BWH Celebrates Hispanic Heritage MonthBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's HospitalBWH Celebrates Hispanic Heritage MonthBWH Nurse - For and about the Nursing Staff of Brigham and Women's Hospital

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BWH Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month


Hispanic Heritage Award recipients Ana Lora, Wanda Ocasio and Lina Sánchez.

Every time a Hispanic patient is admitted to Tower 4B Oncology, Lina Sánchez, BSN, RN, steps up to care for them, helping them cope with their condition, the challenges of communicating in a different language and also educating staff about the important cultural differences that must be considered when patients undergo intensive treatments for cancer and bone marrow transplant.

“She eases the stress of our patients while educating other members of the health care team on what is important to that patient for their plan of care,” said Marsha Milone, MSN/Ed, RN, nursing director of Tower 4BC/12C.

When Sánchez, a native of Colombia, is not caring for patients, she is volunteering her time at Girls Inc, an afterschool program for girls ages 6 through 18.

Sanchez, along with Wanda Ocasio, operations supervisor for the Pharmacy Department, and Ana Lora, a PCA on Shapiro 6, were honored for their dedication and commitment as recipients of Hispanic Heritage Awards.

Sponsored by the departments of Nursing and Patient Care Services, these awards acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of staff with Hispanic and Latino backgrounds.

This year’s ceremony featured guest speaker Oswald Mondejar, vice president of Human Resources at Partners Continuing Care, who spoke about his Cuban heritage and encouraged attendees to continue striving for professional growth.

“Seek the help of a mentor who can teach you new things,” said Mondejar. “And for those of you who are in the position to help—be a mentor. There is nothing more rewarding than helping another person succeed.”

During the ceremony, each recipient shared their reflections with the audience. Sánchez noted how empowering it is for patients to be able to communicate with care providers in their own language.

“It makes the patient feel that much more a part of his or her care team,” she said. “After all, the patient is ultimately the number one person on that team.”