Consuelo Ornelas-García

Consuelo Ornelas-García was born in Gary, Indiana in 1922, and was one of ten children. She attended Lew Wallace High School and St. Mary Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. During World War II, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Program and became the first in her family to get an education in nursing. She started her career as a Charge Nurse at St. Mary Mercy Hospital and later became a Head Nurse at United States Steel, Gary Works. 

Consuelo was not only the first Hispanic nurse in Northwest Indiana but also the first in a managerial position at the United States Steel Medical Department and Gary Tube Works. She was proud of her heritage and demonstrated courage and resilience in pursuing a nursing career, overcoming prejudice and discrimination. She inspired and paved the way for future generations, including her sister and three nieces who also became nurses.

In 1996, Consuelo was honored by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses as the first Hispanic nurse in Northwest Indiana. To honor her, her family created a scholarship for Hispanic individuals pursuing nursing. After she passed away in 2004, Consuelo donated her body to Indiana University Anatomical Education Program Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology to further scientific research and medical advancements. This final act epitomizes the unwavering dedication she devoted to the healthcare field.