Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Commencement Address
Lauren R. Sorce
PhD, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, FCCM, FAAN (BSN '88, MSN '96) • Nurse Scientist and Pediatric Critical Care Leader
Lauren R. Sorce, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, FCCM, FAAN (BSN ’88, MSN ’96) is an accomplished nurse scientist, pediatric nurse practitioner, and academic leader dedicated to advancing pediatric critical care through clinical excellence, research, and education. She currently serves as a Nurse Scientist in the Department of Nursing and a Senior Scientist in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She also practices clinically as a Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, providing direct care to critically ill children and their families and guiding multidisciplinary teams in implementing evidence-based interventions.
In addition to her clinical and research leadership, Sorce holds an academic appointment as Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Critical Care) at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In this role, she contributes to research development, mentors emerging healthcare professionals, and participates in collaborative research aimed at improving pediatric critical care outcomes. Her work includes authorship on peer-reviewed publications and participation in national and international working groups shaping best practices in pediatric critical care.
Sorce is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric nursing and a passionate advocate for interprofessional collaboration, translational science, and the integration of research into bedside care. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM), honors that reflect her significant contributions to healthcare advancement. She has also been an invited speaker at international and national conferences and serves on advisory panels that influence pediatric care policy.
Sorce earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University Chicago. She received her Doctor of Philosophy from Rush University Chicago and continues to elevate the standard of pediatric nursing through her clinical, academic, and research endeavors.
