Lou Bartolo

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Maryland Nurses Association

Lou J. Bartolo, DNP, MSN, RN, serves as president of the Maryland Nurses Association, where his leadership and advocacy work have positioned him as a champion for health care equity.

Bartolo has built an impressive career spanning clinical care, quality assurance and regulatory affairs. He currently works as a senior regulatory affairs associate at the National Marrow Donor Program while leading Maryland’s largest professional organization for nurses.

His educational background includes a doctorate in nursing practice with executive leadership from Loyola University and a master’s in nursing from Johns Hopkins University. He is pursuing a Master of Legal Studies in health and hospital law from Seton Hall University.

Bartolo’s professional experience includes positions at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where he served as quality assurance RN manager for stem cell transplant programs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“I should be honored as Nurse of the Year because of my unwavering commitment to advancing equity, inclusion and excellence in health care for Marylanders, whether they are patients or employees,” Bartolo noted.

His commitment to addressing systemic health care issues is evident in his work on Maryland’s 2025 legislation requiring implicit bias training for health care professionals. This initiative stems from a grant he received from the American Nurses Association to combat racism in nursing.

Bartolo’s service extends across numerous organizations. He serves on the Political Action Committee Board of Trustees for the American Nurses Association, as treasurer for the Rotary Club of Potomac-Bethesda and he previously chaired the Northeast Regional Committee for the American Association for Men in Nursing.

His accolades include the Maryland Nurses Association Creative Champion Award, Johns Hopkins University Outstanding Recent Graduate Award and the Robert G. Merrick Award for Leadership in Nursing.

“Through my dedication to nursing leadership, policy advocacy, education and community service, I have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the profession and the well-being of patients,” Bartolo stated.

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.