Nurse Maria Huerta is always thinking about her patients. Whether it’s those moments of private reflection on her drive home from work, or other parts of her day while she raises her four kids—her patients are always on her mind.

That’s the kind of nurse she is. Someone who is dedicated to the relationships she builds with her patients and their families. It’s one of the joys of working in oncology—where close relationships with patients can last for months and sometimes years, going beyond their treatment.

But as Maria puts it: She doesn’t feel like she picked oncology, it picked her. That’s how natural of a fit it is for her to work in the Edward Cancer Center. It truly is more than a job, it’s a calling.

It’s in the Cancer Center where she sees patients from age 18 to 100; and gets to know their families and friends —forging bonds that help patients feel connected and cared for. “There’s a lot of sadness when you work in cancer care,” Maria says. “But, there’s a lot of success, too” At the end of the day, she knows the work she does alongside her fellow nurses and doctors saves lives and improves well-being with the latest, state-of-the-art care.

Maria works at the Edward Cancer Center in Naperville, one of three Cancer Centers across Naperville, Elmhurst and Plainfield. Alongside her colleagues she offers cancer care that focuses on your individual physical and emotional needs.

When you team up with Edward-Elmhurst Health, you get access to innovative, comprehensive cancer services, including multidisciplinary clinics, genetic counseling and the latest cancer treatments, including HIPEC, Nanoknife^® and Da Vinci^®, alongside support services.

Everywhere else, it’s healthcare. But for Maria Huerta and the rest of our cancer care team, it’s personal.

At Edward-Elmhurst Health, you’ll find individuals across our entire system for whom compassion is a calling, and healthcare is a 24/7 commitment. Just as each patient comes to us with a unique story to tell, each one of our doctors, nurses and staff members have personal stories and powerful motivations for becoming part of the Edward-Elmhurst Health family. Here, it's personal.

Learn more about cancer care at Edward-Elmhurst Health.