Global Voice, Local Roots: Dr. Michelle Acorn’s Journey from Fleming to International Leadership
Dr. Michelle Acorn, a proud Fleming College Nursing alumna, has forged an extraordinary path in healthcare leadership. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO), Dr. Acorn is a steadfast advocate for nurse practitioners, working to strengthen their role in Ontario’s healthcare system.
Before stepping into her current role, Dr. Acorn made history as the inaugural Chief Nurse of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). In this global leadership position, she supported 138 national nursing associations, representing nearly 28 million nurses worldwide. Her work at ICN focused on advancing global health policies, strengthening nursing leadership, and ensuring equitable, high-quality care.
Reflecting on her time at Fleming, nearly 35 years ago, Dr. Acorn shares:
“Fleming prepared me clinically to optimize my technical competence and confidence to deliver safe high-quality care. It also taught me that nursing’s impact is not confined by geography, sectors, or practice—it extends from local communities to the global stage.”
Dr. Acorn’s distinguished career includes serving as Ontario’s Provincial Chief Nurse Officer and earning Fellow designations from the American Academy of Nursing, the Canadian Academy of Nursing, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the Queen’s Nursing Institute in England. Dr. Acorn was recently named one of the top 20 visionary Canadian CEOs, a testament to her leadership and contributions to health policy, workforce development, and nursing education. Despite her many accolades, Dr. Acorn remains dedicated to clinical practice and teaching.
As CEO of NPAO, she represents more than 5,400 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) across Ontario—nearly half of all NPs in Canada —advocating for improved access to quality healthcare, greater integration of NPs across the system, and leveraging professional expertise to drive leadership solutions.
“The more I learn, the more opportunities I uncover to influence education, care, and leadership,” she says. “It’s less about me and more about the greater good— health for all.”
Fleming students, alumni, faculty, and staff are making an impact—on campus, in their communities, and beyond.
Discover their achievements and see how the Fleming experience leads to success. Have a success story you want to share? Have an inspiring journey, a unique campus experience, or a success story to share? Submit your blog idea to the Fleming Connect team for your chance to showcase your story to the entire Fleming community.