Senior Fellow
215-871-2016 | mhilliard@ncbcenter.org

Dr. Hilliard holds graduate degrees in maternal–child health nursing, religious studies, canon law, and professional higher education administration. She has been recognized for her involvement in health care advocacy at the state and national levels and was honored at the Second Annual International Nurses Day at the United Nations for her exemplary practice in the global delivery of health care. Dr. Hilliard has been a board member of several state and national organizations, including the Canon Law Society of America. She has served as a resource on the implementation of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services as well as Church–state relations. She is the former chair of the National Advisory Council of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Dr. Hilliard has published extensively and is an awardee of the Catholic Press Association.

Dr. Hilliard is an Army colonel (ret.), serving for more than twenty years, including as an acting deputy commander for a United States Army Reserve Brigade responsible for nursing and medic training for the northeastern United States. She has been recognized by the Army for her contributions with the Meritorious Service Medal.