Hilda Bowen

Hilda Bowen, MBE (12 October 1923 – 20 March 2002) was a Bahamian nurse. Graduating with a degree in ophthalmic nursing and midwifery, she became the first Bahamian trained nurse. In 1962, she was the first Bahamian to become matron of the public hospital and in 1965, was installed as principal matron of the Public Health Department. She worked as the Chief Nursing Officer of the Ministry of Health between 1970 and 1980 and thereafter served as the country's Director of Nursing. She drove for the establishment of the Bahamas Nursing Council, a governing body for the country's nursing industry and was influential in developing a degree based nursing certification. She was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1969 for her contributions to the medical development of the country.