Sister Bea Hernandez

Sr. Beatrice Hernandez is a retired physician, having served in the specialty of Hematology and Oncology for over 25 years. She was the founder of the Hematology/Oncology Treatment Center at La Porte Hospital, in La Porte Indiana, including the establishment of the hospital/s Cancer Registry, monthly tumor board conferences for the medical and nursing staffs, and Certification as a recognized Comprehensive Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons and as a member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group for cancer research. Sr. Bea also served on the board and as executive director of Upendo Village NFP, a collaboration between the Wheaton Franciscans and the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi to provide support and services to people living with HIV / AIDS in Naivasha, Kenya. Sr. Bea has lived as a vowed Franciscan since 1967. She has been a participant in the US JPIC team since 1981. She served on the Wheaton Franciscan Provincial Council from 1996-2000 and as Provincial Directress from 2008-2012. She is presently the US Regional JPIC Coordinator (since 2013) and has been our International Congregational JPIC Coordinator from 2016-2022.