Dr Acorn is the inaugural Chief Nurse of the International Council of Nurses since 2021 advancing global nursing and health policy.
In 2018 she provided ministerial strategic expertise as the Provincial Chief Nursing Officer in Ontario, Canada. She is a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner/Nursing Practice, dually registered as a Primary Health Care and Adult Nurse Practitioner, and certified Global Nurse Consultant. Michelle was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian and American Academy of Nursing, and with the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. Dr Acorn pioneered a Nurse Practitioner–led model of inpatient hospital care.
Michelle is recognized for her leadership, mentorship, and scholarship.