Maria Vicera is a follower of dreams. Though she didn’t pursue the career she initially thought she would, she’s found fulfillment and purpose as a remote clinical oncology nurse at the GW Cancer Center. In this role, she provides care for patients in treatment, along with a healthy dose of hope and support. And that’s what dreams are made of.
What’s your story?
You know, I dreamed about this question last night. My story is a simple one. I was born and raised in the Philippines, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2004. Nursing wasn’t my first career choice — I actually wanted to become an aeronautical engineer — but it turned out to be the right path for me. My family has a deep connection to health care. Stepping outside my comfort zone and into nursing led me to amazing opportunities. I worked in one of the largest hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I met my husband. We then moved to Singapore, where our daughter was born. In 2014, we came to the United States.
Initially, I was apprehensive about working with cancer patients. I wasn’t sure if my heart could bear the emotional weight. But, I discovered that my passion is oncology. I’ve worked as an infusion nurse, oncology nurse navigator, oncology program care manager, and now as a remote clinical oncology nurse focusing on breast cancer for the GW Cancer Center from my home in New Jersey. I follow up with them post-chemo and report back to the doctors, help with managing symptoms, scheduling, and getting prescriptions filled. For me, it’s not just about where I work, not just about delivering care — it's about being a source of hope and support during my patient’s journey.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I’m an early riser. I like that quiet time to myself before my family wakes up. It gives me the chance to read over my notes and mentally prepare myself for the day. And I need to get everything ready for my kids (ages 12 and 5).
My commitment to my patients also motivates me. Their strength and resilience keep me grounded, and I’m inspired to give them my best every day. Some of them are young moms, and I can see myself in them. What if one day I’m in their shoes? I have such compassion for the pain and worry they may have because they have young children. The least I can do is help lift their spirits and try to ease some of their worry.
What is that one book that has influenced you the most?
Well, I’m not a bookworm, but my husband recommended a book that impacted him: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. And he was right — it’s a very good book. It teaches us valuable lessons about pursuing dreams, listening to one’s heart, and recognizing the importance of the journey itself. I find myself giving that advice to my daughter, who is in the seventh grade. She needs to hear that the challenges we face are essential for personal growth, and that the pursuit of our dreams is just as important as achieving them.
This is an important message, especially for us from the Philippines. There are so many Filipino nurses in the United States and we came here to fulfill the American Dream. The book inspired me to embrace my own fate, my career, and my personal life, because dream can lead us home.
You and your work have made a difference for so many patients. Is there a patient who has made a difference for you?
All of them. Every patient I encounter, especially the elderly, leaves a mark on my heart. I see my parents and grandparents in them. My mom is elderly; she had me in her early 40s.
One patient in particular had a profound impact on me. As a single mom, she traveled from Mexico to receive her treatment, leaving her daughter behind. And despite all the challenges she faced with the side effects of chemo and the pain from her surgeries, you could see the glow on her face. She had such a will to get better, to hold onto the hope that she would go back home and take care of her daughter and watch her grow. She reminds me of my sister, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age and has one child.* They are both warriors, fighting for their lives and their children.
What is the most interesting thing we should know about you?
I wanted to become an aeronautical engineer and design and build planes. However, it’s very expensive to study that in the Philippines, and life led me toward nursing. Now, I can’t imagine working in any other profession, especially as a clinical oncology nurse. In this role, I deeply connect with my patients and make an impact. I provide them with the care I wish I could give to my sister but can’t because she’s thousands of miles away in the Philippines. I have found a purpose working in oncology that I never expected. It can be hard and challenging, but it’s also very, very rewarding.
* Maria will be traveling to the Philippines in December to visit her family and can’t wait to give her sister a hug!
