Linda E. Ledray, RN, SANE A, PhD, FAAN

Dr. Linda Ledray has worked tirelessly for over 35 years on behalf of sexual assault victims and survivors. In 1977, through a federally-funded grant, she established the Sexual Assault Resource Service (SARS), one of the first Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs. 

Since then, she has trained SANEs to continue this work throughout the United States and around the world. She is currently developing online training for this program, followed by a clinical practicum. Through a special initiative, this training will be made available to nurses and other Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) members across the United States with a focus on those practicing in rural areas, particularly in Indian Country. 

Dr. Ledray has continually gone above and beyond her professional role as SARS Director. Her research-oriented approach and innovative thinking has helped to change the course of recovery for survivors of sexual assault. For example, she convened the first meeting of SANEs in Minneapolis in 1992, which resulted in the founding of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN). 

Dr. Ledray was also instrumental in developing the first SANE-A International certification and was an initial member of the IAFN Certification Board. More than a decade ago, Dr. Ledray recognized the need for interdisciplinary cooperation and a victim-centered approach to training SARTs; in response, she coordinated the first National SART Training Conference in 2001 for over 650 professionals working with victims of sexual assault. In 2011, the Sixth National SART Training Conference welcomed over 1,000 professionals from 49 states and 5 countries and territories. 

Countless victims of sexual assault have benefited from Dr. Ledray’s enduring commitment to high-quality and well-coordinated services in the aftermath of violent crime.