurses, nursing education, practice, and research. Marilyn is a lifetime member of the American Nurses Association and the PA State Nurses Association.