This article is based on excerpts from the Catherine Dempsey Lecture (American Occupational Health Conference, 1997), delivered by A. Brian Verrall, Chairman, American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (ABOHN) in recognition of the 25th anniversary of ABOHN. The Catherine Dempsey Lecture honors the first president of AAOHN. The article is second in a series of three articles addressing credentialing to appear in AAOHN Journal. The first article, "Credentialing: Concerns and Issues Affecting Occupational Health Nursing," by Olson, Verrall, and Lundvall appeared in the May 1997 issue [45(5):231-238].