Mary Jo Gonzales, a nurse practitioner in the Center for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Mass General, provides unparalleled care to her patients. She quietly attends to all the details of a child’s life — attentive care that extends to parents and siblings as well. Her calm and warmth reassure all around her. She has a particular gift in working with teenaged girls, providing them with comfort and confidentiality as they struggle with their illnesses and their adolescence.
Mary Jo brings boundless compassion to caring for children at the end of life, and she keeps hope alive for all who are in her care or work with her. One young woman with a recurrent brain tumor wanted to return to her college dorm while receiving palliative treatments. Mary Jo advocated for her patient’s wishes with the girl’s parents, college deans and healthcare staff. On weekends, she visited a five-year-old and her family at their apartment, continuing to provide care and support during the child’s last days.
