Shirley Bloodworth (double UF Nursing alumna BSN ’65 and MN ’66), a beloved patient advocate who served on the UF Health Cancer Center’s Community Advisory Board and as a Community Scientist since 2015, passed away peacefully on Oct. 24 in Jacksonville.
Shirley, a staunch advocate for the aging population and access to health literacy, remained committed to serving others up until her passing. She worked with a team of dedicated Community Scientists through the Cancer Center and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, serving the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, as well as the OneFlorida+ Research Network and other centers at UF Health.
“Shirley modeled what it means to have patient engagement integrated into all health system and research programming, and all conversations I had with her included some element of ‘how can this improve care our patients,’” said Jennifer Woodard, M.P.H., R.N., CCRP, director of the Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. “She made my world brighter with her humor, grace, and tenacity.”
Shirley was known as someone who was engaged and intentional with her service to others. She worked at the UF College of Nursing from 1968 to 1980. Then she acquired post-master’s studies in counselor education and created the Transitions program for hospice at UF Health.
As a Community Scientist, she supported research protocol development and most recently served as a member of HealthStreet Community Outreach. In 2021, Shirley was honored with the UF Health Cancer Center’s Community Outreach of the Year award.
She served countless cancer researchers over the years, bringing a community and patient perspective that made research more accessible for all. As recently as 2023, Shirley was a co-author on a peer-reviewed journal article on mobile health smoking cessation approaches among underserved patients.
“Shirley has had a definite impact on our center as we worked to obtain designation from the National Cancer Institute over the past decade,” said Jonathan D. Licht, M.D., director of the UF Health Cancer Center.
Thomas George, M.D., FACP, FASCO, the center’s deputy director, said: “Shirely was an institution within the institution and will be missed by many.”
Shirley was also known as the “matriarch of the aging in place movement in the Gainesville area.” She was born in 1929 in New York City to Canadian parents. She was married for 53 years and had two children.
A memorial service is planned for Dec. 20 at The Village in Gainesville, a senior community where Shirley lived. For those who wish to honor her memory, Shirley has requested donations to cancer research or community hospice.
Listen to Shirley Bloodworth review her life in the video below:
