A powerful reflection on answering life's calling, releasing fear, and stepping into purpose. Discover how one nursing leader founded Nyame Dua Foundation and invites women to embrace their own transformative journeys.
Her Story
About Carmen
Carmen Ward-Sullivan, PhD, RN, is an executive nurse leader and Associate Dean for Academic Programs at Samuel Merritt University in San Leandro, California. With more than four decades of experience in nursing, she began her career in intensive care and coronary care units, specializing in cardiac and open-heart surgical care. Her early clinical work in high-acuity settings shaped a deep interest in cardiovascular health, particularly the heart’s role in patient outcomes and recovery. She later earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco, where her research focused on symptom science, initially exploring cardiac symptoms in women and later transitioning to breast cancer symptom clusters in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Her scholarly contributions include publications and presentations at national and international conferences, as well as recognition as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Symptom Science Training Fellow. In academia, she has served as clinical faculty, program director, and associate dean, leading initiatives in curriculum development, competency-based education, and nursing accreditation processes. Beyond academia, Dr. Ward-Sullivan is a global health advocate and philanthropist whose work spans community development in the United States and abroad. She led the establishment of a 16-bed maternity clinic in rural Ghana, addressing critical maternal health disparities across 11 communities and improving access to care for pregnant women and families. Her contributions to global health equity and nursing leadership have been recognized through awards and leadership appointments, including her role as an enstooled Queen Mother of Development located in the New Sawereso-Seinnuah Stool Lands, Ahafo Region, Ghana. Her enstooled name is HRH Nana Dr. Amma Maanu, Nkosuohemaa of New Sawereso-Seinnuah Stool Lands. She is also the founder of the NYAME DUA Foundation, Incorporated, which supports her ongoing philanthropic, educational, and global health initiatives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Carmen
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to my strong family foundation and the values that were instilled in me from an early age. My parents were very intentional about guiding us toward careers that would sustain us throughout life and keep us happy. They didn't choose for us, but they made it a priority to expose us to different possibilities and help us think critically about our future. A big part of that guidance was rooted in our Christian faith, helping us understand who God has created us to be and what our contribution to society might look like. Rather than focusing on quick decisions or external pressures, they encouraged us to really think about our calling. That foundation has stayed with me and shaped how I approach my own path, how I make decisions, and how I understand success, not just as achievement, but as alignment with purpose and service.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to intentionally surround themselves with individuals who are already doing the work they aspire to do. That is where real learning and growth happen, and where they can begin to meaningfully map their own journey. Learn from those in the field, both women and men in nursing, by observing their paths and asking thoughtful, even difficult questions: What are the rewards? What are the challenges? What brings fulfillment, and what feels most difficult? At the same time, as they take in these perspectives and begin to shape their own direction, it is essential to recognize that their path is uniquely their own. There is no need to replicate someone else's journey. Take what you learn and map out your own direction with clarity, with confidence, and with authenticity, so that you know it belongs to you. Most importantly, be proud of who you are, your voice, your perspective, and the values that you hold and bring to the spaces that you enter. It's needed to make nursing as holistic as it is today. Never dilute yourself to gain acceptance in any space that you enter.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
At the core of my work and personal life is my strong commitment to authenticity. I never want to lose sight of who I am, the values I hold, and the gifts that I bring to this world. I truly believe that everyone has this unique light, and it's our responsibility to allow our light to shine in every space, every place, every room that we enter. I want to make sure that we never lower the value that we hold for ourselves or lower that standard to fit into someone else's comfort level. There is a place and space for everyone's unique gifts. I've been in situations sometimes where I feel like I have to lower my standard of myself so that I don't make someone else feel uncomfortable. I want to be authentic with myself, and I tell my daughters this as well: don't ever lower your standard that you have for yourself. Rest is also incredibly important to me, rest, restoration, and reflection. I have learned that if I keep my mind busy, I really lose myself. That rest, restoration, and reflection allows me to replenish what I've poured out and reflect on whether my work was helpful to someone else at the same time beneficial to me. Any work that I choose to engage in, whether community service or philanthropic work, I want to make sure that I'm intentional about that work, that it's not just engaging in work to gain attention. In my work in the New Sawereso-Seinnuah Stool Lands located in the Ahafo Region of the Republic of Ghana, the Divisional Chief, HRH Nana Agyemang Duah Katakyie, III wanted to name the maternity clinic after me, I encouraged him to name it after someone that held meaning to their community instead, because it's the first and it's historic, and I thought that would hold stronger value for the community in which it is serving. He listened reluctantly, but I was surprised to find my name above one of the rooms located inside the clinic. I now understand the desire to associate my name with the clinic because of their culture of honoring people that have given so much to them. I am humble and grateful for this recognition.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Carmen
Answering the Quiet Call: A Woman’s Journey to Purpose on the Global Stage
Why Not You? A Nurse Leader's Journey to Global Purpose and Impact
There comes a moment in life when the question is no longer, “Am I ready?” but rather, “Why not me?”
For me, that moment arrived in 2023.
With more than 40 years of experience in nursing, leadership, and service—including my work as a nurse, nurse scientist, educator, and elected public servant—I felt a deeper calling. It was not a call rooted in comfort or familiarity. It was a spiritual call to step onto the global stage and serve in ways I had never fully imagined.
And I said yes.
Releasing Fear and Stepping Forward
Like many women, I had questions:
Where do I begin?
Who are my contacts?
Is this truly my strength?
How do I sustain work that is outside my formal expertise?
These are real questions—and they can be paralyzing if we allow them to be.
But I learned something powerful:
You do not need to have every answer before you begin.
Purpose is not revealed all at once—it unfolds through action.
When I released fear, I discovered that the path meets you as you walk it. The right people appear. The right knowledge comes. The right opportunities align.
Finding Time When There Is None
As a nursing leader with a full and demanding career, one might ask, “How did you find the time?”
The answer is simple:
I made the time.
Late evenings.
Weekends.
Quiet moments when others were resting.
I paced myself with intention and grace, understanding that meaningful work does not require burnout—it requires commitment and rhythm.
Purpose does not compete with your life; it integrates into it.
The Power of Community and Alignment
I did not walk this journey alone.
I sought out like-minded individuals—people who believed in service, humanity, and the power of collective impact. I shared my vision openly, including with my professional home, the university where I work, my sorority, and my church. Each embraced and supported this global philanthropic mission.
That alignment mattered.
When your purpose is clear and your intentions are grounded, others will recognize it—and they will join you.
Building What You’ve Never Built Before
Although I have served on nonprofit boards, I had never started my own organization.
So, I gave myself permission to learn.
Unrushed.
Intentional.
Focused.
From that space, Nyame Dua Foundation, Inc. was born—a philanthropic endeavor rooted in service, humanity, and global connection.
This work speaks to my heart and soul. It has expanded my purpose beyond borders and reminded me that our impact is not limited by geography—it is expanded by courage, trust, and openness to the unknown.
The Superpower of Being a Nurse
I often say:
My superpower is that I am a nurse.
As a nurse, nurse scientist, and Caritas® Coach, I am trained not only to care—but to see, advocate, and act.
Nursing has opened doors that allow me to connect resources with those who need them most, both locally and globally.
It has given me the ability to serve humanity in its most vulnerable and most powerful moments.
What Leadership Has Taught Me
Leadership is not about titles.
It is about answering the call.
It is about:
- Acting with grace and harmony
- Standing firm in your purpose
- Refusing to allow others to diminish your calling
- Trusting that what is meant for you will find you
Over the years, I have learned that when your work is aligned with purpose, it will get done.
The right people will surround you.
The path will clear.
The impact will grow.
A Message to Women Everywhere
To every woman questioning whether she is ready:
You are.
To every woman wondering if she has the right experience:
You do.
To every woman asking, “Can I really do this?”
Yes. You can.
Do not wait for perfect timing.
Do not wait for permission.
Do not shrink your vision to fit someone else’s comfort.
Never allow anyone to temper your calling.
Your gifts will find time.
Not just any time—the right time, the quality time your purpose requires.
Why Not You?
As a woman who has given birth to and raised two phenomenal young women, I asked myself a simple question:
Why not me?
And now, I offer that same question to you.
Because when you say yes—
your life expands,
your purpose deepens,
your heart enlarges,
and your impact reaches farther than you ever imagined.
For me, it is my everyday nursing work, inspiring others, my commitment to my faith, and my nonprofit, Nyame Dua Foundation, Inc.—Grounded in Spirit. Growing in Service.
It is a GREAT day to walk in your purpose!
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