Martha Raile Alligood

Martha Raile Alligood, RN, PhD, ANEF Dr. Alligood is Professor Emeritus, College of Nursing, East Carolina University. She holds a diploma in nursing from Good Samaritan School of Nursing, bachelor of sacred literature (BSL) from Johnson University, BSN from University of Virginia, MS with a major in nursing from The Ohio State University, and PhD in nursing science from New York University. Her practice has included nursing of adults in orthopedics, tropical diseases, mental health and older adults. She discovered her love of teaching nursing on the mission field as Director of the School of Nursing at Mashoko Christian Hospital in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) Africa, and completed her nursing education for a career as a nurse educator. Her research includes theory development and testing in adults, nursing empathy, and the art of nursing. She has numerous presentations,publications and honors. She is best known for expertise in nursing curricula, nursing theory and knowledge development having taught doctoral (PhD) students and directed dissertations for over 20 years. Prior to Marriner Tomey's retirement she co-authored/edited the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th editions of Nursing Theorists and Their Work and 1st and 2nd edition of Nursing Theory: Utilization & Application with her. Alligood completed subsequent editions: the 7th edition of Nursing Theorists and their Work in 2010, the 8th edition in 2014, the 9th edition in 2018 and the 10th edition is in press for a fall 2021 release of the 2022 edition; she produced the 4th and 5th editions of Nursing Theory: Utilization & Application in 2010 and 2014. Mosby-Elsevier is her publisher. The books have been published in many languages and are used by nurses around the world. In 2012, Dr. Alligood participated in a discussion of nursing theory in education and practice between ECU nursing faculty and nursing faculty in Nicaragua through web media at East Carolina University, College of Nursing, a partner with the University of Nicaragua where nursing faculty use the Spanish translation of Nursing Theorists and Their Work. Dr. Alligood has received numerous honors and awards in her career: Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) Distinguished Researcher award in 2006, Academy of Nursing Education fellow in 2007, ECU Woman of Distinction in 2008, Delta Epsilon Chi in 2009, and became a member of the Board of Trustees at Johnson University in 2010. She was contributing editor for the Theoretical Concerns column in Nursing Science Quarterly, Vol. 24, Sage Publication in 2012. In consultation with Fitne, Inc. in Athens, Ohio, Dr. Alligood interviewed 6 noted theorists for Vol. 2 of The Nurse Theorists: Portraits of Excellence in 2008 and 6 additional theorists for Vol. 3 in 2016. The Nursing Theory Portraits of Excellence DVD/videos are available at fitne.net in Athens, Ohio. She has served as a consultant to clinical agencies and colleges of nursing on curricula, nursing knowledge development and theory based practice. Guest speaker for Sigma Theta Tau inductions, nursing pinning ceremonies and numerous nursing theory conferences. Dr. Alligood favors this quote: "Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind" (K. Patricia Cross, 1981, p. 110).