Delegate Shirley Nathan-Pulliam was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates

on November 8, 1994 and reelected in 1998, 2002 and 2006, serving over 14 years.She is the first Caribbean-born person and the first Afro-Caribbean American Registered Nurse elected to the Maryland General Assembly in its 380-year history.  Born in , West Indies and educated in , and the , she is a naturalized American citizen.

By profession, Delegate Nathan-Pulliam is a Registered Nurse with years of experience as a quality assurance coordinator, head nurse and team leader at hospitals in the Baltimore metropolitan area.  She holds an Associate of Arts degree from Baltimore City Community College , a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Maryland and a Masters degree in Administrative Science from The Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business School . 

Her present committee assignments in the Maryland House of Delegates include the Health and Government Operations Committee; Chair, Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee; Member, Insurance Subcommittee; Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing; Joint Committee on Children Youth and Families; Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee; and the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes.

She was past President of the Women Legislators of Maryland in 2007 session, past 1^st Vice Chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus and current Chair of the Black Caucus Health Policy Committee,   past Secretary for the Baltimore County Delegation and presently Co-chair of the Education Committee.

Shirley Nathan-Pulliam has over 35 years of service as a political and community activist.  She has been and remains involved in local, state, federal and community activities.  In September 1990, she was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee and served on the Democratic Party Executive and Legislative Committees.  Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke appointed her as the Social Services Commissioner on December 17, 1990. 

Keenly aware of the problems of health care access and quality, she has been a leading advocate for improved health care for the underserved and health care disparities and has played major roles in sponsoring legislation creating the Healthcare Disparities Prevention Act, HB 883 and establishing the Office of Minority Health and Health Care Disparities, HB 86. She has an extraordinary legislative record, sponsoring and co-sponsoring hundreds of bills that were signed into law. Key legislative initiatives include funding for Breast Cancer diagnosis and treatment programs and programs to reduce Oral Cancer mortality.

Her dedication to public service has been recognized with the presentation of numerous awards, and honors to include: 2008 Legislator of the Year by the Mental Health Association of Maryland, 2007 Circle of Excellence Maryland ’s Top 100 Women by the Daily Record also 2002, 2005. University of Maryland Bioscience for Health Advocacy Award 2007, Medical Society Pioneer of the Year Award 2007. APHA Distinguish Health Legislator of the Year 2005. Q Ministries, Inc. Woman of Great Esteem at the United Nations, Environmental Leadership, American Heart Association Legislator of the Year, Harriet Tubman Legacy, Champions Against Oral Cancer, University of Maryland Breast Cancer Award, Maryland Nursing Association Legislator of the Year and the Regional Champion Award from the Citizens Planning and Housing Association. Member of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, National Black Nurses Association, American Nurses Association. 

The Delegate is the founder and co-founder of many organizations

including, the Black Mental Health Alliance, Maryland Black Congress on Health Law and Economics, the Jamaican Association of Maryland, Inc. and the Baltimore City Community College Nursing Alumni.  Additionally, she serves as a member or board member of more than 20 groups and organizations.

Delegate Nathan-Pulliam is the owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of two health care companies that provide personal care services to clients in their homes and adult medical daycare services for the elderly and the disabled.

Shirley Nathan-Pulliam is the mother of three children and the grand- mother of five. She has been a member of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church for over 40 years and a resident of the Hunting Ridge Community for 40 years.  She is presently a resident in the Windsor Mill Community.  

Delegate Shirley Nathan-Pulliam is truly a woman of firsts, with many more firsts to go.