Beatriz Montes De Oca Perez – founder of the first hospice in Mexico

We continue our spotlight on the contribution of inspiring nurses in the field of palliative care, as set out in the new report, “Palliative Care – Celebrating Nurses Contributions”.

Beatriz Montes De Oca Perez – Mexico

Beatriz completed her Bachelor of Nursing studies in 1976 at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. On graduating and passing her professional exams she worked as a surgical nurse, working as a scrub nurse for many doctors, including her father.

She then went on to specialise in intensive care before getting involved in palliative care. She undertook her Diploma in Palliative Care at the Gabinete de Asesoramiento y Formación Sanitaria (GAFOS), Canary Islands, Spain and obtained a scholarship from the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) and the Sociedad Espanola de Cuidados Paliativos (SECPAL) to carry out an internship in Malaga Spain. She has had a strong and varied career in palliative care in Mexico but also in the region. She is the representative of the International Network of Nurses in Palliative Care in Mexico. (Red Internacional de Enfermeria en Cuidados Paliativos – RienCupa), who work for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

From 2012-2017 she was the President of the Nursing Commission of the Latin American Association of Palliative Care (ALCP).

In 2002 Beatriz founded Hospice Cristina AC, the first hospice in Mexico, and she continues to be their Director. Along with providing care Beatriz is committed to training others. In 2011 she was a finalist of the Mexico Initiative (iMX) and received an award to train 600 professionals in palliative care in Mexico. Throughout her career she has been a founding member of key palliative care organisations and has supported the work of the WHO, participating in the development of guidelines on pain management, amongst other work. She has also been a prolific speaker and writer, contributing to books and papers on a range of palliative care and nursing issues, and is committed to supporting younger nurses to develop their palliative nursing career.