Title: Infusion Nurse
Company: Texas Children’s Hospital
Location: Houston, Texas, United States
Erica Ivoon Fernandez-Benavidez, the infusion nurse at Texas Children’s Hospital, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Nurses for dedication, achievements, and leadership in health care and nursing.
With two decades of experience, Ms. Fernandez-Benavidez has built a successful career in health care and nursing, specializing in hematology, oncology, infusion nursing, and central line care. She currently serves as an infusion nurse at Texas Children’s Hospital, a role she has excelled in since 2022. Prior to this, she worked as a vaccination nurse at Texas Children’s Hospital from 2021 to 2022 and as a charge nurse and CLRN from 2008 to 2021. Earlier in her career, she was a senior nurse for Dr. Mohammed A. Quraishi, MD, from 2004 to 2011. She has also held various leadership roles at Texas Children’s Hospital, including training partner, interim manager, charge nurse, and central line nurse, and has served as a preceptor to novice nurses. In addition, she is a patient advocate and the owner of Amigos Healthcare Services. She is also an active member of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, and she has earned several accolades, including a nomination for the Daisy Award in 2016 and recognition as one of Houston’s Top 100 Nurses in 2012.
Laying a solid educational foundation, Ms. Fernandez-Benavidez earned an Associate of Science in nursing from San Jacinto College in 2004 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2017. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in bioethics at Harvard Medical School, beginning in 2023. She also holds certifications from the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses. Reflecting on her path, she knew from an early age that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of underrepresented and underprivileged communities. She is deeply committed to being a patient advocate and a voice for equal health care. Her passion for health care was ignited when, at around 16 years old, she visited her maternal grandfather in a rural, resource-limited hospital in Mexico after he suffered a stroke. This experience fueled her desire to attend Harvard and become a neurosurgeon, as well as to work in medical ethics to ensure fair and ethical treatment for patients.
Ms. Fernandez-Benavidez takes great pride in achieving a significant milestone by gaining admission to Harvard Medical School, where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in bioethics. She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her parents, who served as her ultimate role models. Despite facing numerous hardships, her parents immigrated to the U.S. and made immense sacrifices to provide her with the American dream. Determined to honor their legacy, she is committed to championing underrepresented communities and making a positive impact on the world and the health care system. In the coming years, she aspires to become a nurse advocate who supports underrepresented and underprivileged communities worldwide. To achieve this, she plans to complete her master’s degree in bioethics, followed by a PhD in public health. Her ultimate goal is to help those in need and effect positive change in society and health care. In advising aspiring professionals, she emphasizes, “Don’t give up. Your past does not determine your future. Have a passion for something and pursue it. Keep moving forward, and you’ll get there.”
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