February 15: Ethel Robertson, EdD

Dr. Ethel Robertson is a Nurse Practitioner who strives to heal her community by teaching, service and empowering those she serves with her skills. At age seven, she realized that she wanted to help others. She married Mulloy Robertson, her high school sweetheart of 47 years. To their union, they have three children Elaina, Mulloy III and Jeremiah.

After Ethel graduated high school, she moved to Blytheville, Arkansas where her husband was stationed in the military. While there, she attended Mississippi County Community College. While getting her education there, she became a leader in her community by representing the school as the first Black woman "Mrs. MCCC." When the family relocated back to Nashville, TN, she enrolled in Tennessee State University and was the first in her immediate family to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She later went to Fisk University and obtained a Master of Social Gerontology. She was the first African-American to receive a Master's of Science in Nursing from Belmont University. She earned her Doctorate of Higher Education from Tennessee State University. 

She began her nursing career at West Side Hospital in the 1980’s. Since that time, she has taught at Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University and Meharry Medical College. She served as an administrator at David Jones Assisted Living Facility. She also worked at Bordeaux Long Term and Rehabilitation Center where she served a large population of underserved and vulnerable people who would have not done well living in their own homes.

In 2009, Ethel, Carlotta Crawford and another colleague decided there was a need to better serve and empower the community and together they established Harmony Family Health Care. Through Harmony, Ethel has been able to be a blessing to her community by providing healthcare, teaching patients how to have better health, teaching CPR classes, making health visits to elderly and disabled, participating in multiple health fairs, and providing healthcare services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, Ethel volunteers with the non-profit organization, Healing Minds and Souls, which serves the North Nashville Community. She assists with teaching classes on faith and finance. She works with Pastor Ella Clay to empower and serve.